There is no greater blessing
to the sons of God than to see and be reminded of the centrality
of Christ in the gospel, yea, even in the whole revelation
of God's word and purpose unto men. If any man fails to see
that centrality, then he cannot preach the true gospel regardless
of what else he might know and declare. A lack of understanding
of this truth is at the heart of all false doctrine, which
necessarily centers itself in the free will of men. Some view
that free will message which is preached by those who would
make God powerless to save men, apart from an activity of their
own free choice, as being merely another point of view. In reality
it is another gospel, which is not really another, since there
is only one gospel. This is exactly what Paul told
the Galatians. I marvel that ye are so soon
removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ
unto another gospel, which is not another. But I certify you,
brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after
men. When men would present the salvation
of sinners as being a joint effort by the Savior and the saved,
they have departed from the truth and have preached the message
which would rob God of the rightful place of glory that He has in
providing for the complete salvation of those He has ordained unto
eternal life. Paul was clearly consistent in
the message which he declared, saying, Christ is all and in
all. He desired to preach nothing
but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It is not uncommon to hear Jesus
Christ and Him crucified being preached here and there, but
it is very rare in this age in which we live to hear nothing
but Jesus Christ and Him crucified being preached. Most preachers
that we hear feel compelled to make the efficacy of the redemption
which Christ has performed to be dependent on man's reception
or decision to believe it. Thus they offer Christ upon a
mulch and block, and seek to persuade men to allow Him to
save them. This is totally contrary to the
scriptural declaration of what the gospel is, and is contrary
to the words of Christ concerning the work of His Spirit. Howbeit
when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into
all truth, for He shall not speak of Himself. If He guides into
all truth and will not speak of Himself, why would puny man
think it right in proclaiming His truth to speak of his own
activity? Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, not
to simply make their salvation possible or even probable. He
is the Savior of those who became to save, and all which the Father
has given him he shall lose none. There are probably no three chapters
in the scriptures that are more neglected, unread, and unpreached
upon than the ninth through the eleventh chapter of Romans. Except
for a few verses in the 10th and 11th chapters, these passages
are usually ignored. To do so is to miss the whole
purpose of God in the creation of the world and to overlook
the unfolding of His grace in the salvation of that elect remnant
which was given to Christ before the foundation of the world.
It is fitting that Paul concludes the eleventh chapter with these
words, For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things
to whom be glory for ever. Amen. This is the summation of
his message to the Romans. If a man fails to see the glory
in this summation, then he has missed the gospel. Christ is
the subject of each of these prepositions, of, through, and
to. Each one connects to Him. Of
Him, the word of denotes the origin of the all things which
come after it. The eternal Son of God is the
originator of all things. John heard the twenty-four elders
saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and
power, for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure
they are and were created. He declared in his own words
to Isaiah, I am the Lord. And there is none else. I form
the light and create darkness. I make peace and create evil.
I, the Lord, do all these things. All things includes all things
through Him. There is no other way in which
man could have ever known the true and living God except he
was pleased to reveal himself in Jesus Christ. No man has seen
God at any time. The only begotten Son, which
is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. There is
no other avenue through which a man might be able to approach
unto God. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. It is through
Jesus Christ that redemption is brought to the sons of God.
Much more than being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him, to Him. It is unto Jesus Christ that
all glory is to be given, both now and in the ages to come.
To Him all creation shall bring their praise. Fear God and give
glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come, and worship
Him that made heaven, earth, and the sea. Do you rejoice in
the revelation of His glory? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at 4the4 at windstream dot net.