Eternity Daily Bible Study No. 217 Vision For Mission - 3 To subscribe just send a blank email to: eternity-dbs-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org THE BEAUTIFUL GOSPEL Romans 10:8-18 MKJV But what does it say? "The Word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart"; that is, the Word of Faith which we proclaim; (9) Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation. (11) For the Scripture says, "Everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame." (12) For there is no difference both of Jew and of Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call on Him. (13) For everyone, "whoever shall call on the name of the Lord will be saved." (14) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching? (15) And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!" (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" (17) Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (18) But I say, Have they not heard? Yes indeed, their voice went out into all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In these days there is a certain reticence about proclamation. In many quarters proclamation has been replaced by attraction. The idea being that if we are sufficiently attractive, then others will believe. Yet such an idea has little basis in Scripture. Indeed in the N.T. proclamation is the main method of sharing the gospel. Combining verses 8 and 17 we see that: "Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God - that is, the Word of Faith which we proclaim" What then is involved in proclaiming the word of faith? Is it only standing behind a wooden pulpit for 45 minutes each Sunday? Can we proclaim the gospel in the coal-mines like Wesley or in the streets like the Salvation Army or over the radio waves like FEBC or even over the Internet? Of course we can. I go to a very large church where I am unlikely to preach in the pulpit. But I see quite a few people saved by sharing the gospel online. I use the door for the gospel that God has opened for me. Preachers – of whatever shape and size need to be sent: "(14) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching? (15) And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!" This sending means we do not just go alone, but as part of the body of Christ with a church or apostolic band behind us, praying for us and supporting us. We should be sent first of all by the Holy Spirit and then by other mature members of the body of Christ. The "sending body" can be a local church, house church, mission agency or even a Christian business. The sent-out-ones have "beautiful feet", because of the wonderful message that they proclaim – though not all will believe it. "(16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" The messenger is glorious because he or she carries the message of salvation – not because of appearances, intellect or power and position. The message is the glory of the messenger and if the messenger should water down the gospel for the sake of human approval then glory is decreased – not increased. The word of faith is an internal word, a near and present word. "But what does it say? "The Word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart"; that is, the Word of Faith which we proclaim; (9) Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation. (11) For the Scripture says, "Everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame." What are the requirements of salvation? A pilgrimage? A sacrifice? A series of arduous tasks? Not at all! Salvation is simply believing and confessing – thus anyone can be saved. It is not "far off" distant, or impossible. This simplicity stumbles the "wise" but makes the gospel open to "babes" and has been rejected by many who have added circumcision or sacraments or Sabbaths or dietary restrictions to the requirements for salvation. In fact Jesus describes salvation as restful, light, easy and simple. Matthew 11:25-30 MKJV At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the sophisticated and cunning, and revealed them to babes. (26) Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. (27) All things are delivered to Me by My Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son will reveal Him. (28) Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. (30) For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. What then do the gospel heralds proclaim? A word of simple faith, of believing and confessing, a religion of heart and mouth, an uncomplicated, light and easy faith in the risen Christ. The testimony of the gospel herald is accompanied by the witness of nature. Paul quotes Psalm 19 – about the witness of the heavens: "(18) But I say, Have they not heard? Yes indeed, their voice went out into all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." The testimony of the evangelist and the witness of the scientist should be as one. The creation should fill us with awe and wonder and thoughts of God and His ways. Isaac Newton acknowledged as much when he said "I am simply thinking God's thoughts after Him". Christ and Creation are intertwined because Jesus is intimately involved with parts of His Universe: "Colossians 1:15-17 MKJV (15) who is the image of the invisible God, the First-born of all creation. (16) For all things were created in Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. (17) And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." The gospel and the Creation are one thought. The gospel involves the worship of a Creator God and the redemption of Creation as a whole: Revelation 14:6-7 MKJV And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, (7) saying with a great voice, Fear God and give glory to Him! For the hour of His judgment has come. And worship Him who made the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Romans 8:19-21 MKJV For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was not willingly subjected to vanity, but because of Him who subjected it on hope (21) that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Thus the gospel is freeing, liberating, in harmony with Creation, simple, light, easy and unburdensome, and able to be believed by "babes". This joyous gospel is the word of faith we proclaim to the ends of the earth. It is indeed a beautiful gospel! Blessings, John Edmiston Were you blessed by Eternity Daily Bible Study? To subscribe just send a blank email to: eternity-dbs-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org Visit the Eternity Daily Bible Study Archives - http://www.aibi.ph/eternity/ Study at the Asian Internet Bible Institute- Free online non-formal, in-service, bible and ministry training: http://www.aibi.ph Training In Cybermissions (12 week course) – http://www.cybermissions.org/training/