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 prays
in John 17. They are "His Sheep." The Father
gave them to Him; and He died for them (John 10:15, 29).
Substitution
is at 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 you are not of My sheep."
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
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