Wednesday, February 16, 2011
2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
WHAT GOD PLEASES IN YOU! -- HIS MESSAGE (Part Two)
There is a question which hangs over the churches of our day: "Who is the worship service for? Is it primarily for the members? Or is it primarily a means to bring in new people off the street?" Now from a Baptist reformed point of view I can understand this question. They tend to act as though the gospel is for unbelievers and the law for believers. They also tend to think that evangelism is all about you, the evangelist -- how clever you are and how convincing you are, and how friendly you are. But what I don't understand is why this question is also being asked in some Lutheran bodies. Right here in this text Paul expresses that it is through the Gospel, the Means of Grace, that God offers His blessings and speaks to all men, believer and unbeliever alike; that the thing that ALL men need whether believer or unbeliever is a weekly, even daily dosing of law and gospel -- constantly, continually. There is no difference between the needs of unbeliever and believer.
When faced with an evangelism opportunity you may ask, "What can I say?" But the message through which God works in your friend is the same message that you hear every Sunday.
Speak to them law and GOSPEL, because it is through this message, not through the cunning arguments of men, that God will work what He pleases in and through you.
