Michael continues that in Acts chapters 22-25, Paul
was unjustly imprisoned for his advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Governor
Felix would have pardoned him and released him from prison. However, Paul
wanted to appeal to Cesar. King Agrippa said, "almost thou hast persuaded me to become a Christian." Paul's
mission was not to overthrow the corruption of the Roman Empire. His mission
was to save souls for the good news of the gospel of his Lord Jesus Christ, so
that they would become "partners
within the gospel of Christ." In Philippians 1:7 Paul
said, "defending and confirming the
gospel." The theme of Romans 2 is to "practice what
you preach." Sometimes as the song says, "you say it best when you say nothing at all", because the
proof is in your life. According to Philippians
1:12 the goal is to advance the gospel, the good news of salvation by
grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
No matter the trials of
life, everything is for the advancement of the gospel. All opportunities are
for the glory of God. When they begged Paul in Ephesus not to go into
Jerusalem, he said, "I count my life not dear unto me." In Philippians
1:21 Paul said, "for me to
live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul knew that we must die to
self in order to live for Christ. Every trial is an opportunity to share
the gospel of the good news of the love and grace of God. It's not what we say
but how we live. When Jesus was reviled, he reviled not. When he suffered
unjustly, He for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Romans 1:28-32 “And even as they did not like to retain God
in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those
things which are not fitting; being filled with all
unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness;
full of envy, (hatred) murder, strife, deceit,
evil-mindedness; they
are (gossiping) whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud,
boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
undiscerning,
untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing
the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are
deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who
practice them.”
When the world calls good
evil and evil good...when they deny the existence of God and mock and ridicule
God's people, what would Jesus do? Jesus said, "blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say
all manner of evil against you for my sake...for great is your reward in heaven." Paul said to the believers
in Phillippi, "you contended at my
side for the cause of the gospel." A book about evangelism
talked about the God of all comfort. The cover of the book was a picture
of the stoning of Steven, the first Christian martyr. Steven knew like
Paul that "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain." The
mission is to contend for the cause of the gospel of Christ. As Paul said,
"for we preach not ourselves but
Jesus Christ and him crucified." Remember that God is in charge of all.
According to 2
Corinthians 2:15-16: “For we
are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that
perish: To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other
the savor of life unto life.”
May this be our cause ... go ye therefore, preach the gospel. When
necessary use words. Oh, it is necessary! In other words, go give 'em
heaven! May we ever live to the
praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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