The Gospel of Truth Revealed
In the Apostle Paul’s epistle to the Romans, he speaks a significant phrase: “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith” (Romans 3:27, NIV).
- The truth of the gospel must be accepted by faith.
- Ours is a gospel of faith and this has great significance in the spiritual realm!
The writer of Hebrews tells us, to fix our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our faith. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, NIV).
Our faith is in a living Christ! – Christ Jesus, of whom we have living proof!
Having faith in the unseen
When speaking of jesus, the apostle john says, “that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the word of life. The life (who is Jesus) appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the father and has appeared to us” (1 John 1: 1 & 2, NIV).
In the first instance, the writer tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, whom John testifies the Apostles have seen. Yet elsewhere, the Apostle Paul tells us, to fix our eyes on what is unseen, because that which is unseen is eternal. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV).
This is not a contradiction of terms.
Though we may not yet see Him, Jesus remains as alive today as He was over 2,000 years ago and His power today remains the same!
Therefore, we must have faith to believe, that the things that go on unseen or in the spiritual realm, are of significant eternal value!
The Power of the Gospel Displayed
Just before the passover, Jesus spoke to His disciples, saying: “The hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:23-25, NKJV).
Though they could not yet see, Jesus was preparing his disciple’s hearts for what was about to occur. As Christ began to explain the need for him to go to the cross on their behalf, He said, “now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John 12:31, KJV).
The word ‘prince’ Jesus uses here is ‘archon’ in the Greek, translated, ‘a first’ (in rank or power): —‘chief’ (ruler); ‘magistrate’; ‘prince’; ‘ruler’. (Strong’s Concordance). Also described by the Apostle Paul in the book of Ephesians as, “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2, KJV).
The word for ‘spirit’ used in Ephesians 2, is ‘pneuma’ in the Greek, sometimes translated: ‘a current of air’; i.e. ‘breath’ (blast) or ‘a breeze’; by analogy or figuratively, ‘a spirit.’
The word ‘cast’ (as in ‘cast out’) that Jesus uses, is ‘ekballō’ in the Greek, translated ‘eject’ (literally or figuratively):—‘bring forth’; ‘cast’ (forth, out); ‘drive’ (out); ‘expel’; ‘leave’; ‘pluck’ (pull, take, thrust) ‘out’; ‘put forth’ (out); ‘send away’ (forth, out). These are all very forceful terms and are spoken by Jesus Christ in the present tense because the power of Christ was about to be outworked in a powerful and mighty way.
Continuing His address, Jesus said: “And I, if I am lifted up (on the Cross) from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.’ This He said, signifying by what death He would die” (John 12:32 & 33, NKJV).
The writer of Hebrews declares “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, KJV).
Because Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today and forever, His power remains the same. And these things – the casting out of evil spirits and the drawing of all peoples to Himself – will continue to occur wherever the gospel of His kingdom is shared.
Perhaps not understanding the significance of these terms, the people questioned Jesus, saying, “‘We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?’” (John 12:34, NKJV).
Who has Believed our Report?
Though Jesus had been speaking of himself (these things having already been explained), without answering their question, Jesus went on to say, “’a little while longer the light (who is Christ) is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.’ These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him (that he was the light), that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which He spoke: ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the ‘arm’ (translated‘strength’) of the Lord been revealed?’” (John 12:35-38, NKJV).
The word ‘believe’ used here is translated ‘pisteuō’ in the Greek, meaning, ‘to have faith’ (in, upon, or with respect to a person or thing); i.e. credit; by implication, ‘to entrust’ (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ):—‘believe’ (-r); ‘commit’ (to trust); ‘put in trust with’.
By believing in Christ, we trust in his strength. And in so doing, we entrust our spiritual well- being to him.
In his Epistle to the Romans, quoting from Isaiah 52:7, the Apostle Paul says, “’How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel” (Romans 10:15 & 16, NKJV). Then quoting from the same scripture in Isaiah 53:1, Paul says, “For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’” (Romans 10:16, NKJV).
In the Hebrew, this same word ‘believed’ is translated, ‘aman’ meaning, ‘to go to the right hand’; ‘to build up or support’; ‘to foster’ as a parent or nurse; figuratively ‘to render’ (or be) ‘firm’ or ‘faithful’, ‘to trust’ or ‘believe’; ‘to be permanent’ or ‘quiet’; ‘morally to be true or certain’:— hence ‘assurance’; ‘establish’; ‘be faithful’; ‘of long continuance’; ‘steadfast’; ‘sure’; ‘verified’; ‘turn to the right’. Many of these are actions, not just words.
- God’s works of the kingdom are understood by grace.
- This is a work of His Spirit.
- Whilst it is significant that they did not all obey – Paul says they did not all obey, because some did not believe their report.
- We must first believe in order to obey!
Salvation is an Ongoing Process
Paul speaks of us as believers in Christ as those who are saved. “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:1 & 2, NKJV).
Yet elsewhere in the Book of Corinthians, Paul speaks of himself and other believers as those who are still being saved. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18, NKJV).
Again, this is not a contradiction of terms. For, like Paul, at the very moment we receive Jesus, Who is the Christ, we are saved by grace, through faith. But it is our faith that is in a continual process of growth. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8 & 9, NKJV).
Paul tells us also, that we are all in the process of being changed. “but we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image (as Christ) from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV).
- For by faith we are saved, by grace, but we are also in the process of being saved, through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross.
- The power of our salvation is outworked every time the power of the enemy is overthrown.
Have You not Seen, Have You not Heard?
The prophet Isaiah says, “for since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides you, who acts for the one who waits for Him” (Isaiah 64:4, NKJV).
Quoting from the very same passage, the Apostle Paul says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9, NKJV).
No matter what man has done, no matter what has occurred, these words are good news! Praise the Lord!
We are Forgiven on Account of His Name
When the Apostle John wrote his Epistle in 1 John, he was not writing to those who had not heard the gospel message, but to a group of believers who had already heard the Word. “Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have (already) heard” (1 John 2:7, NIV).
He writes to those who have already been forgiven on account of His name. “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name” (1 John 2:12, NIV).
He writes to the fathers (who carry this legacy), because they have known Him (Jesus), Who is, from the beginning: “I write to you, fathers, because you know Him Who is from the beginning” (1 John 2:13, NIV).
He writes to young men who, in the past, have already overcome. “I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:13, NIV).
He writes to those who have known the Father’s heart: “I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father” (1 John 2:13, NIV).
He writes to young men because they are strong and in whom the word of God ‘lives’ (translated ‘abides’ in the KJV, meaning, ‘to continue’; to dwell’; ‘to endure’; ‘to remain’ – see Strong’s Concordance). “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you” (1 John 2:14, NIV).
Our Joy is not yet Complete
But there is a reason why John speaks these same things again and again! It becomes apparent throughout his address, that the people he is addressing are no longer in fellowship with John and some of the brethren, and that without them, their joy is not complete! “we proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy (also translated ‘your joy’) complete” (1 John1: 3 & 4, NIV).
John goes on to explain: “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7, NIV).
Nothing can Separate us from God
The Apostle Paul reminds us: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38 & 39, NKJV).
This means, we have absolutely nothing to fear in the word of the Lord. His Love is far greater than we could ever possibly imagine!
John’s plea to the people to whom he made his address in 1 John Chapter 2 was, to return to the word of the Lord. Because in so doing, their hearts (and relationships) would be restored. For it was the gospel message that had been ignored. In this same address John says, “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light (who is Jesus), and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the Darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:9-11, NKJV).
We will never reach others or win souls for Christ without expressing the love that is found in Jesus Christ!
Jesus said: “as the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever i command you” (John 15:9-14, NKJV).
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35, NKJV).
All Things Work Together for Good
The Apostle Paul says, “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called (translated ‘appointed’ – Strong’s Concordance) according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
When we look at the life of Joseph from the Book of Genesis in the Bible, (from chapters 37 to 50 – see my previous article “The Life of Joseph”), we see that after having been given two very significant dreams, Joseph’s life was never the same again. But no matter what happened to Joseph, the hand of God never left his side. It was after he had been sold into slavery at his brothers’ hands, and after he had spent many years in prison at the hands of Potiphar’s wife, and after he had been forgotten by the cup bearer in prison whom he had previously helped, that Joseph, once more, came face-to-face with his brothers. With his brothers fearful of his response, Joseph was able to reassure them: “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:19-20, NKJV).
The ultimate goal of all redemption is for all peoples to come to the knowledge of Christ.
Quoting from Isaiah 28:16, the Apostle Paul says, “whoever believes on Him (Jesus) will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11, NKJV).
The word ‘shame’ as it is used in Romans 10:11, is translated ‘kataischynō’ in the Greek, meaning: ‘to shame down’; i.e. ‘disgrace’ or (by implication) ‘put to the blush’ :—‘confound’; ‘dishonour’; (be a-, make a-)shame(-d). (Strong’s). But the Apostle Paul says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through Him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20, NIV).
It is because Christ carried our shame on the Cross on our behalf (Read again Hebrews 12:2 in the opening passages of this article), that we do not have to live with shame on any account.
It is God’s promise to all men – that whoever believes on him, will never be put to shame! Hallelujah!
