The Saving, Transforming, Comforting Gospel
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Introduction
Introduction
We have gathered this morning in order to remember a very dear brother in the faith. Bob was a man who had a deep love for the Lord Jesus Christ, and lived his life with great joy and delight in serving Christ. Christ was his all, and this was evident through his manner of life and his treatment of others.
In fact, it was said of Bob by one other godly man that, “Bob was probably the most godly man that he ever knew.”
But what was the reason that this was a man so well loved and respected? What was the reason that he lived a life so radically different from so many in the world? The reason was the grace of God that transformed his life, and shaped his manner of life.
And so this message is not so much about Bob, but rather about the one that transformed Bob into the man that he was. While we remember our dearly beloved brother, the glory and praise must go to the One who so powerfully worked in Bob’s life - God Almighty!
As we do that in this time of rememberance, it is fitting that our focus is on the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. After all, it is this Gospel that transformed the life of our Brother, and the Gospel that he so beautifully conveyed through his life, and the Gospel that he loved to tell others of.
As we consider this Gospel then, we will do so from some passages that were held particularly dear to Bob himself. As we do that, I want us to note three particular aspects or implications of this Gospel that was so beautifully lived out and displayed by our brother.
Firstly…
Two Characteristics of the Gospel
Two Characteristics of the Gospel
1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
As we consider these verses, two things stand out in particular with regards to the Gospel that Bob held dear in his own life.
Gospel of Peace
Gospel of Peace
We see here that this Gospel is a Gospel of peace, or a Gospel that bring peace.
Paul begins this section by urging Timothy (and the church) to offer up prayers to God, with the purpose being that life may be tranquil and quiet, and may be lived in all godliness and dignity.
As we consider the world around us, I’m quite certain that we all see and know of the effects of a world at war. Even if this is not the full-scale war as we see in Ukraine / Russia, there is general sense of a lack of peace in this world.
Every man is pursuing his own goals and agenda in life, leading so often to strife and conflict.
This state of conflict can make its way across all levels of society, including families, workplaces, world leaders… A sin-cursed world will inevitably be marked by a lack of peace.
But Paul here entreats the church to pray to God, ultimately for the gospel to be proclaimed. Paul is saying to Timothy that through the proclamation of this Gospel, there may be peace.
In verse 1 he calls for prayers for all men. A little further on he speaks about God desiring “all men” to be saved (v.4). And then in verse 6 he says that Christ died for “all men.”
It is thus clear in Paul’s mind that if there is going to be genuine peace, that the Gospel needs to be proclaimed. If there would be peace among men, the Gospel of peace must be brought to bear in the lives of people.
In Ephesians 6:15, Paul specifically refers to the Gospel as the “Gospel of Peace.”
7 How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
The Gospel is indeed a Gospel of peace. It is a Gospel that brings peace, not only between God and men, but between men themselves. Those who have been transformed by the Gospel are those marked by a life of peace.
So it was with Bob - a man at peace with God and with men...
Gospel that Saves
Gospel that Saves
Notice further that this is the Gospel that saves. The Gospel means “Good News...”
In Isaiah 52:7 which we just read about the feet of him who brings good news. That’s the picture that Paul used in Ephesians 6:15 as well. It is also the phrase that Paul uses in Romans 10.
13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
We see then in Romans 10 that the good news that is spoken of here is a message that leads people to call upon the name of the Lord in order to be saved. The Gospel really is a message of being saved.
Just briefly, notice some important aspects concerning the saving Gospel.
The salvation brings about reconciliation between God and man. In the context of 1 Timothy 2, this reconciliation is shown through Christ being portrayed as a mediator.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Bound up in the idea of a mediator is one that stands between God and man. It is through the Lord Jesus Christ that reconciliation has been brought between man and God. It is through this mediator that sinful man may come before a holy God.
We see also, as a critical element of this Gospel that saves, that Christ gave himself as a ransom in order to save.
6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
Jesus is the Saviour...
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
The Apostle Peter refers to Jesus as the Saviour…
2 Peter 1:1 (NASB95)
1 ....To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
Christ is the Saviour, and he saves through giving himself as a ransom for our sins.
In this sense, he saves from the wrath of God…
Paul writes in 1 Thes 1:10 about...
1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NASB95)
10 ....Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
Christ is the Saviour, the ransom paid, the one who saves from the wrath of God to come, all who believe in him, and place their faith in him.
But this salvation also has practical implications to every day life. In other words, when this salvation is effected in a person’s life, there is a radical transformation as God works his power in them.
Christ saves from physical danger.
10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Christ saves us from the condemnation of the Law…
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—
Christ saves from the power of death…
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This salvation brings a freedom from condemnation, a freedom from fear, even of death. The writer to the Hebrews speaks about Christ who
Hebrews 2:15 (NASB95)
15 ....free[s] those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Now, this brings radical transformation to a person. This is really what brought transformation to the life of Bob, and what enabled him to live a life of peace and joy....
Why does a man live with contentment, joy, enthusiasm, graciousness, peace of heart in this manner??? Because of the Gospel. Bob’s life was a testimony of the powerful, transformative work of the Gospel.
When Paul writes to the Corinthian believers, he says in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
That’s essentially what Bob sought to put on display in this world in his own life. Was he imperfect? Of course!!
Did he get it wrong at times? Of course!
But on the whole, his life was a testimony of the grace of God, which was put on display as Bob sought to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ.
This leads us to consider another very important dimension of this glorious Gospel.
The Power Behind the Gospel
The Power Behind the Gospel
And so we read another verse that was deeply loved and appreciated by Bob…
27 But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
The context of this verse In Luke 18 is that of a rich young ruler that comes to Jesus and wants to inherit eternal life. This man had tried with all his might to live a good life, to live a life pleasing to God. Why? Because he wanted eternal life…
Now, Jesus immediatley knew this man’s heart, and where he was held captive.
22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
This man was confronted at a point of weakness, where he still held on to things in this life. Jesus said to him that he would need to forsake all things of this world, and would need to trust completely in God’s means for salvation.
But this was beyond the rich man’s abilities, and he walked away.
24 And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
The reason Jesus said this was because of the manner in which the things of this world tend to hold sway of the hearts of man.
it may be that the things of this world hold sway in the lives of people because they bring them comfort.
It may be that the things of this world bring them pleasure and enjoyment.
It may be that the things of this world bring them a sense of security.
It may be that the things of this world provide a hope for these people.
Whatever the reason… whatever the motivation, Jesus was essentially teaching here that to hold onto anything in this world, for whatever reason, above a deep trust and confidence in God, is idolatry of the heart, and needs to be forsaken.
Now, the disicples were taken aback at this teaching. They stood aghast, and essentially asked, who then can be saved?!
And Christ’s response was the verse that Bob so loved…
27 But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
Dear friends, salvation is impossible apart from the powerful working of the grace of God.
Apart from God himself making us alive by the power of His Spirit, we would not forsake the things of this world as our source of hope, confidence, trust, comfort, pleasure etc…
But the grace of God...
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Bob’s life was marked by a joy and delight in God, a beautiful confidence and delight in God, because of the gift of faith granted to Him.
The final element that we should note then, is…
The Effect of the Gospel
The Effect of the Gospel
This flows from another verse (set of verses) that Bob held dear in his heart.
One of the glorious realities of the Gospel is that it leads to a deep trust, joy, delight and settled disposition / contentment in God. God becomes all, as He ought to!
When I visited with Sandra, Debbie and Brian after Bob had passed away, one of the Scriptures that I read with them was Psalm 46:1-2.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Those verses speak of great tumult and disruption in the world. The earth changing, or the mountains slipping into the heart of the sea… these are events that will lead to trembling and fear in any person…
But Psalmist uses these pictures of grand catastrophe, and says that the person whose refuge and strength is in God will not fear such things, because of who God is.
As I read those words, Sandra said to me that her and Bob had been reading those very words just the day before… As he lay in bed, weak, not able really to do anything for himself… struggling even for breath, he was able to say that God was his refuge and strength.
Even in the midst of severe weakness, God was strength to HIm. In the midst of the greatest enemy to mankind - death itself - God was a very present help in trouble.
This is the effect (at least one of the effects) of the Gospel. And it was lived out in the life of Bob so that all could see it.
Over the last number of weeks prior to Bob being taken home, he had a string of visitors from the church. And he loved it. But those who visited would see him awaken and then fall into a sleep, even while they were sitting with him. But when he awoke, there was a joy in his face. There was a joy in his communication…
Those who visited him came away with a sense of joy themselves, despite the condition he was in. His hope was truly in God, and he was at peace within himself.
Two more verses that he loved, and that were asked to be included in this service in rememberance, those are the closing two verses of this Psalm…
10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah.
The one who has come to know the powerful Gospel of Salvation is able to cease striving and to rest in God Almighty.
The words in verse 10 are “Cease Striving,” or in other translations, “be still.”
When the world around you is giving way, the Psalmist says that people should be still.
When all is falling apart and the mountains are crashing down into the heart of the sea.... “Be still....”
“Cease Striving....”
When God is known, peace of heart prevails.
When God is trusted because of His nature and Character, peace prevails.
In a world full of striving and conflict and raging and war, the Christian may be at peace with God…
Even in the face of death, the Christian is at peace.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 Just as it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Here is the Christian’s confidence.
Bob lived out this confidence, because he had a faith given by God, and a trust and hope in the character and promises of God.
He was able to be still and cease striving, because God was his hope. The saving Gospel had worked in his life.
This brings us full circle to the first verses that we read from 1 Timothy 2....
Paul wanted prayers to be offered up for all men, that “we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
Is this the mark of your own life?
Knowing the man that Bob was, knowing the peace he enjoyed, he would have longed for every person to know this peace.
Do you have this peace?
Has the saving Gospel penetrated your heart, and reconciled you to God, so that your trust is fully in Him alone, and you are thus living a life of peace and contentment in God?
May he work His mighty power within us so that we too may be ambassadors for Christ as our dear brother was.
As we do that, may the name of Christ be highly exalted!