It's the "mother of all questions," and salvation from sin depends on getting the right answer: Is it possible that just listening to God speak His New Covenant promises can save a person (or a church) FROM sin?
The Bible answer is clear as sunlight: YES, a thousand times YES, if the mere listening is "... being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (see Heb. 4:2). This is why Romans 1:16 is so true for all time: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." The word "gospel" has no other meaning than "Good News." Thus the true definition of "gospel" is the New Covenant promises of God in Christ--nothing less. The formula is clear: this "gospel" + "faith" = "the power of God unto salvation."
We see this formula demonstrated in the Galatians. Like the Ephesians, they were pagans "dead in trespasses and sins, ... [walking] according to the course of this world, ... the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; ... fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (cf. Eph. 2:1-3). All the addictions of today--alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual perversion, pornography, hatred--these pagans had them all.
But Paul, in great weakness, proclaimed to them this New Covenant Good News, and all they did was LISTEN WITH FAITH: "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, ... before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? ... Received ye the Spirit by the ... hearing of faith" (Gal. 3:1, 2). That was one time in history when the "formula" was proven completely true: "the gospel preached ... profit[ed] them, ... being mixed with faith in them that heard it."
Another time in history when the same "gospel preached" was "mixed with faith": Abraham's experience. All that God did was simply proclaim to him His marvelous promises known as the New Covenant, no threatened "curses" mixed in on pain of disobedience. Abraham simply "listened with faith" to this almost incredible Good News (just what Paul told the Galatians was "the hearing of faith"). He too, like the Galatians, "received the Spirit." His faith was counted to him for righteousness (Gen. 15:6).
But how can we avoid the "love, love, love" counterfeits that don't produce righteousness? Please tune in again tomorrow.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 9, 2003.Copyright © 2011 by Robert J. Wieland.
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