Good News to follow...
THERE
IS A SUBSTITUTE
The
“good news” of the gospel is that there is a
Substitute Who has stood in the place of every repentant sinner and
bore the wrath of God in his place. He did this for all whom the
Father had given Him from all eternity. It is for them that He prayed
in John 17. They are “His sheep.” The Father gave
them to Him, and He died for them (John 10:15, 29). Substitution is
the very heart of the gospel. Christ did not simply give His life to
make salvation possible for those who contribute their part to what
He has done by repenting and trusting Christ. He it is that gives
repentance and faith (2 Timothy 2:25; Ephesians 2:8). Christ did not
say to the religious Jews of His day that they were not of His
“sheep” because they did not believe; rather, He
says, “Ye believe not because ye are not of My sheep” (John
10:26). If they had been His sheep they would have believed. The
“good news” is that all whom the Father has given
to the Son, and for whom He died, will believe and manifest true
repentance and faith. This they will do willingly and with gratitude
in their hearts. It is God’s work. He cannot fail.
-Gospel report by preacher Bill Clark
Comments