Mon, 30 October, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Some say that the idea of election will kill any evangelistic zeal we might have. They tell us that if we believe God has from eternity chosen His own people, we have no motivation to go spread the gospel.
Paul turned that thought on its head. Paul suffered greatly in his life. He was arrested, beaten, driven out of towns, and otherwise threatened and ridiculed. He endured much in his missionary journeys. But it he had a purpose in what he did. The driving force behind his work was the thought of election. To Paul, the idea that God has chosen His people drove him to want to share the gospel with people. Paul desired to be used by God to bring the news of salvation to the elect.
What do we learn from this?
Election is not contrary to evangelism or missionary work. On the contrary. A proper understanding of election will motivate us to spread the gospel. We know that the gospel will not fail. There are people out there in every tribe, race and nation who are chosen by God. They need to hear the gospel, and in the preaching of the gospel, God will bring them to salvation.
We don’t save anyone. God saves His elect. But God uses us to spread this good news of salvation to the world. We are called to spread this gospel indiscriminately, and to let God do the work of bringing the gospel to fruition in the hearts of His people.
Where is Christ in this passage?
Paul tells us to remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead. He is the content of the gospel we preach. We tell others of salvation in Jesus Christ. He lived and died for the salvation of the elect. And it is through faith in Him that we are saved.
