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LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD SOULS

Everyone should understand that the gospel is a living and powerful message (Romans 1:16; Hebrews 4:12) addressed to all men:

  1. A personal invitation by the Son of God (Matthew 11:28-30).
  2. The only Saviour of the world (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; I John 4:14).
  3. Divine instruction to carry the gospel message to every creature (Mark 16:15).
  4. One of the primary missions of the church is to make known the manifold wisdom of God to a lost and dying world (Ephesians 3:10-11).

However, the very nature of the gospel puts hearts to the test (Luke 8:11-15). It will save some and condemn others (II Corinthians 2:15-17), and what is left, after all is said and done, are the few good and honest souls (Matthew 20:16; 7:13-14).

Characteristics of the few

Open minded and willing to search for truth. Sometimes we speak of the untaught being easier to reach because error does not need to be up-rooted before truth is planted. Well, if you have an individual whose mind and heart are not closed to the truth (Matthew 13:10-15), and who is willing to search the scriptures (Acts 17:11), then folks, it does not matter whether they are taught or untaught. Truth will sound a bell, turn on a light, send up a smoke signal--put in any term you like, the point being, the mind will start to think. Examples:

  1. There is one church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4; I Corinthians 12:20; Ephesians 2:16), and one head of the church (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23).
  2. One Shepherd and one fold (John 10:16).
  3. One door and one house (John 10:7; Hebrews 3:6).
  4. One husband and one bride (Romans 7:4; II Corinthians 11:2).
  5. One King and one kingdom (I Timothy 6:15; Daniel 2:44-45).
  6. One lawgiver and one law (I Corinthians 9:21; James 4:12).
  7. One foundation and one builder (I Corinthians 3:11; Matthew 16:18).
  8. Established one time in one place (Isaiah 2:2-3; Acts 2:1-47).
  9. Baptism is necessary in order to be saved (Mark 16:15-16).
  10. Baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
  11. Sin is what separates one from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).
  12. Baptism is a burial, immersion in water (Romans 6:3-5; Acts 8:37-39).
  13. Baptism is necessary to get into Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27).
  14. All spiritual blessing are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

If one is a member of a denomination and they hear what the inspired word of God teaches (II Timothy 3:16) about the church, particularly about its singularity, or if one has believed that baptism is unnecessary to be saved, and they hear what the Bible teaches about baptism, and after hearing that truth shrug their shoulders and say “I like where I attend church”, or “as long as one is baptized (baptism is just an outward show of an inward grace) it does not matter how or why, I believe they will be alright”, then you mark it down that there is a very strong probability they will never become a Christian. Why? You cannot offer truth where truth is not welcome! The first characteristic of the few good souls is a mind that is open and a willingness to search the scriptures.

A willingness to submit to the truth. Beloved, there are those who know the truth but will not submit to the truth because they are afraid of what others might think. Many of the chief rulers during Jesus’ earthly ministry believed that He was the Messiah, but that knowledge never moved beyond their minds, and we are told the reason; “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43).

Again, in John chapter nine, Jesus opened the eyes of a man born blind (John 9:1; 7). What a wonderful thing to happen to this man! For the first time in his life he could see the sky, clouds, trees and flowers. Perhaps the most moving scene would have occurred when he laid his eyes for the first time upon his mom and dad. I can imagine the joy this man experienced and the tears he no doubt shed with his parents.

One could suppose that the parents ran (not walked) to thank Jesus for giving their son the ability to see. You could suppose that was the case, but it would be wrong. Not only did they fail to offer their heart felt thanks to Jesus, they refused to acknowledge the miracle Jesus performed on their son. “And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said the parents, He is of age; ask him” (John 9:19-23).

On the other hand, there were those who found the truth and their lives were forever changed:

  1. Nicodemus, the Pharisee, came to Jesus by night (John 3:1-2). The reason for the night time visit is a matter of speculation, but the outcome of the visit is not nearly so hazy. Nicodemus defended Jesus among his peers (John 7:50-51), and after His death on Calvary, Nicodemus was there to care for the body of Jesus (John 19:38-42).
  2. Saul of Tarsus was by his own admission a fierce enemy of Christianity (Acts 22:4), but his actions were done ignorantly in unbelief (I Timothy 1:13). However, when Saul learned the truth, he submitted even though it meant losing all that the Jews held dear (Philippians 3:5-8)

Beloved, there is profound truth taught in the Bible about salvation; namely, it is personal matter. No matter what anyone else does, or fails to do, we are told to save ourselves (Acts 2:40), to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). It is one of the unique times we are permitted to be selfish. With this idea, you cannot help to save others if you are not saved yourself! Now, back to the point under consideration; namely, one cannot be ashamed of Jesus or His teaching and have any hope of heaven (Mark 8:38). The characteristic of the few good souls is that when they learn the truth they submit to that truth, no matter what others might say.

The fortitude to stay the course. There are three important points I want to make along this line:

1. Christians filled with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”

There is such a powerful principle taught in a story recorded in Matthew 12:43-45. “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation”

When a person becomes a Christian, they are a new creature (II Corinthians 5:17), delivered from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13). Your house (so to speak) is empty of evil – but if you do not fill yourself with good things (Romans 15:13), evil will come home. Those who have the fortitude to stay the course fill themselves with good!

2. Workers who love their spiritual work. Of course there is a challenge involved, namely:

  1. There are not many workers (Matthew 9:37-38).
  2. It is easy to say I’ll get to it later (John 4:35).
  3. There are those who want to share the benefits without the labour (Matthew 25:14-30).

The kind of spiritual workers that I have in mind are those who come early and stay late. In this work you are a part of management. That’s right; you are labourers together with God (I Corinthians 3:9). In this work the wages never go up (the pay couldn’t get any better), only the satisfaction of a job well done keep these workers motivated. Vessels of honour is the praise given by God, and it is all praise these workers need (II Timothy 2:20-21)!

3. Lifers, they come to Christ knowing that there is no stopping place short of heaven (Revelation 2:10). In short, one must have the mentality of as pilgrim on a journey that refuses to stop in the world, because the world is not our home (Hebrews 11:16). Now, that does not mean that the world will not attempt to get you to stop, it simply means you must not allow the world to be successful:

  1. The world wants to entangle you (II Peter 2:20-22).
  2. The world has its successes (II Timothy 4:10).
  3. Worldliness is an enemy you must overcome (James 4:4).

The few know the grandeur of what lies ahead (John 14:1-3), and they will not surrender eternity for that which is temporary and perishing (I John 2:15-17).

Looking for a few good souls

  1. Open to truth and willing to search the scriptures.
  2. Willing to submit to the truth – regardless of what others might think.
  3. The fortitude to stay the course – heaven is my goal.