The message which Christians are called upon to carry to the nations is indeed a unique one. While others
may weary us with their fanciful philosophies and mysterious mythologies, the message of God's Gospel
deals with known historical facts. It tells how Jesus of Nazareth died outside the city of Jerusalem, -was
buried, -and then emerged from His grave on the third day, -thereby verifying His claim to be Saviour of
the world. This "report" has the ring of solid and dependable truth, and countless souls, who have taken
God at His word have experienced miraculous New Birth and blessed newness of Life. They have
touched Almighty Truth, and God has set His Seal upon them.

The original word for "gospel" (Gk. EUENGELLO) means literally, "good message", or "glad tidings".
The same word is found in Luke 2:10, where we read of God's angel appearing to those shepherds
"keeping watch over their flock by night", -and said to them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you GOOD
TIDINGS of great joy, which shall be to all people". "Good Tidings" indeed, -

"Unto you...a Saviour which is Christ the Lord".

The Apostle Paul gives us a true summary of the Gospel in his first letter to the Corinthians. This is how
he puts it:

"...I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and ...By which
also ye are saved,... Christ died for our sins ...he was buried...he rose again the third day ...and was SEEN
of..," (1 Cor.15:1-8).

In a word, it was just the story of our Lord's death and resurrection, -historically accomplished, and
abundantly attested and verified. And that is the message we are privileged to carry to the world today!

It is important to notice that the first carriers of the Gospel HAD TO BE those who had witnessed these
events with their own eyes (Acts 1: 22,23). We, who follow on, have been given the same privilege
because of what is perhaps a still greater qualification; -we have SEEN that Blessed One with an inward
eye that has been mercifully 'opened by the Blessed Holy Spirit. Thus, we also can .say, "We speak that
we do know, and testify that we have seen" (John 3: 11; -C/p. also 1 John 1: 1). How wonderful when we
can say, "...it pleased God, ...To reveal his Son in me" (Gal.1: 15,16).

We need to say, here, that this message is something that is bitterly hated by the powers of darkness. We
are told that "the prince of this world" (Satan), has "blinded the minds of those who believe not ...lest the
gospel of the glory of Christ should shine unto them" (2 Cor.4: 4). This blinding work has gone on
throughout the intervening centuries, and the sharpest minds of natural men still seem incapable of
grasping the simple facts. What a mercy it is when we can go on to say with Paul, "FOR GOD who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (v.6)! We could say that the enlightening of a
soul is actually a repetition of Genesis 1: 2! What wonderful grace! May it please the Lord to say again,
"Let there be Light". And may He give us the privilege of passing on the "report" (lsa.53:1) -far and
wide.

As you will see, we are sending out this series of messages under the title, "The Glorious Gospel of
Christ". Paul uses the phrase in 1Timothy 1: 11, and speaks of "the Glorious Gospel of the blessed God,
which had been committed to our trust". He was awed at the message entrusted to him, and Satan was
afraid of it! Truly, -it is a Glorious Gospel. We shall now discuss some of the reasons why it is a
GLORIOUS Gospel. Doubtless there are countless other "reasons", -but the few that we shall mention
will more than suffice to show the unparalleled splendour of these "glad tidings".

First of the reasons why it is "Glorious", must surely be that it is a message which sets before us A
GLORIOUS PERSON, -the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The good news is a Person; -the glad tidings
are tidings of a Person, -a real Person, -a Person Who is alive today! That Person Himself is the glory of
the Gospel.

Paul tells us that grace had been given him to "preach... the unsearchable riches OF CHRIST" (Eph.3:8),
and that he was determined to know nothing among men save JESUS CHRIST! (1 Cor.2:2).He was
prepared to be "God's ignoramus" ! And it was just the same with Peter. His message on the Day of
Pentecost really began with the words "Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 2:22). The few verses preceding verse
22 were just a preamble, explaining the strange happenings that were going on all around; -then came the
message itself; -"Jesus of Nazareth...". The climax of the message was reached in verse 32; -"This Jesus
hath God raised up, whereof we all are, witnesses". Then comes the statement, "Therefore let all the
house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, ...BOTH LORD AND CHRIST"
(v.36). We could Summarise all those early days of the Church's history with the words of Acts 5:42;
"They ceased hot to teach and preach JESUS CHRIST".

We do not hesitate to say that the Church's task from the beginning has been to IMPRESS THAT
CHRIST on the minds and consciences of men. The Holy Spirit is engaged in the same task (John 16:14),
and, while our emphasis remains identical, we may be assured of His "fellowship" and His anointing.

When our Lord was here among us, He said, "I, if I be lifted up... will draw all men unto me" (John
12:32). He was then referring to that approaching hour when He would be "lifted up" on the Cross, "
'twixt earth and heaven". He comforted His disciples by assuring them that even that dark spectacle
would prove strangely magnetic to the sons of men, -and we know that has been so, - right up to our day.
That dying thief, hanging beside Him on that day, was truly "drawn" to Christ, -and cried out, "LORD,
remember me" (Luke 23:42), - and went straight to paradise! Thank God, we have the privilege now of
"lifting up" a RISEN AND EXALTED SAVIOUR, -the same Great Lord of all. Whenever that is done,
we may be sure He will be "drawing men" towards Himself- They will only need the grace to respond!

The whole glory of Christ, of course, is something beyond all comprehension, and certainly beyond all
telling. No evangelist can ever tell all, but every evangelist should continually be passing on those basic
facts that we have mentioned; -CHRIST, ALIVE, EXAL TED, and "mighty to save" (lsa.63: 1). More
can follow as opportunity presents itself, -here a little and there a little (lsa.28: 10).

How sad it is when professing servants of the Lord are seen doing the exact opposite of this, -just
impressing themselves on the minds of their hearers. If people go away from our meetings just thinking
of us, we have failed miserably and shamefully in our trust. May God ever spare us!

We sum up by saying that our Gospel is a GLORIOUS Gospel, because it always sets before us a
GLORIOUS PERSON. May we truly see His Glory and ever speak of HIM (John 12:41).

YE ARE MY WITNESSES -10
BAKHT SINGH

Acts 11

The pride of nationality is so great, that even though God had done a great work through Peter in the
house of Cornelius, the people of Jerusalem opposed him again and again. " And when Peter was come
up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men
uncircumcised, and didst eat with them" (vs.2, 3). Later on, Peter had to be rebuked by the Apostle Paul.
"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For
before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew
and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision (Gal.2:11-12). Because of the fear of
the Jews Peter did not eat with the Gentiles.

Throughout the ages the enemy has used the same weapon to defeat God's people; take pride in nation,
family, position and education. Even today it is the same. That is the cause of division everywhere -high
caste, low caste, North Indian, South Indian, Andhras and Tamilians, all such differences are used by the
enemy to defeat God's people. In the same way, there are different sections and denominations. That is
why many believers are living in division and strife. But Paul the Apostle rebuked those believers who
were carried away by such differences. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly
joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my
brethren, by them, which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say,
that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ" (1Cor.1:
10-12). These believers called themselves by the name of the apostles like Cephas and Paul. That brought
division and also sin among them. Remember, if you want to be used by the Lord, do not go by these
names. You area Christian. No man, no country died for you. Why do you call yourselves after the name
of England or America or any other country? In all these subtle ways Satan brings defeat in the church.
He makes people to think only of the name rather than the life of the Lord Jesus. That is why Paul says in
1 Cor.2:2, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified".
That is the secret of knowing how much life is flowing from us. Do not go by their names or what they
say, but go by the life of Christ. God's Word says,"...Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his" (Rom.8:9). In the same way, becoming a member of some denomination is also wrong .If
you become a member of a denomination, it means, you are a part of all their teachings and practices. It is
an unscriptural practice. You are a member of the Lord Jesus Christ. All other names bring division.
Some are called by the name of a country or a person or a doctrine. That leads to division and strife. We
see how in the early church these names brought much division.

"Now they, which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as
Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the
Jews only" (Acts 11: 19)