There are many tools in the market place to help us do the work of the Evangelist. We are exhorted to this work in 2 Timothy 4:5, But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Gospel tools are designed to expose what we are hoping in and what we are relying upon not only for this life but also for eternity.
The gospel tools available to us are helpful in light of all the conversation in the market place today about the issues of life and death.
Some think, oh there can’t just be one true religion.
There can’t be just one way to pay the debt of our sin.
Others don’t think that the Bible has any trustworthy answers.
At the same time, the academy would like us to think that science has disproved Christianity.
Sadly, the conversation about life after death and the controversy over solutions will never end this side of eternity.
Christopher Hitchens, the English-American journalist was an atheist, who during his life challenged God’s true view of things. Unfortunately, his painful fray with esophageal cancer did not softened his opinion of the gospel.
In essence he challenged God’s true view of things when he said, the thought of a human vicariously atoning for my sin is white noise.
Despite this the book of Hebrews endures as a reliable response for struggling hearts. Hebrews 10:32-39 define the book’s purpose. In the author’s sermon, Hebrews 10 is a high point in his overall argument that addresses the issues of doubt and concerns about redemptive means.
The exhortation to the Hebrews throughout the epistle is persuasive. The problem of sin and the need to satisfy the righteous expectations of a holy God cannot be dealt with through or by sinful ways and means. Religious laws and regulations are incomplete and can never bring perfection. The sincere and the fervent repetition of a religious ordinance by an ordained clergy will never remove the guilt of your sin. In fact, all this repetition and all this work is just a reminder of your sin. Mere human or animal blood will never pay the debt of your sin.
So what do we do? Do we raise the white flag of surrender to the voices in the market place?
Our only hope is the eternal Christ who took on flesh and blood in obedience to the Father (Rom 1:3; 2 Cor 5:16; Eph 5:2; 1 Jn 4:2). His obedient act made us holy (Phil 3:9; 1 Cor 1:30-31). His one and only sacrifice of Himself was effective and final (Jn 10:18). He paid the debt of our sin and brought us into a relationship with Himself, the Holy God (Rom 1:18-19; Eph 2:1-9; Rom 5:8-11; Rom 5:1).
In this different relationship, He has given us the Spirit, He has put His Word in our hearts, He is making us holy, He has given us hope, and He has made it possible for us to draw near to Him in intimate fellowship.
The songwriters said it well for all of us. Wonderful merciful Savior, Precious redeemer and friend, Who would have thought that a lamb, the Lamb of God, could rescue the souls of men, Oh You rescue the souls of men.
O sacred Head now wounded we love and adore you for such a sure and reliable means of redemption.