It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

The Gospel is for All

The "word of truth" does not divide the human race, as we do today. The "word of truth," or as it is called many times, "the gospel," makes all who believe and obey one in Christ. The gospel is not for only one race, but all. It is not for only one nation, but all. Two main groups are spoken of in the New Testament - the Jew and the Gentile. Gentiles were all persons who were not Jews. All persons who obey the gospel today become one in Christ. Notice this from Ephesians 1:11-17: "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, which are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."

From Ephesians 2:6: "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:..." In Galatians 3:28, Paul says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

Do these passages teach that today all persons are one in Christ Jesus? Quite the contrary. Notice what Paul says in Romans 10:16: "But they have not all obeyed the gospel..." Previously, in Romans 6:16-18, we learn "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

Yes, it is by obeying the truth that we are saved - no other way. Today, as in Paul's day, not all have obeyed the truth. What do you obey as you seek to serve the Lord? Is it the manual that directs the denomination of which you are a member? Is it a "discipline"? Is it a "prayer book"? Is it a "catechism"? All of these man-made books either contain more than the Bible, or less than the Bible. None of them is acceptable. We are to obey the gospel of Christ. It is revealed in the New Testament. Any book that teaches less or more is wrong. We only need the gospel of Christ. The Lord's church is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for by it we are, and all the world can be, saved (Romans 1:16; Hebrews 5:9).