GOSPEL SUCCESSION
2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
2 Timothy 2:1 ¶ Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
How shall the true, pure gospel be continued throughout the world? How shall it effectually be revealed to the elect of God, when the Harlot church and its members are so opposed to the spirituality of the gospel?
In verse two of our text we find that an apostle (Paul) had preached to a pastor (Timothy), to whom he gave the charge to commit that gospel to faithful men, who in turn would also preach it on to others also.
And Judas, not Iscariot, asked this most important question of our Lord. John 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
When this preaching is done, everyone can, and should, hear it. For the gospel is to be preached to every creature. But as our Lord constantly proclaimed, it is only those ‘with ears’ who can effectually hear it for the revelation of God to the salvation of their souls. Mark 4:9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. For it is the responsibility of the true church to broadcast the gospel to everyone, without any exclusion. But it is solely the work of the Holy Spirit to make effectual application to the soul’s of God’s elect.
For as our Lord replied to Judas, it is only to those individuals who “love me, and keep my words” that the Trinity will love and reveal Himself in them! Consider also these verses: John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Gospel Succession is dependent upon gospel obedience! For His words to be life, they must be spiritually alive within the hearts of the believers. John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. When the mouth merely repeats with correct enunciation, the syllables which convey gospel sentences, there is not the affect upon the heart! Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
For there is no true faith without its evidence of accompanying works! In fact, one cannot reveal a true faith without the manifestation of godly works. James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Therefore it is the marvelous plan for the gospel to have its succession, throughout the ages of the world, to be passed on by the one preaching to be in a living faith while it is successfully conveyed on to another, who is granted faith as he hears it preached. It is, as the Apostle Paul writes, conveyed from faith to faith. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
And this is established in Christ’s sovereign commission to the church. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Please take note of that verse twenty. All true gospel preachers are to be in full compliance of the commands of Christ to themselves, if they wish to have that gospel, with its commands, received by those to whom they preach. The preacher must be in observance of “whatsoever I have commanded you,” if they are to properly “teach them to observe all things!”
Therefore Satan has flooded the churches with a counterfeit gospel, and ’preachers,’ who ‘say, and do not!’ Revelation 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. Matthew 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
To be one who ‘preaches’ religion but obeys not the gospel, as they only hear it with the human ear, are also deceivers of their own selves! James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. It is a most dangerous matter to approach the gospel without the full intent of absolute compliance!
John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
The true, God-called minister is set intently upon the word of God. Amaziah was the White House prophet, a hireling who preached smooth things to the kings ears. And Amos was just a country boy, called of God to preach, and sent by God to the King’s city. Amaziah did his best to run Amos off, lying to the king concerning him, and disparaging Amos to himself.
Amos 7:12 Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: 13 But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court.
But Amos could not be discouraged from total obedience to the inner call of the Lord God! Amos 7:14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: 15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. 16 Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.
But as seen in the calling of this lowly farm boy, God usually always calls the base and weak things in order that human flesh should not glory in His presence! 1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Ezekiel’s calling was the same as Amos’! Ezekiel 40:4 And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.
Ezekiel 44:5 And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. 6 And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,
Jeremiah complained to God that His message of judgment to Israel made him a reproach to all those to whom he preached! He therefore concluded that he would just not preach it any more. But he found out that God’s fiery message burned within his heart insomuch that he could not help but preach it! Jeremiah 20:7 O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. 8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. 9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Isaiah 50:4 ¶ The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
The Apostle Paul, whom God used to write the majority of the New Testament, even though he was highly educated by a famous Rabbi, had to come away from his formal religious education in order to win Christ! Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Listen to his testimony of having to ‘unlearn’ all that religious information by spending three years in Arabia before being allowed to go to Israel to preach the gospel. Galatians1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
The recovery of Israel after their captivity for disobeying the law of God was accomplished by the preaching and teaching of that same, once rejected, word. Ezra 7:9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. 10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. 25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
And that is America’s only hope of regaining her spiritual integrity before the Lord. Gospel recovery is the only means of America’s recovery! Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Pastor Gene Breed
November 13, 2020