Gospel Reality
Jesus, who is the author and originator of the New Covenant and the One who establishes the Kingdom of God, said the following,
Mark 16:14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Some reject the idea of rebuking for any reason or of anyone being condemned. Others struggle with the idea of the supernatural’s work and its role in spreading the gospel.
No matter what anyone may think with regard to these matters, there is no way to deny what Jesus so clearly said in these passages.
When we get the gospel right, we allow it into our hearts, where it produces fruit for His kingdom, and it produces in us a desire to engage in sharing it with others.
There’s no way to deny the fact that the fruit of believing in Him is indicated here by the Lord. Jesus says these signs will follow those who believe.
When we truly believe and act in His name to promote the gospel, He backs us up with His power.
I also note that it says, “They went out and preached everywhere.” They didn’t wait for people to seek them out. They went out.
The more real the gospel is to us, the more fruitful we become in it. The more we believe the good news, the more excited we become about it. We rejoice in its truth, and it affects our hearts as a result.
This is why the gospel needs to be preached often, even to the church. Being reminded of His great grace, mercy, and love ignites a passion in our hearts and excites us with possibility and opportunity for others.
When we share it with others outside the church, amazing things happen, and we get to go on an adventure with Jesus! It is Gospel Reality! It is what makes being a believer exciting and adventurous!
