A Proper Gospel Message

Scripture: How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. Romans 10:14-17

Observation: In one of the better-known passages of Romans, Paul is specific about the process of evangelism. Since he is outlining a philosophy to believers he says it backwards, so in the logical order his process is this:

1) People must first hear about Jesus Christ.

2) They hear that gospel message from someone sent to deliver it.

3) Once will delivered, the believe the good news in their hearts.

4) In that belief, they can call on Jesus, confessing faith with their words.

It seems very important to understand every element of this process ... not because faith is procedural or formulaic, but because evangelism can be impeded and even prevented by evil forces that would undermine the message by subverting any of these steps. How does evil do that?

1) Evil wants people to hear about all the science and call into question elements of the created world, and about judgment that comes from believers, and a large assortment of other messages that have nothing to do with salvation by faith in Jesus.

2) Evil provides all sorts of information through all sorts of channels, including through believers who are disconnected from God's word and thus don't know how to engage, thus producing confusion, disinformation, and even conflict that impedes hearing the good news.

3) Evil works hard to prevent human hearts from accepting Jesus, introducing all kinds of earthly inducements and convincing people that pursuing Jesus precludes their opportunity for happiness.

4) Evil gives an outsized public voice to those who have rejected Jesus, and thus makes the idea of publicly confessing Jesus seem like an awkward, unpopular, even shameful act.

Paul was very clear in many of his writings about the true nature of the gospel, which is simple, clear, and truly good news ... Jesus is the promised Messiah, who died as a sacrifice for all sin and was raised to heaven, so that "if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (v9)

Application: This is so relevant in an age when many people - perhaps now even most people - have only false sources about Jesus. They hear stories via social media, produced by believers with limited understanding and intent, non-believers who themselves are uninformed, or outright evil actors. They cannot believe - let alone confess - because they never hear the true message about Jesus Christ.

It is too easy for me to excuse myself from this conversation, making some vague statement that I haven't been "sent" by God. But I have been sent. I am likely better equipped than most, in both knowledge of the gospel and skill in speaking, and I have been placed in a location, situation, and time where the message is so very, very needed. I should be bolder in telling others the simple, proper gospel message of Jesus Christ, for I am keenly aware of the false messages most are receiving from other sources.

Prayer: Lord, here I am. Where you lead me, I will follow. Amen.