The Light of the Gospel
“ For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.’” Ephesians 5:14 NASBS
Dear Reader, When one truly examines the human heart, that is, where the fallen passions are aroused, it is very alarming. Jesus speaks to these truths in the holy scriptures clearly, saying, “The things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.
When one considers these things, it becomes evident that there is something tragically wrong with the human heart. Common logic tells us that when one thing goes wrong with a certain possession that we own, we seek to find the remedy for it.
Take for instance a car, one would be foolish to put his or her family in a vehicle knowing that the instrument panel is showing warning signals that could cause a tragedy.
That being said, when it comes to the human heart, we hide corruptions away in the very corners of our mind, never truly examining them under the light of truth.
Our conscience is proof of our sinful thoughts, but we suppress the truth in unrighteousness to satisfy hidden pleasures based on false feelings that are not reliable.
Reader, “It is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason, it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”
Oh, the deceitfulness of sin and how it continually deceives the human mind. The sin of pride is used to undermine the truth and remove the notion of God, even though creation reveals a different narrative.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man.”
Reader, do not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for this is God’s mercy to humani- ty. For who can save man from all the wicked and deceitful lies that are aroused from within his own heart? Well, the answer is no one, but God Himself. That is, God, taking to Himself human flesh and fulfilling the righteous demands of the law that testifies against the entire world. A liar doesn’t like to be lied to, a thief doesn’t like to be stolen from, and an adulterer doesn’t want anyone looking at their spouse.
Therefore, the principle of God’s law works in each individual, bringing them under the scrutiny of divine justice, which pronounces them guilty. So then, just as it is written, “All have seen and fallen short of the glory of God.” So the only hope for man today is Jesus Christ, just as it is also written, God, “sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Paul tells the church of Corinth concerning his testimony, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.” May the grace of God draw you to Himself and your testimony echoes Paul’s.