Jun 19
24
THE GOSPEL WE PREACH
Henry Mahan
The apostles and the early believers were despised by the religious Jews
because of the gospel which they preached. It was not because they lived
immoral lives, failed to do good works, nor because they were covetous
or proud men. They were persecuted because the gospel of God’s grace,
which they preached, was offensive to human pride. They preached that
salvation, even for the most moral person on earth, is only possible
because of the grace and mercy of God, given to us in Christ Jesus.
These believers knew nothing of free-will, decisionism, and giving God a
chance. They knew only one way of salvation, that of God’s being
gracious and showing sovereign mercy to sinners in Christ. The gospel of
grace and glory does not appear OCCASIONALLY in their preaching and
writings, nor was it a deeper truth or doctrine which they discussed
PRIVATELY; it reigns, shines, and dominates all that they said, wrote,
and did. It is the ONLY THING that they preached! To them, any word of
human worthiness, works, or rights was totally wrong and counted for
nothing in the matter of acceptance before God. They addressed all men
(even themselves) as guilty, condemned, and perishing justly unless God
is pleased to come in mercy and lift the beggar from his dunghill
dwelling, sanctify and justify him through Christ Jesus, and accept him
in the Beloved.
“God be merciful to us, and bless us; and cause Thy face to shine upon
us” (Psalm 67:1).