Preaching the Whole Gospel

    For more than a century, through the working of His Spirit, God has given the truth about the New Covenant and the Mediator, Jesus, and thus again tied the unity of the love of Christ to the light-giver to some students of the Bible who had lost sight of this truth. Many believers in different parts of the world came to believe in the importance that this truth entails, (the isolation from all types of evil on the spiritual realm) from the giving of the Holy Spirit onward to all that would be gathered in the name of Jesus.

    Other men also knew their duty in this, and let their light shine from all the knowledge they have learned through the Word, and the writings of godly principles. Many now do not know the importance of the coming Kingdom.

    Only in recent past years has there been more of a witness on this truth. It was in general, with less enthusiasm from us, and not with such inner faith conviction that we have spoken to other Christians of this glorious truth that we now could understand more clearly through the grace of God.  There are many today without this knowledge even though they show great enthusiasm for the Lord.   It is humbling in our days to be dedicated to proclaim forth the Gospel, the commandments of the Lord and the good news of the Kingdom.

    Many have put the questions to us, “Have we fully enough shared this truth with other Christians?” “Do we fully accept this responsibility that is laid upon us at the end of the Age?”

    After we had shared this with other brethren, we thought it good to give a word of encouragement to the brethren in our German speaking and also other lands, in the hope that the same conviction would be found in them from the written word.

    Paul said, “The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15). The church must watch over the truth, and hold it fast as they had done in the past. Besides this, there is laid on them the duty of putting evil out of their lives and staying away from it.  This applies to each local church of God.

    The church of various fellowships consist of many people and from those many God has called them to carry out their service near and far;  but  all should  give the one witness  in  accordance with the exhortation of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians: “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
    We, therefore, want to put the question to all brethren we can reach: “Would you through your word, and through the spreading of tracts and flyers, that are based on the truth of God, not also help spread these godly principles of the Gospel so that they can be made better known among men?”

    How often have we heard men say, “I have never read anything like this, nor even heard of it; I did not know that such a thing even existed.” Is that because of our negligence?   And don’t we also through our witness want to make men aware of this, what we ourselves have found in regard to the plan of God in His Word? A second question we want to put for further consideration:  “Will you not help us to spread the Gospel?“

    Occasionally, man has heard the expression, “We have a special mission, to witness for the truth, while others work more in the area of spreading the Gospel.” But can we defend such a view?   Paul was not only a servant to the church of God with the special calling to witness to the truth and to walk in it; but in his letter to the Colossians he called himself a minister of the Gospel which is preached to every creature under heaven (Colossians 1:23). In Romans 15:16, he reminds the saints in Rome of the great grace that God had gifted to him, “That I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God.”

    What examples of truth and devotion Paul showed us in carrying out this service unto the end!   Often Jews and Gentiles sought him in houses to punish him for his belief in our Lord Jesus Christ.  He made long missionary journeys to win souls.  At one point he said, “The love of Christ urges us,” that men should pray: “Let us be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20).  At the end of his life’s journey he exhorts Timothy, not only “to preach the truth” and “fulfill your service;” but in recognition of the importance of the time, “To do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:2, 5).

    Let us with regret and concern recognize that so few of us would be found to have dedicated our lives to the Lord. While we look back to the principle, “what was from the beginning,” we have in the “practical” outworking of our endeavors left something out.

    These thoughts are also the thoughts of many brethren in many lands.  They ask before God, “If it would not be good to bring this matter to the attention of many brethren to spread this truth in different lands.”  May God, through His gracious Spirit, overlook our neglect and make us more responsible.

    Undoubtedly on this point, there could be many practical questions put forth, but when the heart is giving and the need is known, a way would certainly be found as a solution for the removal of so many difficulties and obstacles.

    We are bold to ask you to consider this letter of encouragement.  When through our writings here, that there may be a heart warmed; and would not there be already a blessing coming forth that would make our weak voice strong by the grace of God? May the Lord’s Name be glorified and He make known His will to us!
                 
With permission from the brethren from Austria, Germany and Switzerland

“You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.” 
                                                                           Acts 20:20-27 (NIV)


“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”                             Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)