IN Banza Manteke, Central Africa, no converts had been won to Christ, tho a missionary had preached to the people patiently for seven years. He had proved that they were sinners and deserved death, and that God was good. The people acknowledged all he said and their interest was growing, but they were not ready to give up their evil habits. At last in translating to them the Gospel of Luke, Mr. Richards came to the story of the crucifixion. As he told of the wisdom, and power, and love of Jesus, and of His kindness to sinful and suffering men, and described His death on the cross between two thieves, he said: “Jesus, the Son of God, died there for your sins and mine. Now He asks us to receive Him as13our Lord and Saviour.” This made a deep impression on the African minds, and not long after the missionary heard Lutale, his translator, singing: “I do believe that Jesus has taken away my sins; I do believe that He has saved me.” As he sang, his dark-skinned face lighted up with joy, and from that day he began to tell others what Christ had done for him and was ready to do for them.
The cross is the emblem of Christianity. The death of Christ for sinners is the central, unique fact of the Gospel. Other religions tell of divine incarnations, of noble examples and exalted teachings, and even of heroic martyrdoms for faith, but no other tells of God Himself paying the penalty for man’s sins and thereby opening to him the way of life and peace and power. This is the heart of the Gospel—the love of God in giving Himself for the salvation of men. It is not the Gospel to righteous men; but to sinners who feel their need it is indeed good news.
And what this Gospel means to us it may mean to the whole world. Christ was to be lifted up to draw all men unto Him (John 12:32); He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also the sins of the whole world (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:15, 19; 1 Tim. 2:6). Christ’s death has made life possible for all men. What is our responsibility? Eze. 33:8, 9.
