“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
Of all that God has entrusted to us, the most precious gift is the gospel. We are “stewards of the mysteries of God.” What does Paul mean by mystery?
“Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister…”
Ephesians 3:2-7
The way Paul articulates the mystery of the gospel in the book of Ephesians relates the inclusion of gentiles into the new family of God. The Old Testament, upon reflection, contains clues that pointed to this reality (Isaiah 49:6 is one important example) but by and large the story of the OT is about God’s choosing, growing and protecting Israel as His people. The gospel – that Jesus died for the sins of all people and not just Jewish people – is a profound mystery that was suddenly and boldly revealed in the New Testament.
And we are stewards of this life-changing message.
The good news of Jesus is for the whole world. Yet there remain over 2 BILLION people who have never once heard the name of Jesus. (Check out the Joshua Project for a map of where those 2B people are. Listen to A Third of Us for a podcast devoted to reaching the remaining unreached people groups on earth.)
The world for each of us begins right where we are. Who are the people in your life who don’t know Jesus or don’t yet know Him personally? You are a steward of those relationships. You are responsible, before God, to help those people experience the love of God and understand the grace of God available to them in Christ. We recently watched this video from magician and comedian Penn Gillette.
“If there is a truck bearing down on you, there is a point at which I tackle you,” Gillette says with sincere emotion. “I don’t respect someone who doesn’t proselytize.”
Charles Spurgeon says it this way:
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”
Charles Spurgeon
As we will hear this Sunday (7/16/23), apart from Christ people are drowning in their sin with no hope of rescue. We have the life ring and rope that could save them – it’s called the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”
Romans 10:14-15
We have been given a trust of vital importance. Will we keep this amazing good news to ourselves or will we share it with everyone we possibly can? We are stewards of the gospel!