Have You Heard?

Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), the world-famous violinist, earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn’t able to buy it. Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking price, he returned to the seller, hoping to purchase that beautiful instrument. But to his great dismay it had been sold to a collector. Kreisler made his way to the new owner’s home and offered to buy the violin. 

The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea. “Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?” he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector’s emotions were deeply stirred.

“I have no right to keep that to myself,” he exclaimed. “It’s yours, Mr. Kreisler. 
Take it into the world, and let people hear it.” *

The Gospel is “GOOD NEWS.”  It is news too good to keep to ourselves!

The message..."Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel [lit. "GOOD NEWS"] which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved -IF- you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that CHRIST DIED for our sins according to the Scriptures and that HE WAS BURIED, and that HE ROSE AGAIN the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

WHY is that such GOOD NEWS? Because YOU and I are sinners (Romans 3:23), and the wages of sin is DEATH (Romans 6:23). But Christ died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3) so that we could be forgiven of our sins (Ephesians 1:7) and receive the GIFT
of ETERNAL LIFE (Romans 6:23) with Him in heaven.

To receive the benefits of Christ’s death on the cross, we must: believe 
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), repent of our sins (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of 
our sins (Acts 2:38). Then we must: CONTINUE to “hold fast” to the Word of God 
(1 Corinthians 15:2), living in obedience to it, so that the blood of Jesus can CONTINUE to cleanse us from our sin (1 John 1:7).

Having heard the GOOD NEWS, have YOU obeyed it?

Now, will you share it?  The Gospel is “GOOD NEWS.”  We have NO right to keep it to ourselves.  Let’s take it into ALL the world, and let people hear it, so that they can OBEY it, and be SAVED from their sins.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

* Our Daily Bread, February 4, 1994

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