Are You a Gospel Patron? Part 2
Editors note: The following was excerpted from Gospel Patrons by John Rinehart.
Gospel Proclamation
After we receive the gospel of grace, God wants you and me to go to work with Him. He adopts us and then invites us into the family business. So what is God’s family business? News, primarily. Christians are those who have been born again through Jesus’ death and resurrection and then commissioned to carry the best news to as many people as possible from all nations, languages, and people groups of the earth. Jesus sends us out, saying:
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in [My] name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
- Luke 24:47
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
- Matt 28:19-20
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
- Matt 24:14
We have been given a glorious message of eternal importance to proclaim, and we read in the book of Acts that the first Christians were urgent in their efforts to proclaim it. Almost 120 times does Acts say the Christians were witnessing, proclaiming, speaking, teaching, preaching, explaining, testifying, persuading, proving, disputing, declaring, reasoning, admonishing, expounding, and trying to convince people about their risen Savior. Jesus first calls us to Himself, and then He calls us to exert serious effort to get His message out to the world.
Therefore, the second mark of a Gospel Patron is their strong commitment to spread the Word of God. There are many good things that need to be done in our world, many good causes that need support; but proclaiming the gospel is exclusive to the people of God. No one else will do it, and no one else will fund it.
Faith & Finance Perspective:
Giving to extend gospel presence in our neighborhoods and to the nations is something we should never do out of guilt or Christian duty. It must be born out of our deep conviction that God is not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). As Gospel Patrons, we have experienced the Father’s transforming grace and mercy to the point that we are compelled to do all we can to ensure that everyone has access to the gospel. There’s much we can do toward this end through our financial stewardship and generosity. But we are also called to be stewards of the message itself to those we encounter along the way. What are some opportunities—seized or unseized—to proclaim the good news to those within your circles of influence?
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
- 1 Peter 3:15