…separated to the gospel of God… —Romans 1:1
{CHAMBERS} “Our calling is not primarily to be
holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one
all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the
abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or
hell— it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the
Christian worker today. […] we have to get used to the revelation that
redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption,
not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under
when testing comes.”
{ELGIN} I think most Christians are focused on
themselves and their immediate family when it comes to salvation.
Striving for personal holiness through self-effort and sin avoidance.
Certainly salvation for our children and family is important to us, but frankly
it’s not more important than the salvation of your neighbor to God. We
may spend every night reading stories to our children and never say a word to
the couple next door. It is not about knocking on the door and giving
them a tract, but speaking to them when the Lord gives you opportunity.
Proclaiming the Gospel in word and deed.
When Jesus said it is not the outside of the cup that makes
it unclean (Matthew 23:25-26). He was speaking about redemption
and the holiness that is birthed from it. The Pharisees thought that appearing
to be righteous was the way to being righteousness. That only comes
through faith in Jesus. You want the world to change? It won’t
until Jesus returns. You want to change lives? Tell people about
the One who can and will. You might even tell your neighbor.
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