This week, Michael writes that there are four responses upon hearing the gospel of the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. The first response is outright rejection. John 3:20, says that even though God sent his son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved, those who love darkness of their sin more than light of truth and godly living are judged unrighteous ... condemned by their sin, and to bear the wrath of God because of their rejection of the Savior from sin. “For every one that does evil hates the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
In the second response category are those who may go to church or listen to sermons but never enter into God's saving grace. Even though they may have attended a class about salvation, these are the people Jesus described in John 2:23-24: “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men." They "believed in his name" but He didn't commit Himself to them because He knew what was in their heart. They held on to their heart of sin and the sinful nature that they inherited from Adam. Even though they believed in His miracles and were astounded and marveled, they were not committed to follow him. Theirs was an “easy believism” and an “easy receivism”. This is the difference between the Jesus of the world and the Jesus of Nazareth. The true Jesus did not preach a "feel good" prosperity gospel of "what's in it for me." People in category two are infatuated with Jesus but are in love with themselves. They have never had a true experience of denying themselves, taking up their cross and following Him. They are still lord of their own lives. They have not come to the point that "Jesus is Lord.", taking themselves off the throne of their life and placing Jesus on that throne. They have not had an interchange, where they exchange their sin for Christ's gift of righteousness by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
The third response category is about the people in Matthew 7. Theirs is a works-based misunderstanding of the meaning of salvation. They do not understand the grace of God and that salvation is the free gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. In verses 15-20Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
Jesus said, "you will know them by their fruits." On the outside, they look like they produce good fruit. However, their fruit is rotten. Even though it looks good on the outside, they deceive themselves, and they deceive others. These false prophets are like wolves in sheep's clothing. They look like sheep, but they are wolves in disguise.
In verses 21-23 Jesus said, “Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” They who have a works-based misunderstanding of the meaning of salvation convince themselves and lead others astray that they are righteous in their own works. However, they reject Christ's righteousness by grace in doing so. Jesus said, be careful before you “fire the gun” of judging others. God didn't call us to be judges. Rather, he called us to be fruit inspectors. He said that by their fruit ye shall know them. For the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, against such there is no law. Are they there?
Let’s continue Michael’s message on responses to the Gospel in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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