While I must admit that some things in the Bible are hard to understand, the central message of Scripture is not. The simple message, which is clearly stated in the New Testament is that man is a sinner in need of a Savior. And because of sin we are all spiritually dead and in need of a brand new heart and a total transformation of our very internal nature. And this can only be accomplished through Jesus Christ. Simply put God’s justice demands payment for sin while His mercy offers pardon. The gospel message is indeed good news and is clearly presented in the New Testament as mankind’s only remedy for our sinful lifestyle.
So, the question for all of us is why do so many people miss this clearly stated biblical message entirely, have such a hard time understanding that they are sinners, and refuse to accept the wonderful free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ?
I believe theologian, Sinclair Ferguson, gives us great insight on this matter when he stated: “The problem is not in the clarity of the revelation. The problem is in the darkness of the human mind.”1 Before we come to Christ we are spiritually dead and totally devoid of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. And without the Holy Spirit, illuminating the revelation of the Scriptures, the clear message of the New Testament can’t be understood by our darkened minds.
But some may say if we are spiritually dead and we can’t, therefore, understand the message of salvation from sin, through Jesus Christ, then why would God hold us accountable for our sin. But it isn’t that we can’t understand who God is and who we are – sinners that need salvation, it’s that we choose to suppress the knowledge of God. For this is clearly stated in (Romans 1:18-20): “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Sadly, mankind chooses a sinful lifestyle over serving God by suppressing the truth about God, that they know in their hearts, because we don’t want to be accountable to a holy God. Thus, we choose the creation over the Creator, and stay darkened in our minds to the reality of who God is and who we are – sinners in need of a Savior.
Our role as Christians is to faithfully share the gospel message and pray fervently for the conversion of lost souls. Why some come to the Lord and others still resist, is still a mystery to me but we are not called to solve this mystery but to share and pray and then let God take over. While God is clearly sovereign, as to who will be saved, we are personally responsible for our own sin. How we reconcile these two paradoxical doctrines is not humanly possible but in the economy and mind of God they are. And why God opened my blind eyes to the truth of the gospel, I will never fully know. But one thing I do know – I am careful to give Him all the glory for saving my soul!
1 Sinclair B. Ferguson quote: The problem is not in the clarity of the revelation… (azquotes.com)
“Our role as Christians is to faithfully share the gospel message and pray fervently for the conversion of lost souls.”
So far, so good, but is that all? Does it end there? Do we now wait to be taken to heaven?
This “conversion” has brought us into covenant with God, which brings us back to our created purpose that has never changed.
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Gen. 3
Now that our eyes have been opened and our hearts have been changed, as new creations, we embark on the journey of doing God’s will. We must “multiply.” We must exercise “dominion” over all of creation. We must “subdue” the earth to the glory of God. The word subdue has the meaning of wherever our foot steps, we take possession of that ground. In the new covenant authority of Christ, we do this when we disciple the nations, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Matt. 28
So, yes, let’s proclaim the two edged gospel, that brings the elect to Christ and their covenant responsibilities of fruitfulness, dominion and subjection of the earth that we will fully inherit, as well as ultimately sealing the fate of those who reject the truth, suppressing its message.
Let the church get busy answering the question, “Saved, now what?”
Our God is an awesome God!