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Time is changing. The new soon becomes old; the modem becomes
ancient; the technological breakthrough becomes yesterday's news;
the popular becomes lost in the latest; and the up-to-date is
soon out-of-date.
Eternal truth never changes. It reads the same today as yesterday
and as it will tomorrow. It is "once for all delivered to
the saints" (Jude 3). Those who would change it become "accursed"
(Gal. 1:69) and find that it will meet them in judgment unchanged
(Rev. 20:12).
Modem man feels he has outgrown the ancient gospel. He thinks
an absolute standard is obsolete. Exaltation of self and sensuality
replace the idea of sin and spiritual death. He ridicules blood
and the need for forgiveness. He scoffs at the virgin birth, sinless
life, sacrificial death, and miraculous resurrection of Christ.
He regards these as myths of a bygone era.
Has Man Outgrown the Gospel?
Never! The only way man can outgrow the gospel is to conquer
sin. He has not. "All have sinned and come short of the glory
of God" was true in Paul's day and is true today. Sin is
still the transgression of the law of God (I John 3:4), which
can include violating one's conscience (Rom. 14:23), omitting
a duty (James 4:17), and lawlessness (I John 3:4).
Never! God, not man, determines what is sinful; sin will
not change. Men may call sin by another name, but that will not
alter what it really is. Forgiveness is still the most basic spiritual
need that man has (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). The only way a person can
be forgiven is through the gospel (Rom. 1:16).
Never! The gospel is the power to overcome temptation (Eph.
6:17), and man needs its power because temptation is still with
us. Mankind has not conquered carnal desires. He still gives in
to the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life (I John 2:15-17). He cannot overcome without the power
of the written word (Heb. 4:12).
Never! The devil is still "as a roaring lion"
walking about "seeking whom he may devour" (I Pet. 5:8).
Man is still in danger; therefore he needs the unchanged gospel,
for it is God's great power to save. When humans can defeat Satan
without the truth, then they will no longer need the truth. They
cannot. No one is strong enough to conquer the Evil One without
an "it is written" (Matt. 4:1-11).
Never! The soul of man needs food. If man could invent
a substitute for "soul food," he would not need the
gospel, but he has not. Peter stated that the soul feeds on the
"sincere milk of the word" (I Pet. 2:2), and Paul wrote
that he could progress to eat "strong meat" from the
hand of God (Heb. 5:12-14). The gospel fills those who "hunger
and thirst after righteousness" (Matt. 5:6).
Never! Man still needs a map to heaven. Men try to invent
a roadway to heaven, but these maps will only get one lost. If
we follow the road of "faith only" or the lane of "direct
operation of the Holy Spirit" or the path of "once saved
always saved," we are traveling a broad way that leads to
destruction (Matt. 7:13-14). Only Christ and his gospel can lead
one to heaven (John 14:6). "I must needs go home by the way
of the cross; there's no other way but this."
Jesus plainly stated the conditions by which men can reach much
needed salvation. A sinner must believe in Christ (Mark 16:16),
decide to change his sinful life (repent) (Luke 13:5), confess
the sweet name of Christ (Rom. 10:9-10), and be baptized for the
forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:4). We can choose to heed
these scriptures or harass them, to read them or reject them,
to respect them or ridicule them. Still, the same ancient gospel
is the cure for all the spiritual ills of men! Why not obey today?
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