Now Is the Day of Salvation
For as long, then, as that promise of resting in Him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed, “They’ll never get where they’re going, never be able to sit down and rest” (Hebrews 4:1-3, MSG).
God made that vow, even though he’d finished his part before the foundation of the world. Somewhere it’s written, “God rested the seventh day, having completed his work,” but in this other text He says, “They’ll never be able to sit down and rest.” So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient. God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as he did in David’s psalm, centuries later than the original invitation: Today, please listen, don’t turn a deaf ear . . . (Hebrews 4:3-7, MSG).
And so this is still a live promise. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for “today.” The promise of “arrival” and “rest” is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience (Hebrews 4:8-11, MSG).
God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what (Hebrews 4:12-13, MSG).
Another Gospel
It seems that if someone shows up preaching quite another Jesus than we preached—different spirit, different message—you put up with him quite nicely" (2 Corinthians 11:4, MSG). Well, I tell you that we're preaching the same Jesus who died, was buried, and in three days, He rose again so that where He is right now we will also be. This is the same Holy Spirit that was poured out to 120 disciples on the day of Pentecost, first century, in Jerusalem. This is the same gospel that was preached, believed and in which the early disciples of Jesus stood in faith. Who are we to go another way of salvation other than the one that God has prepared even before the foundation of the world?
But many of you have perverted this simple message of salvation, making any one believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not necessary, jumping from one stone to another, omitting that which is essential, believing his own philosophy, which is not according to the Word of Gd. "But even if we or an angel from Heaven preach a gospel to you beside what we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we said before, and now I say again, If anyone preaches a gospel to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed. And, brothers, I make known to you the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not according to man (Galatians 1:8-9, 11).
The True Gospel
This is the gospel that was preached: (1) that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, (2) and that He was buried, (3) and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
This is the gospel that was explained: (1) How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (2) Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, (3) so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:2-4).
This is how the gospel was obeyed: (1) Repent and (2) be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, (3) and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Promise: "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39), "that the nations should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partaker of His promise in Christ through the gospel" (Ephesians 3:6).
Sign of the Times: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come" (Matthew 24:14).
The Time Is Now
When you read this article or hear the gospel preached, consider it us not. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the one standing at the door of your heart and knocking. He said, "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me" (Revelation 3:19-20). Your time is now. Now is the day of your salvation. Don't lose this precious chance that will design your destiny, which is according to the the promised of Jesus Christ, "I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also" (John 14:3).