Chapter 56. The Third Doctrine (Proposed in the 45th Chapter) Explored: The Excellence of the Gospel
upon them. When the very people of Nineveh repented, they believed God, and thus, even the proudest, hardest heart in the world, if it comes to believe God, will repent.
I am willing to be more extensive on this point because this sermon might make many other sermons profitable, and for lack of a true understanding of this point in your hearts, many sermons do so little good.
Chapter 56.
The Third Doctrine (Proposed in the 45th Chapter) Explored: The Excellence of the Gospel Makes Ministers Earnest in Their Ministry
The former part of this verse treated several conclusions within it. A third doctrine proposed in the 45th Chapter is:
That the consideration of the excellence of the Gospel that is committed to its ministers to preach makes those who are faithful very earnest in their ministry.
"Now unto us is committed the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead," etc. It is this—the fact that the word of reconciliation is committed to us, and that we pray in Christ's stead— that drives the earnestness you see in us.
Firstly, the consideration of the excellence of the Gospel committed to its ministers should compel them to be earnest in their ministry and to labour with all their might to draw people to the love of the Gospel.
What you have heard in this chapter is repeated at the beginning of the next. The Apostle, reiterating that the ministry of reconciliation is committed to them, states that he beseeches and prays in Christ's stead. Then, as if he had not said enough, he repeats himself at the beginning of the next chapter: "Oh, this ministry of reconciliation! It is the grace of God unto people. We beseech you," says the Apostle,
"do not receive this grace of God in vain." The Apostles, as well as other faithful ministers, do not satisfy themselves merely by performing a task. It's not enough just to speak for an hour, saying things that please the ears of their listeners. Instead, they are watchful and earnest, fearing that their efforts might be in vain. "We are ambassadors," they say.
Let me show you another remarkable text, found in Colossians 1:25:
"I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God, which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God." Then he goes on to commend this ministry, calling it "the mystery that has been hidden from ages and generations but is now made manifest to the saints." It may be that carnal hearts view it as a foolish or unsavoury thing, but it is made manifest to the saints, to whom God would make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles.
Now observe how our point comes into play in verse 28. The Apostle is eager to win every man and is unwilling to lose even one of his listeners: "every man, every man, every man"—he repeats it three times in a single verse. He says, "Whereunto I labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." What phrases are piled up here? I do not treat the work of the ministry as an idle task, wandering from one company to another or from tavern to tavern all week and then expecting to preach to you on the Lord's day as if it were a trivial matter. Instead, it is my labour, and not only so, but I strive. And how does he strive? Not merely with human