Deeper Reflection
BELIEVING IN JESUS CHRIST (V.13) IS ALL ABOUT “SEEING” (v.21), “understanding” (v.21) and “obeying” (v.18; Rom 16:26) the way of salvation that has been revealed by God in Christ His Son (vv.19, 20; Rom 16:25-26). Notice, too, the prominence and work of the Holy Spirit in bringing people to salvation (vv.13, 16, 19). On His part, God has done all that is necessary for people to be saved through Jesus Christ.³⁵ The Father has sent the Son from heaven. The Son has suffered, was killed and was raised to life on the third day. Before He ascended into heaven, the Lord Jesus commissioned His disciples to preach the Gospel to all nations (Matt 28:18-20; Rom 16:26). The Father and the Son have sent the Spirit to dwell in all believers, to empower the Church to proclaim the Gospel, and to convict unbelievers concerning sin, righteousness and judgment.³⁶To preach the Gospel is to preach Christ (vv.19-20; Rom 16:25). There is no true Gospel proclamation without setting forth before our hearers who Christ is and what He has done. He is the Son of God and the perfect Lamb of God who was the atoning sacrifice for our sins.To proclaim the Gospel is the first step to be followed by the work of discipling – teaching believers to obey all that Jesus has commanded (v.18; Rom 16:26; Matt 28:19-20). The Church must not stop at merely giving mental assent to God’s Word. For true believers, the truth of the Gospel is to penetrate and permeate all of life. Christians are to live out and proclaim the Gospel in their everyday life.

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³⁵ See Romans 3-6, 8. ³⁶ John 14:16-18; Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:8; John 16:7-11.