GLORIOUS GOSPEL. 1st Timothy 1:11. To Paul, the preaching of the Gospel was a personal trust given to him by God. God is the source of the Gospel. The Gospel teaches that life comes through death. Its message is made clear to us by the Holy Spirit when faith comes to us through the word of God. The Gospel declares that we are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone as our personal Savior. Salvation is not granted because of law-keeping or any other human effort.
God offers salvation freely to those who trust in Christ alone. There is no discrimination or favoritism in God’s glorious Gospel. It is “unto all” but only “upon all” who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Believing in Him frees us from the bondage of sin and makes us the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, who guides and empowers us to serve the Lord in the Gospel.
When our Lord Jesus Christ sent His disciples to spread the Gospel throughout Israel, they were responsible for making sure people understood that the kingdom of God was present. The entire nation knew that the Lord Jesus Christ was among them, and salvation was available to anyone who placed their faith in Him—“but His own received Him not.” The disciples were not at fault if the message was rejected. They were to faithfully and carefully convey the message the Lord had given them.
The message of the Gospel has been given as a trust to us to pass on to others. The power and influence of the Gospel determine the eternal destiny of human souls. We must not take lightly the trust our Lord Jesus Christ entrusted to us as He was about to ascend into heaven. Listeners are responsible for how they respond to what they hear. We have the duty to share the Gospel message clearly and faithfully. If people reject what we say, there may come a time when we need to distance ourselves from those who despise our Lord and His Gospel.
A "trust" has been entrusted to another to care for and, sometimes, complete. "The Gospel of the Glory of the Blessed God" was a sacred trust given to the apostle Paul to proclaim, promote, and preach. It included presenting our Lord Jesus Christ as the sin-bearer and the only One who fulfilled the law that condemned us. Timothy was to pass on what he had learned from Paul "among many witnesses." In turn, they were to pass that same trust on to other "faithful men who shall be able to teach others also." It has now come to us. It is our turn and time to proclaim the "Gospel of the glory of the blessed God." How weighty, serious, and important this work is, which has been placed as a trust in our hands and hearts!!!
The Gospel of the glory of the blessed God has been entrusted to men. This message is clear because it is sound in doctrine. Nothing about it is insignificant – it is God's message revealing the work of Christ so that, through faithful preaching of the Gospel, everyone has the opportunity to personally trust in Him. It does not promote man’s flawed works nor appeal to anyone’s self-worth. It does not exalt a mortal man, his ideas, or philosophy, so avoid copying others’ work.
The glorious Gospel clearly reveals God’s mercy toward lost souls and His saving grace in providing the perfect substitute for us. At God’s appointed time in history, the Lord Jesus came from the highest glory in heaven to die on the cross and took our place, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree. God Himself is the central theme of His Gospel, illuminating us to see His glory revealed in Christ alone during His earthly ministry. At His birth, God’s glory was celebrated; it was demonstrated at Lazarus’ grave. Especially to me, that glory was revealed at the cross where He gave His life and paid the ransom for my sins.
Paul was the messenger of this message to both the Gentiles and the Jews. Over the many years since he preached the Gospel, God has been willing to entrust His Gospel to be lived out by women and men and proclaimed publicly by men whom He chooses to speak for Him. May I never think, even for a moment, that I deserve such a blessed and great privilege, and may I never, in any way or action, dilute any part of God’s Gospel message.