RADIO MESSAGE
Why doesn't your pastor preach the
gospel? I know that your immediate response to my question is - "My pastor
does preach the gospel. He preaches the death, burial, and resurrection of
Jesus." If that is all there is to preaching the gospel, then Roman
Catholics, the Church of Christ, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormans, and Baptists are
all preaching the gospel. Of course, many are foolish enough to think that is
true; but it is not. I rejoice that God has raised up many men who do
faithfully preach the gospel of Christ. But most preachers, even most Baptist
preachers, do not. They preach another god, another spirit, another Jesus, and
another gospel. The Apostle Paul spoke very plainly about this matter in
Galatians 1:6-8 and in II Corinthians 11:1-3.
The gospel is not the mere historical fact that
Jesus Christ, the Son of God died at Calvary 2,000 years ago, was buried in the
tomb of Joseph, and rose again the third day. James tells us that the devils
believe that and tremble. The gospel is the plain and biblical declaration of HOW
CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES. This is what the
Apostle Paul tells us - "I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, H O W that Christ died for our sins ACCORDING TO THE
SCRIPTURES' (I Corinthians 15:3).
How did Christ die? What did Christ accomplish in
his death? What do the scriptures teach us about the death of our Lord Jesus
Christ? First, the Lord Jesus Christ VOLUNTARILY laid down his life for
us. "I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd GIVETH his life for
the sheep" (John 10:15). "I lay down my life that I might take it
again. No man taketh it from me, but I LAY IT DOWN OF MYSELF. I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again" (John 10:17-18).
Our Lord did not die as the helpless victim of circumstances. He was born at
Bethlehem for the express purpose of laying down his life at Calvary in the
place of his people. Secondly, the Son of God died VICARIOUSLY in the
place of his people. That is to say, he died as a real Substitute in the place
of God's elect. "He hath made him to be sin for us, that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him" (II Corinthians 5:21). "For the
transgression of my people was he stricken!" (Isaiah 53:8). Christ did not
die for every person in the world, hoping to save everybody. The Bible nowhere
says that he did. Christ died for every sinner in the world who believes on
him, and his death secured their faith in him. He died as a Substitute for
God's elect. And thirdly, the Lord Jesus Christ died VICTORIOUSLY,
accomplishing the redemption of his people. He did not try to redeem. He did
redeem. He did not make it possible for all men to be redeemed. He actually
"Obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb. 9:12). He did not make it
possible for sin to be put away. He "Put away sin by the sacrifice of
himself" (Heb. 9:26). When he cried, "It is finished",
redemptions work was done. All the people of God were justified and pardoned by
his victorious death. His atoning sacrifice was a real atonement for sin.
Why doesn't your pastor preach the gospel of
Christ's effectual redeeming work at Calvary? Could it be that he is ashamed of
the gospel of Christ?