When the Gospel Shines Beyond the Horizon
"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I AM sending my messenger before You, who will prepare Your way; the voice of One calling out in the wilderness, 'prepare the way of the LORD, make His paths straight!’” John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins." (Mark 1:1-5)
My dear readers, there is an almost imperceivable difference between a false gospel and a true sometimes. Considering the spiritual climate in our country and the kind of programming seen on TV today, a show like Touched by an Angel is a welcomed entertainment that points the way to something moral, religious, and decent. Yet it is entirely void of Jesus Christ, any acknowledgment that ALL people are evil in God's sight and going to hell, yet proclaims that God loves all people but cannot interfere with human choices. Is such a message faithful to the New Testament Gospel?
John, The Man and His Message of Repentance
"John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. And he was preaching, saying, “After me, One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals. I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:6-8)
John's message could not have been more clear. Whenever a Gentile wanted to become a proselyte, they would be baptized or submersed into the water to exemplify that they renounced their Gentile ways to believe like all Jews. When John asked Jews to be baptized, he told them they were no better than Gentiles. His message was not that God loves you (He does, in the proper context), and the context is the sinfulness of all men. John was so powerful as a preacher that the people were baptized and confessed their sins. Unfortunately, only one hundred and twenty people believed in Christ before Pentecost, even though verse three tells us all the country of Judea was going out to him. Apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, no one would come to Jesus Christ in authentic repentance and faith.
Jesus and the Apostles' Message of Repentance and Faith
"Now, after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14, 15) "Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:37-38)
John the Baptist, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Apostles came preaching a Gospel of repentance for the forgiveness of sins without mentioning free will in the whole New Testament.
We Proclaim the Gospel of Repentance and Practice Accountability or Miss Out Completely.
My dear readers, this post is not an argument against free will but an appeal to proclaim the Gospel without compromise. Repentance must be declared so that people understand that without turning from sin, there is no repentance. Furthermore, practicing spiritual accountability in such passages as Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5, and many others is necessary to have a proper message of repentance.
Once, when I was at the eye doctor, I asked him about a picture on the wall of a human eye, pointing out all the individual parts. "How many of the parts are necessary to see?" His answer was, "All of them." The same is true concerning the Gospel; all the parts are necessary to see in truth the Gospel proclaimed as at the first. "The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted." (Proverbs 29:25). The fear of offending people with the entire Gospel is a snare.
"He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters." (Luke 11:23). When so many seem to proclaim repentance and faith, how can it be that they're not? Why will there be weeping and gnashing of teeth on Judgment Day? Those who weep will be utterly shocked that they are not getting into the Kingdom of God because, in their own eyes, they were doing everything correctly. Those gnashing their teeth will be so angry, saying to themselves, "Surely God does not see how good I've been."
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