Mongi's question

My son asked me a question yesterday after having understood these truths, which are these; “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20) – Having understood that those who can see creation are without excuse concerning the authenticity of God, because creation itself teaches us that God through creation has proved that He is alive and well. Secondly, when we come under the spoken word, when the Gospel is preached he has also understood that this is how God has chosen to save sinners; the Gospel is preached, people hear the message and then some respond favourably to it and they are saved; our eyes and ears playing a vital role in the equation in finding salvation in and through the finished message of the cross.

This was his question, “what about those who are born mute, deaf and blind?” His enquiring mind looking for a valid answer. When we confront these types of questions how should we answer? Avoid being wrapped up in these kind of debates as they are nothing but ploys of our evil minds to avoid the real question, what have we done with the message of the gospel? Charles Spurgeon has this to say; “Leave all curious inquiry about election alone. Go straight to Christ and hide in His wounds, and you shall know your election.” We must point people to Christ and get them to look at themselves and in so doing it will force them to make a decision about themselves and not others. Always come back to the good news of the gospel on a personal level and I believe we would have sown the seed correctly.

Remember Paul’s encouragement; “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1Corinthians 1:17-18) – Why then bother with trivia when those looking for reasons not to believe keep looking to justify their unbelief. We must preach Christ and Him crucified as it will carry with it power to save those who are being saved.

One of the main reasons I stress this point is that we must learn to trust scripture with a greater assurance; in fact “faith is the substance of things hoped for”; we hope when talking with others that they will be saved, for the most part of it our sharing of the gospel is honourable; we have freely received salvation through the gospel and when the opportunity arrives we want to freely give back. However, when application is to be effective it must be applied to the letter. Our presentation often lacks clarity and when side-tracked so much time is wasted on trivia that only ever takes our eyes off the truth. We must drive the Gospel home; this is where God has invested all His power in the salvation message. Why then do we sometimes think we can do a better job than God with clever arguments? We must learn and ask God the Holy Spirit to drive this truth deep within our minds and so when people look to side-track the gospel message with objections we can gently bring them back to what really counts, their need of a Saviour, because of their sin. Christ came to die for sinners, not the gainsayer! Gently prove to them that they are sinners, remembering we too have been saved from our sin and once that is realised the message of the gospel shall reveal its power, “forgiveness for all their sins”! Salvation outside of that message is an idea of a better life, goodies and things instead of true saving power and that kind of message will eventually run its course and before long those who once claimed to be saved will be denouncing Christianity. “But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. (John 6:64-66)

The essence of the Gospel message is that Christ came to die for sinners and He paid the price for our sins on a personal level, this then must be our focus; God help us understand the gravity of this truth when sharing the gospel with others.

Signing off

Tyrone