The Gospel's Piercing Indictment

04.13.09
J.A. Matteson

"Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 2 Timothy 2:3

Pilgrims of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are regarded as detestable oddities and their steadfast adherence to their Master is a grinding irritant to the conventional wisdom of men. As a grain of sand in the eye or a splinter of wood under the nail, fallen men instinctively seek to remove that which aggravates. Harsh treatment by the world directed at the saint is due to the cross of Christ and is synonymous with faithful obedience. Take heed, therefore, if the world speaks well of you, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23).

Have you made up your mind yet? Have you settled it in your soul as to whose praise you seek? Have you forgotten the warning of the Apostle that friendship with the world is enmity against God? No faithful soldier lays down his arms on the battlefield, does he not fight until death? No combatant in the Kings army enters into an accord with the enemy while the King directs an offensive, does he? Who misled you into concluding that the message of the cross would be welcome news to the world? The message of the cross is offensive to the sensibilities of those who are perishing and often invokes a vicious response in word and at other times a violent reaction in deed, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matthew 24:9).

The Gospel of Jesus Christ penetrates to the core of human depravity, it spars none, is impartial to all, it leaves naked and exposed the secrets of men's hearts, it obliterates all pretense and religiosity, it shatters the prideful illusion of self-righteousness, it deals squarely with men individually as they are and not as they perceive themselves to be, it demolishes perceived hiding places in that there is no place where the Gospel does not reign supremely. Without partiality the Gospel condemns all and commands all to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or perish under the mighty wrath of God. To the hedonist blindly chasing after pleasure the Gospel condemns, “You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter” (James 5:5); to the materialist amassing possessions the Gospel condemns, “Then He said to them, ‘Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions" (Luke 12:13-15); to the atheist the Gospel condemns, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1); to the polytheist the Gospel condemns, “See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides Me….” (Deuteronomy 32:39); to the religious the Gospel condemns, “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious… Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you” (Acts 17:22-23); to the pluralist the Gospel condemns, “And there is salvation in no one else ; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 14:12).

As a result of the Gospel’s piercing indictment of ego-centric attempts at self-justification the world abhors it and the bond-slaved of Jesus Christ who tenaciously declares it. What, then, is the consolation to the faithful pilgrim bearing the message of the cross to a hostile world? Let the words of the Apostle lighten your load and fill your heart with joy, “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:10).

There is both a hardening and softening outcome to the Gospel; to the elect—foreknown and predestined—a softening of heart leading to conviction and repentance without regret resulting in salvation, and to the reprobate a hardening of heart resulting in hostility to the Gospel, ending in death. The good soldier of the cross can endure hardship knowing that the Gospel will bring to faith and repentance those foreknown and predestined to salvation, “When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48).

Beloved, good soldiers brought to you the Gospel of your redemption; elect remain in darkness awaiting a good soldier to bring them the Gospel of Life; be that good soldier.

Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8).