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STAND
FIRM - Issue #34, March 2004
"Be
on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong" (1 Cor. 16:13)
This
is a FREE monthly e-newsletter from Gospel For Today Ministries for men who want to enjoy
peace of mind by being reminded that their righteousness before God is not based
upon their works/performance but upon the finished work of Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:5).
For
more information, visit the Gospel For Today Web site at http://www.gospelfortoday.org/men/men.htm
**************
GFT DISCUSSION FORUM ***********************
Looking
for a place to go to be encouraged in the gospel of
the grace of God? Head on over to
Gospel For Today's new Discussion Forum: http://www.gospelfortoday.org/gftforum/
*****************
TESTIMONY ********************************
"Thank
you for the encouragement. I too am getting off
the hook. Just recently I was reacquainted with some of my old Independent Fundamental Baptist (Fighting Fundies!!) friends. I asked if I could share a new experience of mine with them and to my delight we
have had four home meetings concerning ultimate reconciliation. They
still don't know if they believe it or not but they certainly have something to think
about!!"
-Sherman Eastland, Amarillo, TX
**************** QUOTE OF THE MONTH ************************
"When
the Resurrection and the Life says, ‘Lazarus, come forth,' the rest of
the story does not depend on Lazarus. He can drag his feet all the way - admittedly, a hell of a thing to do - but he rises,
no matter
what. He just plain does."
- Robert F. Capon, Between
Noon And Three
**************************NEW
POLL ******************************
Our
latest poll is now on the GFT Web site. The question: How much influence do you believe God has over the decisions that we make in life? Cast your vote by clicking here: http://www.gospelfortoday.org
***************
TEACHING ARTICLE *****************************
Is
the Gospel “Good News” For All People?
By John Moneypenny, President
Gospel For Today Ministries
“And
the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in
the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ
the Lord’”.
-Luke 2:10-11
I
don’t know about you, but when someone tells me that they have
some good news they want to
share, I expect that I am about to hear something that will bring joy to my heart. Will this good news benefit the one reporting it? Great joy. Will it also benefit me? Even greater joy (I’m so selfish).
Or will it be such remarkably good news that its effects will reach across the
world to the benefit of all creation? Now
we
are talking the greatest of “good news”! Now we are talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ!…or are we?
Is
the “good news of a great joy which shall be for all
people” (Luke 2:10) that the Father
has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world some people (1
John 4:14)?
Is
the “good news of a great joy which shall be for all
people” (Luke 2:10) that God
will have all some men to be saved
and to come to
the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4)?
Is
the “good news of a great joy which shall be for all
people”
(Luke 2:10) that God
did not send the Son into the world to judge the world,
but that the world some people
should be saved through Him (John 3:17)?
Is
the “good news of a great joy which shall be for all
people” (Luke 2:10) that we
have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior
of all some men (1 Timothy 4:10)?
Is
the “good news of a great joy which shall be for all
people” (Luke 2:10) that because
Jesus was lifted up from the earth, He will draw
all some men to Himself (John
12:32)?
Is
the “good news of a great joy which shall be for all
people” (Luke 2:10) that as
through one transgression there resulted condemnation
to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all some
men (Romans 5:18)?
Is
the “good news of a great joy which shall be for all
people” (Luke 2:10) that the
grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to
all some men (Titus 2:11)?
Is
the “good news of a great joy which shall be for all
people” (Luke 2:10) that as
in Adam all die, so also in Christ all some
shall be made
alive (1 Cor. 15:22)?
Is
this the “good news of a great joy which shall be for
all people”?!!
If
so, let’s change the name of what we share with the world to the “bad news”, the “disturbing news”, the “depressing news”, or
the “disheartening news”. Let’s call it what it is and stop pretending
that we have good news of great joy for all people because in this
“gospel” we don’t.
Maybe
the angel lied. Maybe he meant to say that the “good news of a great joy shall be for all some
people”. Surely, Jesus failing to accomplish what the Father sent Him to do is not good news of great joy for
those who
are
excluded. But, it’s also not good news of great joy for those who are
convinced that they are included but have loved ones who are not. The bottom-line
is that if the Father sent the Son to save the world, and as religion teaches us, He failed, then the gospel is not good news at all
to anyone. In fact, it is bad news, very bad news.
Not
to worry. The angel did not lie. God did not lie. And “all” really
does mean “all”. The gospel of Jesus Christ, the proclamation that He is
the Savior of all men, is the good news of great joy for all people. It is
the news that will bring comfort, joy, peace of mind, and assurance to the hearts and minds of all men. Let’s share it with all who will listen.
Many
will respond, others will not. The good news, however, is that a day is coming when all people will not only know and believe it, but also
greatly rejoice in it.
**********
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STAND
FIRM is published by Gospel For Today Ministries, P.O. Box 5186, Bloomington, IN 47407.
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Be
on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong (1 Cor. 16:13)!
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