The Gospel

Exodus 15:12; John 7:37-38; Acts 7:55.

The gospel, the good tidings from God, sets forth that by the work of Christ the believer is delivered from the judgment of God which rests on everyone in this world, so that there is peace with God. Next, that the Holy Ghost is given that the believer should be here in this world without any lack, never thirsting - but more, out of his belly should flow rivers of living water. And, thirdly, that by the Holy Ghost he could anticipate his portion with Christ in glory. First, like Israel in Egypt, everyone in the world is involved in the judgment of God. As the blood of the lamb sheltered Israel from judgment, so now everyone believing that the blood of Christ is before the eye of God is sheltered from the judgment; but as Israel was oppressed by Pharaoh and the Egyptians after they were sheltered from the judgment, so is the believer oppressed by the power of Satan and the flesh, for there is no peace until he appropriates the death and resurrection of Christ typified by the passage through the Red Sea. The only way out of death, which is the judgment on man, is by the death of Christ. God made the way for Israel through the Red Sea, and God gave them the light to see the way; and when they had walked through it, they not only knew that they were out of it, but they could sing, "The Lord hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea." Now there is peace with God. When you believe that God raised Christ from the dead you are justified by faith, and then you know that you have peace with God. Next, believing on Christ risen, you come to Him, and you receive the Holy Ghost. "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us you are in the power of God. Who can describe the magnificence of the grace of God, made free from all that is against you, and now in the Spirit fully according to God! Vividly, by the Holy Ghost, you can see Christ in the glory of God. When the glory was departing from Israel, Ezekiel saw it, and in the brightest spot there was the figure of a Man. Though the wickedness of man was driving away the glory from the earth, yet, in the grace of God, there would be a Man in the glory. From that day the glory did not return to the earth until it came to the shepherds in Luke 2, to announce the good tidings of great joy. "This day is born to you a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." J. B. Stoney.