Count these among famous first words:
- “What hath God wrought?” Samuel F. B. Morse sent this message over the world’s first commercial telegraph line on May 24, 1844.
- “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” This message of Aug. 16, 1858, was the first official communication sent over a transatlantic cable.
- “Mr. Watson, come here. I want you.” Alexander Graham Bell spoke these words, the first communication by telephone, on March 10, 1876. Bell had accidentally spilled a jar of acid and was calling for his assistant, Thomas A. Watson.
- “S.” Guglielmo Marconi received this signal, the first transatlantic wireless message, on Dec. 12, 1901.
- “Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain’t heard nothin’ yet.” Al Jolson spoke these words in the first partly talking motion picture, “The Jazz Singer” (1927).
- “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” United States astronaut Neil Armstrong spoke these words on June 20, 1969, as he became the first person to set foot on the moon.
Count them among famous first words; but don’t consider them the most important words. For that, Scripture tells us what gets first place: of first and primary importance is the clear message of the gospel — Jesus died for sinners.
Have you become complacent about that truth? It should invigorate your every thought and should stimulate your passions for God Himself. The most glorious, wonderful news in a world that is over-saturated with news is that through Christ forgiveness of sins is proclaimed (Acts 13:38) and that those who believe that simple and significant truth will be freed from every sin and will be justified fully (v. 39)! You haven’t heard anything more significant and important all day today — or any day, in fact.
Read through the account of Acts and you will be confronted with how often the simple truth of the gospel is stressed by its first adherents:
“‘And it shall be, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’…And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” (2:21, 38)
“And there is salvation in no one else [than Jesus]; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” (4:12)
“He [Jesus] is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (5:31)
“Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” (10:43)
Those whom God positioned to lead the early church were adamant about the primacy of this doctrine: Jesus Christ died for sin so that sinners could be forgiven.
Consider also this suggestion: if forgiveness is of first importance on the day of our salvation, then it continues to be of first importance throughout our (eternal) lives with Christ.
Man’s great, and ultimately only, problem is sin. And God’s great remedy is the cross and its offer of forgiveness. Will you preach that truth to yourself today? And will you live in light of the glorious freedom it provides?
The great news of today — of every day — is that because of Christ’s death on the cross man is redeemed from sin and is made able to enjoy fellowship with God both now and for all eternity.
Words of Grace 