Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morseals for Zion's Tour. There is no shortage of
skillful preachers in the present day. There are schools and seminaries
of every stripe which turn out trained and qualified preachers
with the regularity of a cookie machine at the Keebler Bakery.
They all have the proper credentials to get jobs as mercenaries in
the army of God. Many are great orators who would
probably even rival one like Apollos, but just like him, yet
they need the way of God expounded unto them more perfectly. Some
of them are no doubt wolves in sheep's clothing who deceive
others, being deceived themselves. There are also some of these
silver-tongued angels of light who are intent on gathering to
themselves a following and are willing to tell men exactly what
they want to hear in order to have preeminence and enrich themselves
with this world's goods. They are able to expound upon
many texts and produce polished and powerful orations which leave
their hearers spellbound, or in some cases rolling around
on the floor and foaming at the mouth. Paul was well qualified,
having been taught of God, and needed not than any man should
teach him, since Christ himself was his instructor. He confessed
that his skills as an orator were lacking, yet he left an
indelible mark upon all who heard him, because his message always
centered on the one truth that the preaching of the true gospel
always does—Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul could have
drawn from the vast compendium of the knowledge which he possessed
on a multitude of topics which could actually all be profitable
to the children of God in one way or another. Yet he declared
without equivocation, I determine not to know anything among you
save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He determined that this was the
crux of the matter. Regardless of what else he could
say, he would declare the finished work of Christ. There are many
issues upon which men may go to the right and to the left,
but by equivocating on that which Christ has performed in the behalf
of His elect is to miss the one thing needful. We are sometimes
accused of thinking that all men are lost who do not agree
with us doctrinally. Such is not the case. However,
we are convinced that there is not more than one true gospel,
and this true gospel is that which declares that the salvation
of the righteous is of the Lord. We have not looked upon the Lamb's
Book of Life to see whose name is recorded there, but we have
determined, along with Paul, that any message which attributes
the salvation of the people of God to anything other than the
work of Christ cannot be the true gospel. It does not matter
what else a man may preach or how sincerely he may do so, if
he misses or misrepresents the sufficiency and efficiency of
the blood of Christ to atone for the sins of his people, he
has missed the true gospel and is declaring another gospel.
Paul determined to preach Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God,
who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God, but made himself of no reputation and took upon
him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which
is above every name. Who is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of every creature? For by Him were all things created
that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created by Him and for Him. And he is before
all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of
the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminent.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.
Paul determined to preach the atoning work of Christ as the
sum total of the sinner's hope. 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. Paul determined
to preach Christ as the Savior of his people, not one who offers
salvation to all, but actually procures it for none. This is
a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. How high a privilege it is to
know our sins are all forgiven, to bear about this pledge below
the special grant of heaven. To look on this when sunk in
fears while each repeated sight, Like some reviving cordial cheers
and makes temptations light, This is a treasure rich indeed,
which none but Christ can give, Of this the best of men have
need, this I the worst receive. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.