If the Lord speaks today through any person, He will say the same as He did two-thousand years ago. In Luke 24: 47 is written with reference to Christ, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” The forgiveness of sins was not linked to an office, but to Jesus Christ, the crucified One. Only under the sound of preaching can the Spirit of God effect the necessary repentance in those that hear, and grant the understanding to be converted. Only in this manner is forgiveness imparted to the believer. It is a personal experience, not the operation of an office.

In Romans 10 Paul explains that Biblical faith comes by hearing, that is, hearing from the Word of God. In this it is important that not just anything should be preached, but that the kernel of the sermon should be Christ and His Gospel alone, with the Redemption which He accomplished.

It ought to strike us as really odd, that on the one hand men throughout their lives have their sins absolved and forgiven, but on the other hand are taught that the punishment for them is to do penance. The Word of God says the opposite, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10: 14). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a joyous message, a message of salvation. God speaks through the prophet Isaiah, “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you” (Isa. 35:4). The Apostle Paul confirms it with the following words, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Ti. 2: 11). Isaiah exclaimed, “… He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (chapter 53: 5).

Whoever accepts the Lord as Redeemer, can no longer be punished, for He has taken our punishment upon Himself. He who believes that receives forgiveness of sins and peace with God. Paul writes, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand …” (Rom. 5: 1-2).

The apostle writes further of Christ, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1: 7). All can read in Colossians 1, from verse 14, how the complete work of salvation is identified with the Redeemer Himself. In Romans 1: 16 Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” It cannot be sufficiently emphasised that this faith is fixed in the Word of God alone. Not everyone, however, is able to teach what God wills, and in doing so use the Name of Christ. Faith must be according to the Scriptures.

In them is no empty promise as to any particular time, but fulfilment is in what the Lord Himself said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5: 24).

How could forgiveness, which is a gift of grace from God, be dependent on an ecclesiastical operation? It depends alone on the faith of the individual, who hears the Gospel and accepts it. It is written, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Rom. 5: 18).

Where is there still room for good works, by which a man can achieve his own salvation? Everyone with a heart who can do good will do it, but no one can earn his salvation thereby. When our Lord was on the cross, and cried out “It is finished!” and died, our salvation had been paid once and for all time. Paul explains further, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Rom. 5: 19).

As certainly as by Adam we were brought into perdition, into death, and separated from God, equally certainly are we redeemed from perdition through Christ, passed from death into eternal Life and become reconciled with God. God Himself has made good the damage. He who believes that will find salvation. Peter testifies with blunt simplicity, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we may be saved” (Acts 4: 12). There is nothing that needs to be added to these simple and straightforward facts.

It would have been unworthy of God if He had made our eternal salvation dependent on the goodwill of others. The unequivocal task of an authorised messenger of God consists of showing his audience by preaching from the Scriptures, that a great reconciliation between God and mankind took place at Calvary.

In this connection it is possible during a sermon to state with divine authority to those that hear, “Believe that your sins are forgiven! Believe that your guilt is done away! Believe that your punishment has been borne for you!” To whomever these divine facts are explained by the Spirit of God on the basis of the Word of God, he is for ever pardoned and may go out free. But everyone must accept it for himself in order to receive personal assurance of salvation.

If the Lord speaks today through any person, He will say the same as He did two-thousand years ago. In Luke 24: 47 is written with reference to Christ, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” The forgiveness of sins was not linked to an office, but to Jesus Christ, the crucified One. Only under the sound of preaching can the Spirit of God effect the necessary repentance in those that hear, and grant the understanding to be converted. Only in this manner is forgiveness imparted to the believer. It is a personal experience, not the operation of an office.

In Romans 10 Paul explains that Biblical faith comes by hearing, that is, hearing from the Word of God. In this it is important that not just anything should be preached, but that the kernel of the sermon should be Christ and His Gospel alone, with the Redemption which He accomplished.

It ought to strike us as really odd, that on the one hand men throughout their lives have their sins absolved and forgiven, but on the other hand are taught that the punishment for them is to do penance. The Word of God says the opposite, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10: 14). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a joyous message, a message of salvation. God speaks through the prophet Isaiah, “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you” (Isa. 35:4). The Apostle Paul confirms it with the following words, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Ti. 2: 11). Isaiah exclaimed, “… He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (chapter 53: 5).

Whoever accepts the Lord as Redeemer, can no longer be punished, for He has taken our punishment upon Himself. He who believes that receives forgiveness of sins and peace with God. Paul writes, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand …” (Rom. 5: 1-2).

The apostle writes further of Christ, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1: 7). All can read in Colossians 1, from verse 14, how the complete work of salvation is identified with the Redeemer Himself. In Romans 1: 16 Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” It cannot be sufficiently emphasised that this faith is fixed in the Word of God alone. Not everyone, however, is able to teach what God wills, and in doing so use the Name of Christ. Faith must be according to the Scriptures.

In them is no empty promise as to any particular time, but fulfilment is in what the Lord Himself said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5: 24).

How could forgiveness, which is a gift of grace from God, be dependent on an ecclesiastical operation? It depends alone on the faith of the individual, who hears the Gospel and accepts it. It is written, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Rom. 5: 18).

Where is there still room for good works, by which a man can achieve his own salvation? Everyone with a heart who can do good will do it, but no one can earn his salvation thereby. When our Lord was on the cross, and cried out “It is finished!” and died, our salvation had been paid once and for all time. Paul explains further, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Rom. 5: 19).

As certainly as by Adam we were brought into perdition, into death, and separated from God, equally certainly are we redeemed from perdition through Christ, passed from death into eternal Life and become reconciled with God. God Himself has made good the damage. He who believes that will find salvation. Peter testifies with blunt simplicity, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we may be saved” (Acts 4: 12). There is nothing that needs to be added to these simple and straightforward facts.

It would have been unworthy of God if He had made our eternal salvation dependent on the goodwill of others. The unequivocal task of an authorised messenger of God consists of showing his audience by preaching from the Scriptures, that a great reconciliation between God and mankind took place at Calvary.

In this connection it is possible during a sermon to state with divine authority to those that hear, “Believe that your sins are forgiven! Believe that your guilt is done away! Believe that your punishment has been borne for you!” To whomever these divine facts are explained by the Spirit of God on the basis of the Word of God, he is for ever pardoned and may go out free. But everyone must accept it for himself in order to receive personal assurance of salvation.