Preached October 19, 2008, Grace Family Church of Americus
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16, ESV)
John Calvin:
At the same time, as he [God] works not effectually in all, [as evidenced that not all come to believe] but only where the Spirit, the inward Teacher, illuminates the heart, he [adds to this], To every one who believeth. The gospel is indeed offered to all for their salvation, but the power of it appears not everywhere: and that it is the savor of death to the ungodly, does not proceed from what it is, but from their own wickedness. By setting forth but one Salvation he cuts off every other trust. When men withdraw themselves from this one salvation, they find in the gospel a sure proof of their own ruin. Since then the gospel invites all to partake of salvation without any difference, it is rightly called the doctrine of salvation: for Christ is there offered, whose peculiar office is to save that which was lost; and those who refuse to be saved by him, shall find him a Judge.
Calvin himself notes here that “the power of [the Gospel] appears not everywhere” . Who then, is the Gospel for? It is for all who believe. How, then can we know if the Gospel is ours? If we believe. How then, can we know if we believe? We can know if we believe when we recognize the power of God working in us, causing us to love the Word of God, causing us to love the people of God, causing us to love the Law of God and the God of the Word, to obey Him in all things.
So if the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe, then to whom shall the Gospel be offered?
To everyone! Every person who has the breath of life within them!
Define everyone – Acts 2 – Peter commanded obedience to the Gospel to "EVERY ONE OF YOU!" There were Jews and Greeks, a mixed crowd of people from all over the world....and Peter commanded them all to repent! Therefore, the presentation of the Gospel is commanded upon every man. There is not a small elite group to whom we are commanded to preach the Gospel. The command is that of Peter in Acts 2….Repent and be baptized…..EVERY ONE OF YOU, in the Name of Jesus Christ. EVERY ONE of you!
The Gospel message is to be proclaimed universally, to every person. It is to be offered to all, according to the Scriptures, Go and preach the Gospel to every creature.
As we stood on the streets of Atlanta after the Deeper Conference, we did not find any who we thought unworthy to preach to. We found none who did not need a Savior. There were none whose eyes fell upon us, whose ear beheld the proclamation of the Gospel in the open air, who did not have an opportunity to respond. Those who responded in believing, will be saved. Those who die in their unbelief, will be damned. We are simply commanded to preach it to all!
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