The gospel is the only thing left in this world that can do sinners any good at all. To change or reform the habits and practices of men by laws and punishments only leave men in self righteousness and false hope. The gospel of Christ regenerates, creates anew, and is sufficient in the power of Gods’ Holy Spirit to do what all else is doomed to fail.

In order for man to benefit of this gospel it must be received. It must be published in such a way that he can be confronted with it. What a blessed thing it is for God to make his gospel accessible to a man! What a glorious work it is that God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory. (I Timothy 3: 16) It is a divine work of grace that enables a person to receive and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is plainly declared in the word of God that faith cometh by hearing. Any hope of salvation, regeneration, conversion, or faith apart from hearing is an empty and baseless hope. “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10: 14) Paul presses this issue to the conscience of the church at Galatia, “This only would I learn of you, received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Galatians 3:2)

Hearing comes by way of preaching. (I Corinthians 1: 21) Nothing demonstrates the sovereignty of God in the salvation of a sinner more than this, “How shall ye hear without a preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent?”

God give us the grace and determination of heart to be faithful to this stewardship he has trusted to us. Amen