I recently saw the following on Facebook and reposted it: “Imagine the Christians Paul helped to kill rejoicing as he enters heaven as their brother. That’s how the Gospel works.”
Yes, the Gospel of Jesus provides hope to the penitent sinner regardless of the depth of the sin of the past. Can we envision being willing to so rejoice over the turn around of even one who had violently rejected us for our faith?
One of my Facebook connections (a classmate from high school) responded to the post, “I do not understand this . . . sounds bad . . . please explain.” I responded with the following: “Before Paul (known earlier as Saul) became a follower of Jesus, he was a persecutor of the church (Acts 8:1) as he even himself noted in looking back and acknowledged his zeal in doing so. (1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13; Acts 26:9-11). However, he was converted on the road to Damascus where he was going to arrest Christians (Acts 9; Acts 26:12-18). Because of that past, he expressed he didn’t deserve to even be called an apostle, but by the grace of God he had been saved. (1 Corinthians15:9-10) As Christians, regardless of another’s past, we should hope for and rejoice in the repentance in their life that would lead to embrace Jesus Christ as Lord and so be saved from whatever their past might have been. The Gospel (good news of Jesus) is for all with the hope of accepting the complete forgiveness provided by the blood of Jesus and experience the renewal of life in Him. (i.e. 2 Corinthians 5:17) Even those who were martyred for their faith — because of their Christian spirit of love for the lost of the world — could (and should) in the spirit of Christ rejoice over the change of heart by their persecutors. It is following in the steps of Jesus’ instruction of “(44) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” [Matthew 5:44-45 ESV] I hope this quick response helps. Thanks for asking.” And their response was, “thank you, that makes sense!”
Such may not make sense to the world. We may even find ourselves struggling in considering it. Another Facebook connection responded to the post, “This is so so hard to do! Something I need to work on!” Yes, may God help us all as we understand God’s grace was not merited by any one of us. And that is why the Gospel is such good news, because in Jesus is found the adequate means of our salvation regardless of our past. May we truly share such a desire for the lost around us and rejoice with Heaven (Luke 15:7 & 10) over every sinner who repents!
Have a great day NURTURING A HEART TO REJOICE WITH HEAVEN!
Carl
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(“teEn-MAIL” is sent out daily by Carl Hanson, preacher for the Church of Christ in Port Townsend, Washington, USA, located at 230 A Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Come visit us if in the area.)
