Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The perversion of the gospel
began quite early on in the days of the New Testament church.
It is no wonder, therefore, that 2,000 years later the preaching
of the gospel, so called, has for the most part been so thoroughly
perverted so as to be nearly unrecognizable. I often wonder
if the Apostle Paul returned and viewed the fragmentation
of those that call themselves Christians and gospel churches
around the world, if he would not conclude that the preaching
of the gospel which he declared has by and large ceased. It is
rather presumptuous for any sect or order to label themselves
as being champions of truth to the exclusion of all others,
but I do think that it is possible to identify some clear characteristics
and identifying marks of the unperverted gospel that Paul
declared. Let God be true, but every man a liar. We can boast
all we want of our pedigrees, confessions of faith, or other
claims to orthodoxy. But if we do not proclaim that
which Paul preached, then he said we are to be accursed. But
though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any
other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
accursed. Perversion of the truth is often
hardly recognizable and seldom begins with gross departures
from truth, but most often presents itself as an addition to it.
Deception is deceitful or else none would ever be deceived.
Satan has transformed himself into an angel of light, so it
is no wonder that the perverters of the gospel are for the most
part preaching many things that are true. Yet in order to be
the gospel, which Paul declared, there can be no alterations either
by omission or addition. So how can we test the preaching
of the gospel? It must begin and end with the
glory of God. It has often been said by those
who despise the preaching of God's unconditional election
of a people unto salvation that such preaching is a waste of
time. The basis of their argument is
built upon the false notion that the preaching of the gospel is
for the purpose of saving men. While it is true that the Lord
saves men by the foolishness of preaching, it is also true
that the purpose of preaching is to glorify the name of Jesus
Christ in the earth. He said, and if I be lifted up
from the earth will draw all men unto me. It is for His glory
that we preach, and His glory that must be proclaimed wherever
and whenever the true gospel is preached. He is the Alpha
and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and
the last. This gospel must be the proclamation of Christ alone.
He said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to
the Father but by me. Peter declared, neither is there
salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven
given among men whereby we must be saved. Paul said, Christ is
all and in all. In order to preach the gospel,
one must preach Christ, the whole Christ, and nothing but Christ.
Jesus Christ came into the world to save his people from their
sins, and he has done exactly that. The preaching of the gospel
is the preaching of Christ with nothing added. Faith is not an
addition, which makes salvation complete, but it is the manifestation
of the completed work of Christ in saving his own. To preach
the gospel, it must be the preaching of Jesus Christ crucified. Paul
said he had only one message, for I determined not to know
anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The
central theme of gospel preaching must be the declaration of a
complete redemption wrought by the work of Christ, neither by
the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered
in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption
for us. There is no cooperative effort
on the part of man to make what Christ performed effectual. For
he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him. He came into the
world as a Redeemer, and he left it as the same. It must be the
preaching of Jesus Christ triumphant. And you being dead in your sins
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together
with him, having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out
the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his
cross. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of
them openly, triumphing over them in it. that in all things
he might have the preeminence. We're not waiting for the day
when Christ shall reign, but do bow down before him as the
risen and reigning king, who sits in royal state upon the
throne of his mediatorial kingdom, which shall never end. Now unto
the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and
glory forever and ever. Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.