Cancer-X
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he American Cancer Society reports
that they predict 1,372,910 new cases of cancer in the U.S.A. in 2005, and that
about 1500 will die daily from this awful disease. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United
States. It is also a fact that
many millions of dollars have been spent over the past years looking for a
cure. Unfortunately, even though progress has been made, the total cure for
cancer has not been found.
To
illustrate the point of this lesson, let us suppose that one evening we turn on
the national news and hear the words, “A cure called Cancer-X has finally been
found for all forms of cancer! Research has developed a five pills dose that is
one hundred per cent successful in curing cancer. All that a cancer victim has
to do to be instantly cured is to swallow these five pills.”
Surely
this would be good news beyond our imagination!
Now let us carry this illustration further. Suppose that after the cancer society has made every effort to tell this good news to all who have cancer, that only one thousand cancer victims choose to swallow these five pills. What about all the other millions with this awful disease? The answer is simple. They would still have the disease, and millions would lose their lives.
Perhaps
you are ready to say, “But I can’t imagine anyone with this disease refusing to
take these five pills to gain their health! How could anyone turn down such
good news?”
This
is true, but please be reminded that many centuries ago there was an
announcement of good news to the world that was far greater than announcing the
cure of Cancer-X! For a multitude of heavenly angels made the following
announcement from the heavens at the birth of Jesus:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men!” (Luke 2:14)
.
Why
was the birth of God’s Son such good news? Because He was born to offer a cure
for the most deadly disease of all—the disease of sin!
“For
the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Therefore,
Jesus obtained the remedy for sin at a tremendous cost. A greater cost than all
the millions of dollars that have been spent on research for all dreaded
diseases. Why so expensive? Because the price of the cure for sin was His lifeblood in sacrifice
for sin!
Peter
wrote to Christians who had been fully cured of the fatal disease of sin, that
they had been redeemed “. . .with
the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1
Peter 1:18-19).
Paul
wrote about the same good news of Jesus:
“In Him we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His
grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
Therefore,
we can exclaim without doubt, “What a tremendous breakthrough
Jesus gave to the world! And how could anyone refuse to be cured from the
terminal disease of sin?”
However,
the sad news is that only a few of
the multiplied millions over the centuries have received His cure. Why? Because
they have refused to respond to the good news offered by Jesus.
After Jesus died on the cross making salvation from sin available, He sent His disciples to the world to announce this cure. Listen to His exact words:
“And
He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe
will be condemned’ “ (Mark 16:15-16).
The
word gospel means good news or glad tidings! It was good news that Jesus had provided a cure
from the awful penalty of sin, and that they can now escape spiritual death.
Just as Cancer-X (in the illustration) was good news to those dying with
cancer, so the gospel was (and is) good news to those spiritually dying in sin.
However,
did you notice the conditions mentioned in the cure of Cancer-X, as well as the
saving gospel? With Cancer-X, those with cancer had to swallow
the pills to be
free of the disease. With the gospel, those who were lost in sin had to believe and be baptized.
In
fact, Jesus told His disciples that there would be two kinds of responses to
the preaching of this good news gospel. (1)
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved,” and (2) “he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Someone might say, “But this is too simple,” or “I don’t believe that baptism has anything to do with salvation,” or “I don’t want to follow your teaching.”
Before
you make these, or other objections, may I kindly remind you that this is NOT my teaching! It was Jesus the Savior
who made these rules, and all the passing of centuries and all the wisdom of
men cannot change His words.
Back
to the Cancer-X illustration. Why were only one thousand cured from cancer? The
answer, because they swallowed the five pills! Why did millions of others die
from cancer? Very simply, because they refused
to swallow the pills.
Jesus
made this startling announcement:
“Because narrow is the gate and
difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14).
Why
was this so? Because when the gospel would be preached to the world, ONLY FEW would believe and be baptized to
be saved (Mark 16:16).
So
many people have asked over the years, “Why would Jesus make baptism one of the
things to do to be saved?” Others have asked, “How can there be power in water
to save a sinner?” To give a simple answer: Water leads to blood! When a sinner believes
that Jesus is the Christ, and repents
of all his or her sins, this is a form of dying to sin. Now, what followed the
death of Jesus on the cross? He was buried and raised! What follows a sinner’s
dying to sin? The answer: Being buried with Jesus through baptism in death and
being raised in baptism. This is what Paul taught:
“Therefore
we were buried with Him through
baptism into death, that just as
Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.” For if we have been
united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,”
(Romans 6:4).
Consider
this question, “Is Paul saying that baptism a form
of His death and resurrection?” Suppose we allow Paul to answer by
summing up this process:
“But
God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the
heart that form of doctrine to which
you were delivered. And having been set free
from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18)
.
When
did these Christians at Rome walk in newness of life? Paul’s answer, AFTER their baptism (Romans 6:4).
When
were these Christians at Rome set free from sin? Paul’s answer, when they obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine (Romans 6:17).
Please consider the following important
questions:
What
saves sinners from sin? The blood of Jesus
(Colossians 1:14).
Where
is His blood? In His body, where all
spiritual blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3).
How does a sinner get into Christ or into His body to reach His blood? Again, let us allow Paul to answer:
“For
you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as
were baptized into Christ have put on
Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).
Finally,
when you read of the illustration of Cancer-X, you may have considered those
who refused to swallow the five tablets as being foolish. This would certainly be true. However, what
about those who choose NOT to obey
the command: “He who believes and
is baptized shall be saved?” (Mark 16:16).
Please keep this thought deeply in your hearts: It is more destructive to die spiritually from sin, than to die physically from cancer!
Jesus
has provided the cure for all who will obey Him:
“And
having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,” (Hebrews 5:9).
Have you fully obeyed Him and received the cure?