The Gospel is for Christians Too

Several people have kindly asked what they can do for me. I very much appreciate this. It’s a difficult question to answer but to one person I said ‘Tell me the Gospel – that’s what you can do for me’. I related a couple of stanzas;

Tell me the Old Old Story of Jesus and His love.

Tell me the story often for I forget so soon.

Tell me the story always, if you would really be, In any time of trouble, a comforter to me.

I was kind of surprised at the response, ‘you know it better than I do’. The implication as I read it was ‘you don’t need me to tell you the Gospel, you already know it’. Behind this, unwittingly I believe, is the notion or idea that Christians no longer need to hear the Gospel or have it preached to them. Of course I could have misread it and that wasn’t what was meant. But I don’t believe so.

The view might be more commonly held than ‘evangelicals’ would like to admit: that the Gospel is ‘now in the rear-view’ mirror. We no longer need it preached to us. Is this an exaggeration? Maybe. In the circles I move in, I really really hope so. Why should it be a surprise that a Christian would want to hear the Gospel. It doesn’t matter whether I know it better, or even if I didn’t know it all. I still need to hear it.

I wonder, if, as Christians we need to develop a naturalness about speaking the Gospel to one another. It isn’t just for evangelism. If there is any comfort at all in this world of sadness it’s to be found in The Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God (1 Timothy 1:11). It’s where our hope is. Gospel hope by the way isn’t about wishful thinking, it’s about certainty. It’s about what God has done ‘through Christ Jesus’. He (Jesus) has OBTAINED Eternal Redemption. Hebrews 9:12. Salvation is of The LORD (Jonah 2:9).

On Sunday morning we stayed home and listened to a sermon by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones with the title ‘Through Christ Jesus’ (Eph 2:7). I commend this sermon to you – it can be found HERE.

Tell Me The Old Old Story Hymn

Tell me the old, old story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
Tell me the story simply, as to a little child,
For I am weak and weary, and helpless and defiled.

Refrain

Tell me the old, old story, tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.

Tell me the story slowly, that I may take it in,
That wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin.
Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon;
The early dew of morning has passed away at noon.

Refrain

Tell me the story softly, with earnest tones and grave;
Remember I’m the sinner whom Jesus came to save.
Tell me the story always, if you would really be,
In any time of trouble, a comforter to me.

Refrain

Tell me the same old story when you have cause to fear
That this world’s empty glory is costing me too dear.
Yes, and when that world’s glory is dawning on my soul,
Tell me the old, old story: “Christ Jesus makes thee whole.”

Refrain

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