Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. To say that we live in a day
when the gospel has been subverted, perverted, and distorted would
be an understatement of the highest order. Most organized religion
in the present time is quite content to rest upon its laurels
of past glory, that is, their creeds, confessions, traditions,
and liturgies. Having little desire or need
to examine whether or not the message that they are proclaiming
far and wide is indeed the same gospel which was declared by
Paul and the rest of the apostles. Since the vast majority of so-called
Christendom is convinced of the ability of man's free will to
choose to follow the Lord or not, we are not surprised to
see the message of the present time to be a mixture of psychology
and entertainment. The psalmist speaks of a people
who are highly blessed because they have known the joyful sound. We believe that this joyful sound
must indeed be a reference to the gospel, which literally means
a good or delightful message. This joyful sound has gone into
all the earth, but it has been known by relatively few. But
I say, have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went
into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith,
Lord, who hath believed our report? We do not point this out in order
to try to stir men up to take some activity of faith, but rather
to emphasize the necessity of a work of grace, which must take
place in order for a man to be gladdened in his heart and soul
upon hearing this joyful sound. This is that dawning of light,
and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free, which is visited upon the elect of God when he is pleased
to give them eyes to see and ears to hear. Those who are blessed
by God do indeed rejoice in knowing the joyful sound. That which
is a joyful message to a man who is convinced of his inability
to bring anything of value to the Lord is a declaration of
the complete work of salvation which is wrought by Christ for
such sinners. How can a man who feels that
he has no faith bring faith to the Lord? Yet what a joyous relief
it is to such a man to hear that Christ is the giver of faith,
that whatever he requires he has provided. This is indeed
a joyful sound. When the Philippian jailer cried
out, Sirs, what must I do to be saved, he was not given a
checklist or a decision card. Rather, Paul said, Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. This was not
a formula which if the man followed, he would gain salvation. This
was a command by Paul for him to cast himself upon the mercy
of Christ, whom he had little, if any, knowledge of. Thus Paul
was given grace to declare unto him the unsearchable riches of
Christ. And as the Lord gave him faith, he did indeed believe
on Christ. He rejoiced in the joyful sound.
The gospel is a joyful sound because it is a declaration of
the supremacy of Christ, who, being in the form of God, thought
it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation,
took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness
of men, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things
in heaven, things in earth, and things under the earth, and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father. The gospel is a joyful sound
because it is a manifestation of the complete work of Christ
in the salvation of that people which he has loved with an everlasting
love. His choice of a people and his
work in their behalf ensures that everyone for whom he came
into the world to redeem shall obtain the glory to which they
are ordained. And this is the Father's will
which has sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should
lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
The gospel is a joyful sound because he who tasted death as
every man has triumphed over it. But now has Christ risen
from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
The sting of death is forever taken away in Christ. The gospel
is a joyful sound because he who came into the world to save
sinners shall so come again in like fashion as he ascended into
the heavens. Together his purchased possessions
from every kindred, tribe, and tongue upon the earth. For the
Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. And the dead
in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain
shall be called up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with
the Lord. Have you heard and known this
joyful sound? Christ is the Savior of sinners.
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