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HOUSMAIL HM0A2
1998 THE PRIMARY
FOCUS OF THE GOSPEL Let
me say something which some of you may find "challenging". Please
don't misunderstand ..... I am not denying the importance of Grace. Nor am I
saying that it is not part of the Gospel. But I do want to say that: GRACE
IS NOT THE ONLY WORD IN THE GOSPEL. NOR
IS IT THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE GOSPEL! If
there is one thing which stands out above all else, the "primary
focus" of the Gospel is: THE
CALLING TOGETHER OF A PEOPLE TO INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH. When
we lose sight of that primary focus, we lose sight of the whole purpose of
God in creation! This
is THE emphasis Jesus gave to the subject when He first began to preach,
saying: "The time is fulfilled, and the KINGDOM OF
GOD is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15) What
then is the place of Grace? (The gift - The undeserved favour from God) *
Grace makes the CALL
to the Kingdom of God *
Grace offers the
CONDITIONS on which we must respond to the call. *
Grace gave Jesus to
die so that we could be PARDONED from the sentence of death justly deserved
for our sins. *
Grace speaks the
living words by which we are born again, so that we can both SEE and ENTER
the Kingdom *
Grace trains us in the
HOLINESS without which we cannot inherit the Kingdom. *
Grace guarantees our
RESURRECTION and IMMORTALITY so that we can receive our inheritance and enjoy
it FOR EVER And
..... Grace gives us the KING chosen by God! The
cross, and conviction of sin, and repentance, and Believer's Baptism for
remission of sins, and discipleship in holy living, are given their intended
meaning and perspective ONLY when they are associated with the promised
inheritance of the Kingdom. They
are all part of our preparation for the inheritance ..... But ..... THEY ARE NOT THE PROMISED INHERITANCE! "For in
Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of
you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ ..... And if you are
Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according
to promise." (Galatians 3:26-29) "He will be
great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God
will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will
reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there
will be no end." (Luke 1:32-33) That
inheritance will come to us only AFTER Jesus returns from Heaven to establish
the Kingdom. (Hebrews 11:39-40) Any
so-called "gospel" which ignores the implications of the
inheritance promised to Abraham, and the associated eternal Kingdom of God on
Earth, is no Gospel at all! Any
so-called Gospel which offers a different inheritance, on different
conditions, is no Gospel at all! Allon |