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The 16:16’s of the Gospel Accounts
Oh, how fortunate we are to have the inspired words of God readily available to us! Even though God’s word is inspired, we need to realize that the chapter and verse breaks have been inserted by uninspired men. Personally, I’m glad that they have been inserted due to the fact that it makes it much easier to both reference and find information within the scriptures. In regards to these chapter and verse breaks, we sometimes find some interesting coincidences. Such is the case with “the 16:16’s” of the Gospel accounts. “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it” (Luke 16:16). After the conclusion of the book of Malachi, God’s people waited approximately 400 years for further revelation. At that time, John the Baptizer began his work. The time for the Messiah was upon them and John was preparing the way just as Isaiah and Malachi had predicted: “...A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God’” (Isaiah 40:3); “Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me…” (Mal. 3:1). The days in which Jesus would establish His kingdom were fast approaching. As Daniel 2:44 had stated: “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people…” With the preaching of John, the transition out of the Law and into the Gospel of Christ and the kingdom of God had begun. “Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matthew 16:16). In this verse we find the basis of our faith - belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus proceeded to say, “…And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” (Matthew 16:18-19). The church, the prophesied kingdom, is established and built upon the foundational truth that Jesus is indeed “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” As we sometimes sing, “On Christ the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.” “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me." (John 16:16). Jesus was gathered with His apostles on the night of His betrayal when He spoke these words. This refers to His death and burial to be followed by His resurrection and ascension. Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, was buried, rose on the third day and later ascended into heaven to be at the right hand of the Father. Here we have the foundation of the Gospel and the reason for our hope. "…Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46). “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). God’s offer of salvation is not limited to any particular group of people but is universal. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people” (Titus 2:11). Yet, it is our responsibility to respond to His offer. Mark 16:16 is indicating that we must obey the Gospel in order to receive salvation. That obedience includes believing in Jesus as the Son of God and being baptized into Him for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). In addition to these requirements, one must also be willing to confess his/her faith (Matt 10:32) and must repent of sin (Luke 13:3,5). Upon one’s obedience to the Gospel, he/she is forgiven by God and placed within His church (Acts 2:47) as one of His children (Gal. 3:26-29). “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God…” (1 John 3:1). As you can see, a wonderful message is contained within the 16:16’s of the Gospel accounts! |