Gospel

 

I have been asked to give a message on  1 Peter4:12-19.  Two words seem significant. 1.  Suffer 2. Gospel.

In this article I would like to mention the Gospel. For many this word seems beyond its use by date. Churches seldom mention it. How few go into all the world and preach the Gospel.(Good News). May the LORD bless those who do.

Looking around our world we need Good News. I was reading the newspaper today, and oh how little of it is good news! More than ever we need a Gospel that brings deliverance from ruined lives and hope for the future. In my few years, I have seen so many things promised to “fix the world”. For example :- United nations, psychology. liberation from religion, communism, education, technology etc  - all are a dismal failure, in fact most have intensified the problem of the human condition.

So where does the good news come in?  The Gospel of God is not designed to fix the world, although that will happen. The Gospel is God reaching out to individuals to be reconciled to Himself. Although  the Lord God is almighty, He by His Holy Spirit  seeks to interact with all people of all nations. As the people are transformed, then the nations will change for the better.

His voice is heard in our conscience unearthing those things that have created our distance from God – sin. But that same voice of conviction declares God’s remedy – good news  (Gospel) through Jesus Christ. Many turn away from HIM, because they prefer their own selfish and sinful ways. Yet the message of mercy remains – Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, He was buried and the third day rose again. By virtue of that sacrifice, God can forgive, God can become our Father, God can accept us and transform our lives to be filled with light, life and love. Now that is real Gospel – good news.

But 1 Peter 4.verse 17 asks an awful question – “what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?”  I would like you to pause and answer that question. It has an answer in the present and an answer in the future.

Why did the question use the word ‘obey’? – because the call of God’s Gospel calls for action – “Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ “ (Acts 20:21)

However, to be a Christian, does not mean life will be easy. This part of Peter’s writing makes it clear that suffering is an expected part of life. The world we live, in dances to the tunes of the devil, so as followers of Jesus Christ as Lord we become the object of satan’s attacks. Peter gives encouragement.

“It is no shame to suffer for being a Christian” (V16) 

But our God is a faithful creator who loves and cares for His own.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you “ 1 Peter 5:7

JRM  8.12.2023