GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #483

 

                DID YOU KNOW THAT GOD’S PREACHERS ARE GOD’S AMBASSADORS TO YOU?

               

(2 Corinthians 5:18-20)  "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; {19} To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. {20} Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

 

                Pastor Don Fortner

                Grace Baptist Church of Danville

                2734 Old Stanford Road

                Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

 

THE call of the gospel is given by divine authority. That man who is sent of God to preach the gospel is sent with a God given, divine authority, a divine authority which cannot be obtained by any means except the call and gift of God. It is an authority that cannot be obtained from any source other than God himself. That man who is sent of God to preach the gospel stands before his hearers as God’s servant, God’s messenger, with God’s message. Such a man carries “the burden of the Word of the Lord” and speaks to those who hear him in God’s stead, by the power of his Spirit (Matt. 10:40). When God speaks by that man, he strives with men (Gen. 6:3). When men resist the message delivered to them by a man who speaks in the power of God they resist God the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51-52).

 

This divine authority makes the preaching of the gospel a matter of urgent responsibility (Pro. 1:23-31). Gospel preaching leaves sinners without excuse. If you would obey the gospel call, if you would trust the Lord Jesus Christ, he would save you. That is exactly what we are told in Proverbs chapter one. The true, faithful preaching of the gospel is therefore always “a sweet savor of Christ”. To those who believe not it is “a savor of death unto death”. To God’s elect it is “a savor of life unto life” (2 Cor. 2:14-16). In either case, the Word of God, sent by God the Holy Spirit through the lips of his servant, never returns void. It always accomplishes the exact purpose for which God sent it (Isa. 55:11). The labor of the gospel preacher is never labor spent in vain.

 

The call issued to sinners in the preaching of the gospel is a sincere call AS WELL AS AN AUTHORATIVE CALL. Those who despise the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ often attempt to discredit our message by asserting that it is impossible to preach unconditional, electing love and particular redemption and, at the same time, sincerely call all who hear the gospel to repentance and faith in Christ. Nothing is further from the truth. Like Paul of old, God’s servants sincerely call sinners to repentance (Rom. 10:1-4). We know that none shall ever come to Christ except the elect. Yet, we also know that all who will come may come, and that all who do come to the Son of God are saved by his grace (Rom. 10:9-13).

 

                To those who say, “The doctrines of predestination, election, and limited atonement will dry up a church’s missionary zeal and fervency,” I say, “Come, and see.” There are no people in the world more generous, zealous, and fervent in evangelistic, missionary enterprises than those who love Christ and the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in him.

 

                John Gill described the call which goes forth in the preaching of the gospel this way - “Christ stands in the gospel-ministry, at the door of men’s hearts, and knocks and calls. Having the key of the house of David, he opens the heart by the power of his grace, and lets himself in. In this way, and by this means, the Spirit and his graces are received. Men are called both to grace and glory by the gospel.”

 

AMEN.