“Debt” is something that many people prefer not to think about. One recent study showed
that the average American household with debt owes more than $104,000. Most who are
in financial debt desire to be debt free, and understandably so. But there is a certain kind
of debt that God’s people owe which we will never be able to fully repay. Paul spoke of it
in Romans 1:14 when he said, “I am a debtor both to Greeks, and to Barbarians; both to
wise, and to unwise.” Everyone who has been saved by the blood of Christ stands in the
same shoes. We are indebted to the world and to our God to proclaim the gospel of His
Son, Jesus the Christ.
We must understand the reason for our debt. Why do we owe a debt to the world to
teach the gospel? Normally when we are indebted to someone it is because of something
they have done for us. But this debt has nothing to do with anything the world has done
for us; rather it has everything to do with what God has done for us. We have been
redeemed from death by the blood of the Lamb (Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-20). We are the
beneficiaries of the selfless sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. Therefore, it is our responsibility to
shout from the mountain tops the good news of that salvation. Like Peter and John, our
attitude should be, “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts
4:20). “The love of Christ constrains us” (2 Cor. 5:13-15) and should push us onward. We
should have a “burning fire shut up in our bones” (Jer. 20:9) that fuels our desire to tell the
world that the Savior lives. We are indebted to the world to preach the gospel, and, as Paul
said, For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me;
yes, woe is me, if I do not preach the gospel (1 Cor. 9:16)!
We must understand the scope of our debt. Paul knew that he was in debt to everyone—
Jew and gentile (Rom. 1:14-16)—because everyone has the same problem (Rom. 3:23) and
everyone needs the same solution (Rom. 6:23). The gospel of Jesus the Christ is not
prejudiced. It does not see black, white, rich, or poor. It only sees souls that are in need of
salvation. God’s people must have the same vision. Peter said, In truth I perceive that God
shows no partiality: but in every nation whoever fears him, and works righteousness, is
accepted with him (Acts 10:34-35). Paul wrote, Tribulation and anguish on every soul of
man who does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to
everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek: for there is no
partiality with God (Rom. 2:9-11).
The prophet Jonah made the mistake of allowing prejudice to blind him from seeing
people for who they really were—souls made in the image of God. Our debt is to take the
gospel to all people (Mark 16:15), regardless of skin color, ethnicity, or social status.
We must understand the term of our debt. When you finance a home or a car you know that at the end of an agreed term the debt will be paid and the home or car will be ours. Our debt to the world has a term limit as well— death. As long as we live on this earth there is work to be done for the Lord in carrying His gospel to a lost and dying
world. Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can
work” (John 9:4). That should be our attitude. Of the house of Stephanas, Paul said, “they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints” (1 Cor. 16:15). Could he say of me, “he has devoted himself to the work of soul winning”? Could Jesus say of us, with confidence, what He said of Himself—“I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49)?
Equipped 2024 Living Faith, Studies in the Gospel of John was the theme of the workshop I spoke on last week and along with several others attended in Bowling Green, Kentucky at the Lehman Ave congregation. It was very uplifting 3 and a half days of great Bible study, Christian fellowship and encouragement. As someone once said, “it was just what the doctor ordered”! This year we also were able to attend the Potter Children’s Home for dinner. It was a great on the campus of the Potter. The brethren are doing great work for the Lord at this facility. It was the apostle who penned to Timothy regarding the Scripture that through them the Christian would be thoroughly equipped (NKJV) for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17). The word translated “equipped” comes from a term which means “equip fully” as with a teacher. The goal of the study of God’s word as a Christian is thus to completely furnish oneself so that he can serve God in the teaching of His Word and faithfully living the Christian life in this world.
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