Our Glorious Gospel

Answers For Today ^ | Chuck Smith

[P-Marlowe]

 

 

18. Our Glorious Gospel

When Jesus began His public ministry, He went into the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth. He was handed the Scriptures. He turned to the Book of Isaiah and read this portion to them:

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (Isaiah 61:1-2a).

After reading it, Jesus closed the book and said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:16-21).

Jesus closed the book after the reading, but Isaiah's prophecy doesn't stop there. Let's read on.

And the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, that garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified (v. 2b-3).

The glorious "good tidings" that we proclaim to you today is God's glorious message to man. In a world filled with so much misery, strife, and trouble, it's good to hear some good news for a change.

Message for the Meek

Reading the newspapers or watching the news on TV gives a sad commentary upon man's existence. Oh, how ready we are for some good news! The Gospel is good news, but who is it for?

In reading from Isaiah, Jesus declared, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach good tidings," the Gospel "unto the meek." The Gospel is for the meek, those who are conscious of their inadequacies and needs and are reaching out for help. The best way to understand the word "meek" is to separate it: me...ek. When I realize how "eeky" I am, I know what meek is all about. The Gospel is for those who recognize their need for something more, who are dissatisfied with their current status, who desire a better life.

Many people today are very satisfied with their lives. They're satisfied with their possessions and situations. The Gospel isn't for them. Other people today are extremely proud of themselves. The Gospel isn't for them, either.

The Gospel Message

What does the Gospel do? First, it is meant "to bind up the brokenhearted." We've seen Valentine's Day cards that show broken hearts. Sometimes the heart is broken through the middle and sometimes it is totally fractured. Our hearts often break because of unreciprocated love. We have a deep love for another, but it's not received and accepted. This causes our hearts to break. I wonder how many times God's heart is broken over us.

Our hearts often break over our own failures and weaknesses. We promise ourselves that we'll do certain things, but we don't seem to be capable of achieving them. So, we experience heartbreak over our inadequacies. Our desire to be what we apparently can't be and to achieve what apparently is beyond our capacity causes personal heartbreak.

The Gospel has come to bind up the brokenhearted, to let us know that we can be what God would have us to be. The good news is that we can achieve, attain, and experience a love that flows and flows and doesn't quit. The second thing that the Gospel does is "to proclaim liberty to the captives." Paul spoke of those who had fallen in the snares of the devil and had been taken captive by the devil against their will (II Timothy 2:26). Many people today have fallen into the snare of the devil and have been taken captive by the devil against their own will. In another passage Paul referred to those "who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:15).

We often use the term "free moral agent," but it's almost a misnomer. To say that a man is a free moral agent when he cannot help but do the things he does is a contradiction. If some compelling force is driving you to do things even when you don't want to do them, you're not free. You're a captive.

Sin often comes to you with a sugar-coated covering. You taste it and "Wow!" you plunge right into it. After the sugar is gone, you taste the bitter portion and try to spit it out. But now it's lodged in your throat and you can't get rid of it. If you're controlled by a cigarette habit or if you've got to have a drink, don't tell me you're a free moral agent. You're a captive - and the bitterness is just pouring into your system.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has come to set free those who are captive. He can break every snare and deliver men from all the bondage of corruption that has held them in its power.

The third thing the Gospel does is "the opening of the prison to them that are bound." Today the Gospel will open the prison that you find yourself in.

When we were in Ecuador, the missionaries told us that if we get involved in a car accident, even if it's not our fault, the best thing to do is to go immediately to the airport and catch the next plane out of the country. When you're involved in an accident down there, guilty or innocent, you'll land in jail. You have to stay in jail until you can prove you're innocent, but you may not get a court date for five years. And in Ecuador they don't feed the prisoners. Someone on the outside has to feed you or you'll starve to death. And that's one of the nicer things about the jails.

I've also heard about the Mexican jails. If you get thrown in, your influence in the United States doesn't mean anything to the judge. They say the best thing is to stay out, because once you're in, you're really in. I don't know how true that is, but I don't want to experiment to find out.

Let's say that you're in jail in Mexico. You've tried every way to get out. You've written to the Mexican government, the American consulate, the UN. You've done everything, and you've finally concluded that you're not going to get out. So now you want to escape. Someone comes along and says, "I have a friend who can get you out."

"How can your friend get me out? Man, I've tried everything."

"He can."

"What makes you so sure?"

"He's freed thousands of others." Really! What do I have to do?"

"Just trust him." "But how's he going to do it?"

"I don't know. He has his own ways. But I know he can."

"But if I don't know how he does it, I'm not sure I want to trust him."

"It's your choice, friend. Either rot in jail or take a chance."

We find ourselves in the prison of our own lust and sin. The good news comes that there's One who can deliver us, set us free, open the doors of the prison and liberate us. But we've got to put our trust in Him completely. We've got to commit ourselves totally into His hands, trusting that He can do what He has promised. We can be assured that He's already delivered thousands out of that same jail. He has set multitudes free from the bondage of sin. He can set you free today from your prison, if you'll give Him a chance.

There is an urgency in this Gospel of Jesus Christ. "...To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Though the Lord is offering you this freedom today, His offer is subject to withdrawal at any time. You see, Jesus Christ is under no obligation to save you at all. He doesn't owe you anything. His offer comes to you strictly because He is so good and loving that He hates to see you in a mess. So He offers to set you free.

However, this offer will be withdrawn - just when, we don't know. God told Noah, "My spirit shall not always strive with man" (Genesis 6:3). If you reject His offer today, you can't be sure whether the offer will be good tomorrow. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2). "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" (Isaiah 55:6). "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them" (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

We proclaim to you "the acceptable year of the Lord." "Now is the accepted time." Now is the time for you to receive this glorious Gospel. Now is the time for you to be set free.

There is coming a "day of vengeance of our God" (Isaiah 61:2). His offer will then be withdrawn and men shall experience nothing but what they justly deserve for their sins: the "day of vengeance of our God."

The Gospel Power

What will the Gospel do for you? Verse 3 reads: "to give unto them beauty for ashes..." I love the power of the Gospel! I've seen the effects of the Gospel, and I've seen it bring beauty for ashes. Some people are burned out, wasted, and destroyed. I've seen the Spirit of God take those burned-out lives and remake, remold, and reshape them into new and beautiful men and women.

I think of Mike MacIntosh, the pastor of our church in San Diego. When Mike first came to church, he was totally burned-out. He had taken so much acid and speed that he thought a bag was over his head and a .45 pistol was going off inside his brain. He would hear the explosion over and over. As I watched this handsome but totally burned-out young man, I wondered if he would ever recover from the damage done to his brain cells. I saw God take these ashes and begin to work with them - mold, shape, and change. I saw God restore Mike's wife and children. I saw God restore all that he had lost through his own folly.

Today, I see that beautiful young man standing before a glorious congregation in San Diego, with the glow of Jesus on his face and the love of Christ radiating from his life. I realize the power of the Gospel gives "beauty for ashes."

"The oil of joy for mourning" (Isaiah 61:3). Many people today find themselves in deep depression and sorrow of heart, grieved not only over themselves and their inadequacies, failures, and inabilities to cope, but with all of society. Our glorious Gospel gives "the oil of joy for mourning." It will lift your life from depression, sorrow, despair, and despondency to joy and hope.

The Gospel will also give you "the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" (Isaiah 61:3). Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy leaden..." (Matthew 11:28). If the burden you're carrying is heavier than you can bear, if you feel pressed down by life and by your circumstances, our glorious Gospel will fill your heart and life with praises unto God. How glorious to see people who once wallowed in the dejection and hopelessness of this world now walk with a spring in their steps, a smile on their faces, and the garment of praise covering their lives. That's the elect of this glorious Gospel.

The Gospel Glory

What is the purpose of the Gospel? That we "might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified" (Isaiah 61:3). God has done His work so that we might glorify Him. "To God be the glory, great things He hath done." As we see lives change - men and women set free and remade through the power of Jesus Christ, born again by the Spirit of God - we give glory to God for His work. These hopeless lives are now "trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord." The changes are God's work wrought in them, and there is no other explanation for it.

So often a man who has fought against alcoholism has been defeated by it. His life is burned out, and he's now an outcast. You see him in the street in his pitiful condition. He has cried out for help. His family has tried to help him. But finally everyone has given up, and we call him a bum. As the power of the Gospel touches the ashes of his life and begins to turn him around, it changes and sets him free. The Gospel liberates him from that prison and makes of him a glorious person, beautiful to behold, a tower of strength within the community.

Only the Gospel can do that, and only God can be glorified for it. That's the purpose of the Gospel.

The Gospel Truth

You ask, "Just what is the Gospel, the good news?" Just this: Though you have failed and sinned, God loves you. God loves you so much that He sent His Son to set you free from your prison. If you'll put your trust completely in Him, He'll free you today, change your life, and make you what God wants you to be.

We have a glorious Gospel, but there's only one difficulty. To be effective it has to be applied. A fellow once asked a minister, "If your Gospel is so great, why isn't everyone a Christian?" The pastor responded, "If soap is so good, why isn't everyone clean?" Does the fact of dirty people testify against the value of soap? No. It works, but you have to apply it.

Have you?

 

 

[Wrigley]

Sure, I can share.

I don't trust your motives.

United Reformed.

Now, go try and play gotcha.

[xzins]

I will know who stands to lead the people in any church I pastor. Only trinitarians would ever be put before the people in a leader role. And I'm picky about them.

However, I don't check cards on attenders. If some mormons were to come in for the worship service I would certainly not remove them. (In fact, I would [and have] invite[d] them to hear the gospel.) The doors are closed only to those who have the intention of disrupting or injuring the people.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Proof text.

[CCWoody]

***Go back through the thread Vernon, my comments to you were in the context of worshipping with people of "other faiths" and your attempt to use the BoD to support your stance.***

Yes, he is clearly trying to spin it. The only problem is that every Calvinist and even xzins believed him to be speaking of worshipping with "other faiths."

Woody.

[Vernon]

The core issue has been, and still is, the desire of some here to turn the house of God into a place where those who are in false religion can worship with the saints.

Amazing! Incredible!

[xzins]

I don't know them.

I don't play gotcha. Do they have a college or seminary?

[snerkel]

Am I incorrect in my statement that the mission field is the world (outside of the fellowship of the church)?

As for the verse you presented, 1 Corinthians 14:21-25, Paul is dealing with the gifts of prophesy, tongues and orderly worship. You failed to note that Paul is speaking of a congregation of Believers, not Believers and non-Believers, and how disorderly worship would cause a non-Believer to think the congregation of Believers are demented.

[Ex-Wretch]

Hi Mom (ya know I love ya). At the risk of offending you and the Swarm - I'm putting forth the following thoughts. Not as bait, but because after 3 years of reading these threads on Calvinism, this is what I have shrunk it all down to. You may say it is not a correct understanding. Fine. Nevertheless, I find little comfort and no hope as it has been presented over the last 3 years.

Calvinism for Dummies (Cliffs Notes version)

God is sovereign.
He foreknew and predestined it all.
His Plan. His Will. His creation. The Fall. His Salvation.
The Messiah. The Elect. The Damned. The End. Eternity.

Man’s destiny is not of his own choosing.
Man’s destiny is irresistible – heaven or hell.
God’s Sovereign Plan and His Sovereign Will dictates and predestines man’s end.
Thus, to sin is in God’s Sovereign Plan and Will for man.

How then, is sin an act of disobedience? It is God’s Will and Plan.
Man is incapable of stopping his sinning even after being saved.
Thy Will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.

This is a dreadful doctrine. No Hope.
It sounds like a variation of reincarnation.
Nothing can be done to alter your beginning, middle or end.
Hard. Cold. Unmovable. Preprogrammed. That’s just the way it is.

I just can’t imagine putting God in a box like that. Where am I wrong?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Thanks, Marlowe. I consider your weak response an affirmation I answered correctly, even under the scrutiny of your precise judicial glare.

Neener, right back at ya.

[RnMomof7]

You have no idea of the gospel I preach.

But you are wrong , you have put it on display here for al to see.

It is a "gospel" that ignores the word of God for the approval of men

It is a gospel that lacks discernment in its willingness to have prayer and fellowship with different gods on the high places

it is a gospel preached without reference to the word of God..just nice sounding platitudes

It for everyone to see.

I will not tell you in blunt terms what I think, but if the "children of the Reformation" are represented by the kind of diatribe that has been going on here, I agree with our Calvinist Choir leader, it is aberrant at best.

The children of the reformation will gladly tell you what they think of a gospel that is preached that ignores the word of God.

We do not need your approval..all we need do is to preach the gospel

We are being Jesus to a church bereft of the teachings of God

Jhn 8:44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

There was no altar call after this.

[Vernon]

Sorry, but that is pure baloney. I gave you the citation, and if you don't like it, that is your problem. I do not check membership cards at the door, and if anyone wants to come to a worship service, I certainly will not prevent them. I cannot imagine anyone telling someone they can't come to church! I can well assure you that I know of no Methodist who would not participate in an ecumenical community service. Please note: "Participate!" Now, make something out of that I did not say.

[P-Marlowe]

Vern, every Sunday our pastor admonishes the congregation to next time "bring your unsaved friends".

Seems these guys would admonish their congregation to "tell your unsaved friends, that they're not welcome next sunday." As if there aren't unsaved pew warmers and heretics there already.

Yeah, when these guys find the perfect church where everyone is saved and everyone is completely in tune with the spirit of God and everyone worships in one accord without any dissention or spirit of error, then I certainly hope they don't try to join it. They'll ruin it for sure.

[P-Marlowe]

I take it then that you won't be ridiculing WM or any other Mormon freepers anymore when they give their frighteningly similar BURNING BUSOM testimonies, eh?

[xzins]

To be honest, the word "faith group" and "religion" is used differently by different organizations.

The US Army chaplaincy uses "faith group" as synonymous with denomination. A religion is a separate distinct religious persuasion....As in the major world religions.

For organizational purposes the break the chaplaincy into Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim. They consider Christianity's 2 major threads to be Catholic/Protestant. I always understood their organizational need to do so, but they called "protestant" anything that wasn't Catholic.

Then there are the "separate faith groups" within Christianity, as they called it: mormon, jw, missouri synod lutheran, orthodox, anglican (sometimes)

These are groups that did not desire to join with the "protestants" or were groups that the protestants did not want to join them.

It was all rather confusing.

But faith group = denomination.

I consider mormon a different religion like islam, but others may use these words differently.

[Vernon]

We care all to be fruit inspectors.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."

Perhaps we should check our own fruit trees!

[CCWoody]

***I will know who stands to lead the people in any church I pastor. Only trinitarians would ever be put before the people in a leader role. And I'm picky about them. ***

A Calvinist whom I will not name (he can do it if he wants) recently had a Universalist in the pulpit of his non Calvinist church. Vern can whine all he wants about "abberant Calvinists" but we are a wee bit concerned when we hear about worshipping with "other faiths." Some of you may wish to soil yourselves in this way, but we are far too jealous of the sanctity of our worship.

***However, I don't check cards on attenders. If some mormons were to come in for the worship service I would certainly not remove them. (In fact, I would [and have] invite[d] them to hear the gospel.) The doors are closed only to those who have the intention of disrupting or injuring the people.***

Nobody said we did. The issue has always been the conscious worship WITH "other faiths." We feed the homeless donuts every Sunday, as many as come and as many as they want. They have all the coffee they want too. They are invited to even come inside. Sometimes we sit with them outside. I have no problem with any of this.

It is amazing that, like the so-called disciples who followed Jesus only to get their bellies full, most of them never come inside. One woman did once, seeking help. After we helped her, she was found with no food, but a ton of cigarettes. The only homeless guy who consistently follows us where ever we go seems to always have some new clothes and stuff to help him.

But, I will throw the "mother of all fits" if the pulpit ever tried to do what Vern advocated in worshipping WITH other faiths.

Woody.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I care not one bit what "you like to hear."

[drstevej]

A proof text, Vern?

[Vernon]

Amen

[xzins]

My point is that the Apostle Paul had the expectation that unbelievers WOULD be a part of the service and COULD be saved there.

I know you see that.

As to the world outside the doors of the church being the mission field, you are asking me if those outside the church are the unsaved. Yes, they are the unsaved.

My opinion of the best method to reach that world of unsaved people largely revolves around the church that Christ established.

It was the church that used various methods in the book of Acts and continues to. We see street preaching, we see appointing of missionaries by the church, we see personal witnessing, we see opportunity traveling, we see using the church program to attract outsiders, etc.

Anything that is effective is fine with me so long as the gospel is spread. I'm an advocate of the seeker-friendly church as being especially effective in our day.