Have you ever wondered, like I have, “who am I to proclaim the Gospel of Christ?” I’m not a great theologian. I don’t know or understand all sixty-six books of the Bible. I’m not eloquent. And while I’m being honest, I struggle with my sin nature (some days more than others). Isn’t this being hypocritical?
These are the common thoughts of humanity, and perhaps even spoken allegations from humanity to believers. “Who are you to tell me about the message of Christ when you are no better than I am?” The reason a question like this stings is because there is a critical part of the question that is true: I am no better. I know this because Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. First John 1:8-10 continues in this vein with: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Acknowledging that I am no better and can struggle in sin, eradicates the argument of hypocrisy. True hypocrisy would be to act as though I am perfect and without struggle.
Now we come to the second part of the question that needs to be addressed, “Who am I to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to others?” This is where I need to stop and take inventory of all that Christ has done for me through His life, death, resurrection, forgiveness of my sin (past, present, and future), that I am clothed in His righteousness, that He paid the penalty for my sin once and for all, and has written my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life so that I may live with Him forever. It is then that the question now becomes, “Who am I NOT to proclaim the Gospel of Christ?”
As was mentioned above, in proclaiming the Gospel, I don’t understand it all and don’t feel that I know enough, and am not sure I’m going to say it right, and (at this point, the true statement behind all of this is) I’m afraid I’ll look stupid. This is where the beauty of the simplicity of the Gospel comes into play. As was so wonderfully recorded by Paul in I Corinthians 2:1-5:
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
All we need to do, is to be willing to proclaim the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. When Jesus is lifted up, He draws all men unto Himself through the divine power of God.
The best way to proclaim the Gospel is not by having all the theological wisdom in the world, or by beating people over the head with the Bible, or by pointing out the sins of others. It is simply by proclaiming the transforming power of our crucified Savior through our own personal story. This is what Paul modeled in I Timothy 1:12-17 when he wrote:
I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
What’s your story in Christ? My challenge is to go and share it with others where you live, work, and play. Share your story and then watch how the divine power of God can begin to work within the simplicity of the Gospel message.
These are the common thoughts of humanity, and perhaps even spoken allegations from humanity to believers. “Who are you to tell me about the message of Christ when you are no better than I am?” The reason a question like this stings is because there is a critical part of the question that is true: I am no better. I know this because Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. First John 1:8-10 continues in this vein with: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Acknowledging that I am no better and can struggle in sin, eradicates the argument of hypocrisy. True hypocrisy would be to act as though I am perfect and without struggle.
Now we come to the second part of the question that needs to be addressed, “Who am I to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to others?” This is where I need to stop and take inventory of all that Christ has done for me through His life, death, resurrection, forgiveness of my sin (past, present, and future), that I am clothed in His righteousness, that He paid the penalty for my sin once and for all, and has written my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life so that I may live with Him forever. It is then that the question now becomes, “Who am I NOT to proclaim the Gospel of Christ?”
As was mentioned above, in proclaiming the Gospel, I don’t understand it all and don’t feel that I know enough, and am not sure I’m going to say it right, and (at this point, the true statement behind all of this is) I’m afraid I’ll look stupid. This is where the beauty of the simplicity of the Gospel comes into play. As was so wonderfully recorded by Paul in I Corinthians 2:1-5:
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
All we need to do, is to be willing to proclaim the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. When Jesus is lifted up, He draws all men unto Himself through the divine power of God.
The best way to proclaim the Gospel is not by having all the theological wisdom in the world, or by beating people over the head with the Bible, or by pointing out the sins of others. It is simply by proclaiming the transforming power of our crucified Savior through our own personal story. This is what Paul modeled in I Timothy 1:12-17 when he wrote:
I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
What’s your story in Christ? My challenge is to go and share it with others where you live, work, and play. Share your story and then watch how the divine power of God can begin to work within the simplicity of the Gospel message.
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