Universal Obligation: Sharing the Transformative Gospel

I am a deta both to the Greeks and to The Barbarians both to the wise and to the unwise so as much as in me is I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ you see the argument you see the logic you see how it all goes on from one step to another. [00:04:29]

The Apostle here is speaking about himself but I think that all his teaching everywhere will urge us RAR to draw the deduction that what the Apostle says here about himself should be true of all us also and I read those portions just now from the two Epistles to the Corinthians because there in both cases he does show very clearly that what he says about himself in his service for God should also be true of all Christian people. [00:02:44]

The first thing I say is this that he's a man who's got something in his possession which he can hand on to another that's a very good definition of a Christian what's it mean well it first of all of necessity implies knowledge it means that you know something and you can tell something somebody else about this something you can pass on you can impart the knowledge. [00:08:14]

The Apostle is very anxious to stress the fact that he is able to give this to everybody I am a deor he says both to the Greeks and to the Barb Arians both to the wise and to the unwise It's Not Mere repetition that it isn't autology Greeks and barbarians what does that mean well that's the whole world the world was divided up by the Greeks into Greeks and barbarians. [00:15:50]

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is needed by everybody it doesn't matter whether you've been born in Great Britain or in Japan or in one of the countries of South America the gospel is needed by all there is no such thing as a Christian Nation and you're not a Christian because you're born in a given country it's needed by everybody and it doesn't matter whether people are good or bad morally speaking they all need the gospel. [00:19:11]

The Apostle Paul would do as well in the slums of the great cities as he do in the very centers of learning wise and unwise it doesn't matter where you put him as long as he's preaching to men and women he not only has a message he's able to impart it do you notice how he puts it to them that are under the laws under the law to them that are without the laws without the law to the weak became I as weak to the strong as strong I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some. [00:23:49]

If a preacher can't preach his gospel to to everybody I take leave to doubt whether he can preach it to anybody if a preacher must have a certain type of congregation to that extent he's unlike the Apostle Paul he's probably a philosopher he's probably a per of natural human learning which is using Christian terminology a preacher doesn't need to presuppose anything in his congregation except their need of God and of Christ. [00:25:59]

The apostles boast was that his appeal went to all men and women all ranks and classes all kinds of abilities any kind of Soul yeah was a man who could preach as well to the slaves in Caesar's household as he could to the stes in The Epicure RS you see the range of his ministry well what's the explanation it's this and I commend it to you for careful prayerful consideration. [00:29:36]

If we preach the gospel in all its fullness and if we apply it to the whole men the mind as well as the heart and the will if we preach the whole Council of God to the whole individual personality relying upon the holy spirit we shall find that the gospel today will produce its results in all types and kinds and classes even as it did at the beginning even as it has always done in every period of Revival and of Reawakening. [00:30:12]

The Apostle tells us here is not only that that he can give this message but that he feels he must give it I am a detor why did he feel this constraint what is this well there are many answers one is his call his commission we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ and give an account of the Deeds Done in the body therefore knowing the terror of the Lord I persuade men. [00:36:48]

His consciousness of the need of others the appalling need of men and women that's the thing that brings in the earth you know if you and I only realized fully the state in the condition of men and women by the Thousand round and about us do you know I think we'd be unable to sleep sometimes do you rarely believe and know that the unbeliever the person who dies unbelieving and in his sin Goes to Hell. [00:38:53]

The love of Christ constrain me that's the thing he says he is like a man in a vice and the vice is been screwed up and tightened up and it's being pressed out of him what's pressing him the love of Christ this amazing thing this Gospel of reconciliation this love of God that sends his only son and even makes him to be sin that he's seen it he wants everybody to see it and to rejoice in it and to glory in it and to participate in it. [00:41:04]