"To You"

Paul and Barnabas first preached the gospel to the seed of Abraham.

These Jews contradicted and blasphemed, and therefore, in verse 46, the servants of the Lord boldly exclaimed, “We turn to the Gentiles.” A blessed turning this for you and for me!

Herein is a warning to ourselves, lest we refuse the gospel, and find it taken from us, and sent to others.

At this moment, to our hearers we earnestly say, “To you is the word of this salvation sent.”

Let us then consider—

I. WHAT IS THE WORD OF THIS SALVATION?

1. It is the testimony that Jesus is the promised Savior. Verse 23.

2. The word which promises forgiveness to all who exhibit repentance of sin, and faith in the Lord Jesus. Verses 38, 39.

3. In a word, it is the proclamation of perfect salvation, through the risen Savior. Verses 32, 33.

   • It is comparable to a word for conciseness and simplicity.
   • It is a word, as being spoken by God, and as being his present utterance even at this moment.
   • It is a word; for it reveals Him who is truly “the Word.”
   • It is a word of salvation; for it declares, describes, presents, and presses home salvation.
   • It is a word sent, for the Gospel dispensation is a mission of mercy from God, the Gospel is a message, Jesus is the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit himself is sent to work salvation among men.

II. IN WHAT MANNER IS THE GOSPEL SENT TO YOU?

1. In the general commission, which ordains that it be preached to every creature.

2. In the fact that the gospel is preached in our land, the Bible is in every house, and the word is proclaimed in our streets.

3. In the providence which has brought you this day to hear the word. Very specially may you be sent to the preacher, the preacher sent to you, and the special message be sent through the preacher to you.

4. In the peculiar adaptation of it to your case, character, and necessity. A medicine which suits your disease is evidently meant for you.

5. In the power which has attended it, while you have been hearing it, though you may have resisted that power.

   • It would be a sad thing if we had to single out even one, and say,—“This word is not sent to you”; but we are under no such painful necessity.

III. IN WHAT POSITION DOES IT PLACE YOU?

In a position—

1. Of singular favor. Prophets and kings died without hearing what you hear. Matthew 13:16.

2. Of notable indebtedness to martyrs and men of God, in past ages, and in these days; for these have lived and died to bring you the gospel.

3. Of great hopefulness; for we trust you will accept it and live.

4. Of serious responsibility; for if you neglect it, how will you escape? Hebrews 2:3.

   • It puts it out of your power to remain unaffected by the gospel.
   • It must either save you, or increase your condemnation.

IV. IN WHAT MANNER WILL YOU TREAT THIS WORD?

1. Will you decidedly and honestly refuse it? This would be a terrible determination; but the very idea of so doing might startle you into a better mind.

2. Will you basely and foolishly delay your reply? This is a very dangerous course, and many perish in it.

3. Will you play the hypocrite, and pretend to receive it, while in your heart you reject it?

4. Will you act the part of the temporary convert?

5. Will you not rather accept the word of salvation with delight?

   • Suppose the gospel should be taken from you by your removal to a place where it is not preached, or by the death of the minister whom you so greatly esteem. It would be just. It may happen. It has happened to others. Refuse the heavenly message no longer, lest your day of grace should end in an eternity of woe.

Personalities

A minister having to preach in the city jail, was accompanied by a young man of fine mind and cultivated manners, but who was not a Christian. As the minister looked at the audience, he preached to them Jesus with so much earnestness as deeply to impress his companion. On their return home, the young man said, “The men to whom you preached today must have been moved by the utterance of such truth. Such preaching cannot fail to influence.” “My dear young friend,” answered the minister, “were you influenced? Were you impelled by the words you heard today to choose God as your portion?” “You were not preaching to me, but to your convicts,” was quickly answered. “You mistake. I was preaching to you as much as to them. You need the same Savior as they. For all there is but one way of salvation. Just as much for you as for these poor prisoners was the message of this afternoon. Will you heed it?” The word so faithfully spoken was blessed of God.

Jesus said, “Preach the gospel to every creature.” I can imagine Peter was asking him: “What, Lord! shall we offer salvation to the men who crucified you?” And I can imagine Jesus answering him: “Yes, Peter, I want you to preach my gospel to everybody, beginning at Jerusalem. Proclaim salvation to the men who crucified me. Peter, I’d like you to find that man who put the crown of thorns on my head. Tell him, if he’ll take salvation as a gift he shall have a crown of glory from me, and there shan’t be a thorn in it. Look up that Roman soldier who thrust that spear into my side, to my very heart, and tell him that there’s a nearer way to my heart than that. My heart is full of love for his soul. Proclaim salvation to him.”—D. L. Moody.

To whom is it that the God of salvation sent “the word of salvation”? He sent it to all sinners that hear it. It is a word that suits the case of sinners; and therefore is it sent to them. If it be inquired, for what purpose is it sent to sinners?.… It is sent as a word of pardon to the condemned sinner. Hence may every condemned sinner take hold of it, saying, This word is sent to me. It is sent as a word of peace to the rebellious sinner. It is sent as a word of life to the dead. It is a word of liberty to the captives, of healing for the diseased, of cleansing to the polluted. It is a word of direction to the bewildered, and of refreshment to the weary. It is sent as a comforting word to the disconsolate; and as a drawing word and a strengthening word to the soul destitute of strength. It is sent, in short, as a word of salvation, and all sorts of salvation and redemption to the lost soul, saying, “Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost.”—Condensed from Ralph Erskine.