1 Thess 2:3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed-God is our witness. 6We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

“Entrusted with the gospel”. These were the words that rang out from the pulpit on Sunday morning. Our guest speaker was retired baptist minister Rev W Wright.

The message was timely, powerful and prophetic. If ever there was a time in which the church of Christ needed to be reminded of what it means to be “entrusted with the gospel” now is that time!

We are living in times when very few who claim to believe in Christ have grasp of the gospel. Worse still, we are living in a time when very few leaders of God’s people have a grasp of the everlasting gospel of Christ. To some extent this is not a new situation. The gospel has always been in the firing line because the gospel alone delivers lost men and woman from the grip of sin, Satan and eternal destruction.

In our passage there is one interesting factor. Paul links a mans motive with his message. Is the message impure? Then it is very likely that the messenger is impure. Is the message pure? Then good chance that the messenger is pure? Why is this? The gospel is itself the great purifying message. When a person embraces the gospel they embrace a deep cleansing from the filthy stain of impurity. When the gospel touches a persons life that person knows something of what it is to seek the praise of God and not man. A man untouched by the gospel knows nothing of the depths of impurity of his own soul.

Embracing the gospel carries not only the blessings of cleansing but also the responsibility of embodying the gospel and taking it to others. Yet the gospel does not invoke the praise of man, instead it will often invoke hostility. Many modern professors of faith in Christ have opted for an easier road. They have not remained faithful to the preaching of the cross of Christ. They say nothing about the sinfulness of mankind and the burning wrath of a righteous God. They say nothing of the blood of Christ which was shed to absorb the wrath of God for salvation of sinners. They say nothing of the exclusivity of ssalvation which is through faith in Christ alone. They say nothing of the judgement to come. And any mention of the everlasting condemnation of the wicked is nowhere to be found. One would think that these matters are optional extras rather than the very foundations of the gospel.

In the Old Testament there were two types of prophet, the false prophet and the true prophet. What distinguished them? One spoke the words of God and the other spoke vain imaginations. One brought an ear tickling message that left people in sin the other brought a sharp message that convicted of sin and aimed to restore people to God. One brought false hopes the other brought truth and reality. One sought the acceptance and praise of the masses the other sought the praise of God alone.

What are our motives in ministry? Are we in ministry for personal gain? Are we in it for the adoration of the people? Do we serve God out of selfish ambition? If so it is very unlikely that our message is pure. Are we preaching Christ? Do we preach repentance? Do we understand the centrality of the new birth? Are we submitted to the authority of the Word of God? If not it is very likely that our motives are impure. And if so we need to repent and embrace the cleansing work of Calvary. Are you called of God? If so remember that you have been “Entrusted with the gospel”.