How Beautiful The Feet Of The Heralds of Hope

¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

• How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? 
• and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? 
• and how shall they hear without a preacher? 
• And how shall they preach, except they be sent? 

as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

When I look at this short passage from verse 13 to 15 I see a perfect parenthesis. The lord has given to us both content and its boundary, four simple questions of infinite truth bounded by hope (v13) and blessing (latter part of v15).

Like bookends holding together a volume of truth that, if taken to its perfect conclusion, should turn the world upside down. So simple are the truths contained in this passage, and yet so wonderfully profound.

I have referred to it as a ‘Perfect parenthesis’ or as “bookends” containing infinite truth.

Consider the bookends in their context

¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

Like a door entering a room filled with light and joy, a call, a one-time decision and event that saves a soul from everlasting destruction. ‘A Call’, sincere in its submission and desperate in its desire for everlasting life, CALLS UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD and “shall be saved”.

As noted in my last sermon beloved, this is a one-time decision and event that is secured by the Lord for evermore. The passage clearly does not give indication of process, or a progression or a gradual salvation.

Jesus said “whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life” and when we have everlasting life, we are counted as his sheep.

In John 10 Jesus speaks of the everlasting safety of his sheep when he said 

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ²⁸ And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and my Father are one.”

When King Agrippa responded the Gospel call of Paul the Apostle, he understood there was a definitive mark, a point at which faith brings salvation and identifies a person as ‘Christian’ when he said “Almost thou persuadeth me to be a Christian”. 

To be a Christian, Jesus said, you must be born again. It is a one-time decision in your life that secures eternal hope.

This verse in Romans 10:13 Is a universal declaration of hope that must be shouted from the rooftop;

whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.!!!

It should be shouted from rooftops, printed in Newspapers the world over, called on speakers before every program, introducing all other news items in every broadsheet paper, television program, Radio show, Podcast, blog, vlog and every single website on the internet each and every day;

If it was understood how important the Gospel is, it no doubt would be.

whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.!!!

THE HERALD

It was the work of Heralds in the royal courts who would go before the people to announce the news of A royal decree. A decree that was to inform the subjects of the King. The voices of the Heralds where anything but silent. 

They would shout the decree, they made it loud and they made it clear; they ensured that all would hear, they did all they could to ensure that none would be left that had not heard.  And if there were those not in ear shot, those who did hear would chain the words of the king so all in the provinces would hear the decree.

We have but one example in the word of God where a crier of Royal decrees is referred to as a “Herald” and it is found in Daniel 3, relating to the commandment of the people to worship a false image set up in the plain of Dura;

Dan 3:4-6

Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, ⁵ That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: ⁶ And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

As the decree affected all people, it was to be ensured that all people heard the warning. 

From town criers to newspapers

When people of a city were able to read, letters might be posted in prominent places that all may read. One of the most famous and valuable was that posted by Martin Luther on the doors of Wittenberg Castle Church, Germany, against the Roman Catholic Church in 1517. 

Why was that so important?

Because, in short, the 95 theses said;

whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!!!

That the Bible teaches nothing about progressive salvation gained by works or indulgences, that it is a one-time event predicated on faith to all who believe. Men were willing to give their lives for the truth of this news. Men and women of conviction understood that this news was for ALL PEOPLE and that it was the most wonderful news of all.

That verse is the first bookend, the opening parenthesis that bounds the wonderful truth contained within. It remains there until we come to the four questions I desire to expound this morning;

• How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? 
• and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? 
• and how shall they hear without a preacher? 
• And how shall they preach, except they be sent? 

And then we come to the closing of the parenthesis, and title of the sermon, found in the latter half of verse 15

as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

The Gospel of peace only ever brings glad tidings of good things, when it is proclaimed. The news is only of value when it is heard, otherwise it is no news at all! The Gospel has NO Value in silence!!

The Heralder of the New testament was John the Baptist. He was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” but if his voice remained silent, what cry would ever be heard?

I was interesting that just before I wrote this sermon yesterday, I read an account of an individual receiving Christ in a Muslim nation and, understanding the incredible danger preachers are exposed to in those nations, the advice was given saying;

“… you must be careful to keep all you do in ministry very, very secret. The ruling authorities, religious authorities, courts and police will not accept you and your works”

• In light of the passage before us, there is no good tidings unless there are tidings?

• We cannot ever speak of good news when news is silent.

• What then is the Gospel if those charged to proclaim it, keep it secret?

1.    How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? 

whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

None will ever call on another to save them, without believing they can! How many people have called upon the brave firefighters here in Australia in the last few months, to help save them and their families?  Not a single person called upon anyone they did not believe could save them or their homes.

An interesting parallel to the Gospel.

1. The Fires were deliberately lit. Over 200 acts of arson were recorded in those areas from October to December. Sin is a deliberate ACT.
2. Call on for those able to save from the consequence of the act.

Only those who can save are called to save, we do not have confidence to be saved by those in the same affliction.  A struggling alcoholic does not turn to another alcoholic to help him quit!

We only ever call on those in whom we have believed can save.

Jesus said “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12)

The same Jesus gave to us the very purpose of his coming in Luke 19:10

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus clarified the Gospel to us in John 12:44-48

⁴⁴  Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. ⁴⁵ And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. ⁴⁶ I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. ⁴⁷ And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. ⁴⁸ He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Christ must be able to save;

They will never call on him whom they have not believed.

Nevertheless, the Lord continues his exhortation through Paul saying;

2.    and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

Paul gives to us very simple and very logical arguments.  They are arguments that cannot be gainsaid, they cannot be argued against because of their logical simplicity.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

One must go before the other, we cannot call on him that we have not believed, nor can we logically believe in him of whom we have not heard, it is purely inconsistent to think other-wise.

Understand we are not here speaking of God, but the Son, it is the Gospel and it is about the Saviour “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. 

It is Christ that needs to be preached.

All have heard of the Lord God, but not all know him.

Pharaoh said to Moses “… Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” (Exo 5:2)

We have heard of those who, though they know of the Lord, desired “not the knowledge of his ways”.

It’s not God they do not know, only the fool has said in his heart there is no God (Ps 14:1).

We read in Romans 1:20-25 regarding the simple reality of God that “the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

We read that  ²¹ …that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ²³ And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

And it is because of their willful rejection of God we discover that “²⁴ …God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: ²⁵ Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Rom 1:20-25)

Does man know of God? Yes. Even the heavens declare the Glory of God Psalm 19 that this passage also eludes to later. 

Pagan man also knew he was woefully lost. He knows instinctively that God is not pleased with him and he shall give an account. It was the ancient pagan philosopher Aristotle who stated, “I know it is for God to forgive sin, but I do not see how”.  All man could do was to hope against hope that he may pass by the gates of hell. He had not heard of a Saviour; he had not heard of Christ.

and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

There has always been an effort, inspired by the Devil, to prevent the hearing of the Gospel of Christ. An effort to ensure that Christ is not preached, that the knowledge of Jesus Christ would fall in silent darkness. It was even from the beginning of the Gospel. Those who heard the first martyr Steven, “stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, ⁵⁸ And cast him out of the city, and stoned him” (Acts 7:57-58)

Having ears to hear, they did not want to hear, having eyes to see, they did not wish to see.  Paul rejoiced in the Gospel, even when it was referred to in contempt, saying of Christ “notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” (Phil 1:18)

Paul desired that he would be heard of, that Christ may be known, that the Saviour might be revealed that “whosoever called upon the name of the Lord may be saved”.

But how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

The effort to silence the Gospel by the Devil has not changed.  He achieves his aim OVERTLY in the world, and tragically achieves his aim COVERTLY THROUG THE CHURCH.

Far too much material for me to deal in death with this matter today. Suffice to say that any effort that prevents or obscures the preaching of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ for the atonement of the sin of the world, is a devilish effort!

Anything that stops the truth of Christ and his Gospel being heard, is of the Devil. 

Prevents: 

• By Laws inflicted on the population of a nation to prevent their right to hear the Gospel.
  • This may happen; 
    • in the name of tolerance
    • in the name of love
    • in the name of inclusion
    • in the name of religious discrimination etc
  • The charges against those who preach of the Saviour will be varied, but suffice to say that Jesus words carry the weight of the last days, to which the early days were a forerunner.

Turn to John 16:1-4

¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. ² They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. ³ And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. ⁴ But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

As noted, the effort against the Gospel will be through prevention; generally that will be overt, obvious, laws restricting the freedom to speak and the freedom to hear, “safe spaces” in schools and cities, charges of ‘bigotry’ etc. The Gospel will be Prevented OVERTLY IN THE WORLD.

But tragically it will also be COVERTLY IN THE CHURCH;

In the world the Gospel will be PREVENTED

In the Church it will be OBSCURED

Obscured:

• By programs inflicted upon the congregations that belittle the value of eternal life and elevate the value of a temporal life.
  • 2 Tim 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
• By obscuring the word of God:
  • 2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

The devil despises the Gospel, and any effort that restricts or diminishes the truth of him whom they have not heard will keep the Gospel silent.

Beloved, if you will not tell them who Christ is, help me to understand how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

You say you are not a preacher;

Then, how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

You say you are not an evangelist;

Then, how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

You say you are “of a slow tongue”;

Then, how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

3.    and how shall they hear without a preacher? 

Did you know that the preacher who preaches the Gospel has beautiful feet?

Did you know that there is no finer person than one who brings glad tidings of great joy?

You know that those who bring glad tidings of great joy are always welcome where they go?

As I thought on this point last evening, I thought of all the bad news around the world. Things that are genuinely sad, things that are tragic, things that even the Bible says shall come to pass that is a great grief to us all. None of this is what we want to hear. 

We don’t like hearing bad news, we grieve every time we hear it and I stand guilty before you as a frequent bearer of bad news.

Yes, we know that the bad news only ever makes the good news better, but I must admit that I have too often given the bad news without revealing the good. 

I stand before you as a preacher who’s feet are not as beautiful as they ought to be. 

We encourage one another as we see the day approaching, because we see the scriptures come alive especially in these days. But when it comes to those who have no hope, we must get to the good news quickly that they may have hope.

 How shall they hear without a preacher?

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. (Prov 25:25)

But what if there is no preacher? “how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Thirsty souls abound, but how shall they hear good news without a preacher? Paul makes clear that good news is no news when there is no preacher to tell it. “But Pastor; there are none who want to hear the Gospel, it is not popular!” Beloved, the hearing does not come before the telling!

How shall they hear without a preacher?

One we commit to ourselves to undertake the one, the other we leave to the Lord to enact. Hearing does not come before the telling.

The Good news is only good news when it is told.  It is not news when it is accepted, it is news only because it is told. The goodness of the news is not determined by the acceptance of it.

It will certainly always be good news to whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord

Will you tell the Old, Old Story?

Will you speak of Christ to a world lost in sin?

Will you tell them even if they don’t want to hear?

You say you are afraid to speak of him;

We have stupid, lost people today tying and chaining themselves willing to give their lives for the stock of a tree, or to simply get a message across with regard to the weather, but Christians are too afraid to speak of Christ….?

We have ideological malcontents living in tents in wealthy CBD’s around the world, to tell all people how they despise their temporal freedom, but we don’t have many Christians telling about eternal freedom…?

We have vitriolic vegans willing to be imprisoned to prevent the dinner plating of a single chicken, but we don’t have Christians willing to be frowned upon for their burden for souls?

Tell me please, How shall they hear without a preacher?

4.    And how shall they preach, except they be sent? 

By far the greatest privilege of all is being commissioned to undertake a task seen as valuable, and that commission being granted by a high official. Imagine your pride, imagine your boasting to friends and relatives that you have been charged by Prime Minister himself to personally tell all the people of the nation that they are no longer to be burdened by taxes. They are free to live life as they have desired, no longer needing to commit to all the arduous obligations of keeping lists of reports and the loss of revenue. 

There was a time when there was no Taxes, when government was small and run by its own revenue source. Funnily enough, Governments today create money from nothing, and no longer need taxes!!! I wish that was a joke. It is the logical outcome of an economic idea preached today known as Modern Monetary Theory.

But I digress.

Imagine being sent on such an errand?

Just take a moment to think on it.

Mark 16:14

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. ¹⁵ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

It is a part of what has come down to us known as The Great Commission.  It was commissioned by the King of King and Lord of Lords, it is a commission that the creator of the Universe had entrusted to you, personally. 

He said “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt 10:8).

He said “and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8)

To you…personally was this commission given. 

It’s difficult for me to think of a more important task…I have tried to think of something that has more value than this…truly I have. But I can’t think of anything more important.

Heal world poverty? A noble cause, it is to alleviate temporal poverty, but what of the eternal poverty all who disobey the Gospel will endure?

World peace? A cause that every Miss Universe appeals for. But what good is peace one with another without peace with God?

Rid the world of sickness and disease? A cause that many people are striving for. Noble, worthy of time and effort, but death inevitably comes and what then? We have healed temporal the body, but what of the eternal soul?

It’s tough, it’s difficult to think of a more worthy cause, of a cause that is worth giving our time for, of a cause worth giving our LIFE for.

It’s also not a cause charged by the nobility of the world. If every leader of the world was standing in a line giving you a charge worthy of their highest esteem, this is seen as nothing compared to God giving you the charge respecting the infinite value of the Son, the one whom they have not heard.

How shall they preach, except they be sent?

The charge is yours, the honour is yours. But if you see no value in it, then that honour will pass to another. If to you, the honour of preaching the Gospel is lightly esteemed, know of a certainty that the deliverance of many will arise from another place.

The Gospel will be preached, and a multitude greater than the stars of heaven and the dust of all the Earth will sings songs of praise unto God on high, and Jesus Christ their Saviour.

Certain it will be, that it was written of some How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

But will it be written of you?

Will you be the herald of hope that this passage is identified with?

There is no reason not to be.