Special Gospel Meetings

These are meetings convened typically over a period of days or weeks for the making known of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The message that will be presented in these meetings, announced between 23rd February and 14th March 2025 in Broomhedge Gospel Hall will have, at its core, good news – this is the meaning of the word “gospel”. However, the “good news” that will be brought will not much resonate with what a general public perception might be of “good news” – the gospel does not promise increased wealth for any individual or organisation, nor better health or longevity, or, indeed, necessarily any benefits that pertain to the physical circumstances of a person. Rather, the gospel’s benefits are spiritual – those who believe the gospel are brought into a blessed relationship with God Himself, and they obtain present forgiveness of sins, present rest of conscience and present peace with God, and ultimately they will dwell with God forever, when all things tangible and material have been left behind at death.

Perhaps this question could be rephrased as “Why can a person not have a relationship with God apart from Jesus Christ? May we not forge out our own ‘truth’ and decide ourselves how we interact with God? May human beings’ relationships with God not be likened to the spokes of a wheel – all coming from different directions, but yet ending up in the same place?” Well, the answer to this, in short, is that God Himself has appointed a singular means of salvation for humans – one way, not a number of ways, and the way He has so ordained for this is alone through Jesus Christ, and by faith in Him alone. To decide on our own way is to fly in the face of God’s own ordained way. This way has been revealed to us in His Word, and Jesus Himself has declared Himself to be the only means by which a person may come to God: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”(1). It is almost inconceivable in today’s Western culture that one view should not be valued as an equal to another differing view, and yet Jesus Christ, the unchanging Son of God, stated that any other professed way to God, apart from through Himself, would be inadequate, and would not bring a person to God. (1) John 14v6 (The Bible)

The answer to this question largely lies in how you and I, by nature and apart from God, appear before God. You and I have a nature that is not holy; we don’t have to be taught to do things that are wrong; we don’t need to attend classes to instruct us how to lie, or how to create a false impression. Although the use of the word “sin” is unpopular, and to say that we are “sinners” is a far cry from the popular voice that encourages us to raise our self-esteem, yet the fact remains that we are flawed, we are imperfect – we are indeed “sinners”. By nature, we are not even sinners seeking to obtain a relationship with God; in contrast rather, just as in the Biblical record of the Fall of man, we attempt to hide from God, we attempt to cover up. The Bible teaches us that we are flawed in every department of our being: no part of us has escaped the ravages of a sinful nature. (That said, the word of God describes those who are sinners more than others; and yet, all indeed are sinners). The ruinous effect of sin in our lives means that not one of us can effect our own salvation; nor can we please God in the state in which we are found by nature. God is holy, and, for sin to be forgiven, the demands of God’s righteousness must be satisfied. Here is where the work of Jesus Christ comes in. Jesus Christ did not begin to exist about two thousand years ago. True, He is a figure of history, but He is more. The Bible tells us that “He is before all things, and by Him all things consist”(1). In other words, He is also the Creator. Being a creator necessitates being in existence prior to whatever is being made. The Bible tells us He is eternal. However, this Eternal One, as the Son of God came into true manhood, being born of a virgin. He became perfectly human and humanly perfect, and yet He had never ceased to be God. It is likely that many reading this article are aware of the Christmas carol, “Hark, the herald angels sing” – an excerpt from it reads like this, expressing this truth so well: Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. (2) And so, Jesus, with no trace of sin about Him or in Him, and of divine nature, was the only acceptable means to God. God must punish sin, and He did punish His Son Jesus upon the cross – not for His own sin, for Jesus Christ had no sin of His own. For whose sin, then? The answer is given in one of St Paul’s epistles; writing to Christians, Paul says, “For He [God the Father] hath made Him [Jesus] to be sin for us, Who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him”(3). We read in another letter written by Paul, “Christ died for the ungodly”(4). As a result of the death of Christ, God is satisfied, He has raised Jesus Christ from the dead, and now as the risen Lord Jesus Christ, will save and forgive all who repent and believe on Christ. Jesus Christ will personally return again – he did indicate that he would be away for “a long time”(5)– and believers, changed, dead and living, will be caught up to be with Him, and in His appearing in glory He will be vindicated in the very world in which He was despised and crucified. (1) Colossians 1v17 (The Bible) (2) Emmanuel means ‘God is with us’ (3) 2 Corinthians 5v21 (The Bible) (4) Romans 5v6 (The Bible) (5) Matthew 25v19 (The Bible)

You and I are creatures that have been made by God, we are sustained by Him, and we are responsible to Him. We are going out to meet Him. We need to be ready for that day. Unless we are sheltered in the Lord Jesus Christ, God will meet us in judgment, eternal judgment. However, if we have come to the Father through Christ on earth, believing on His Name, we will be safe from judgment and eternally secure. This matter of the preaching of the gospel has got to do with our eternal welfare. God has no pleasure either in the wasted lives of men and women, or in them perishing eternally. Are you saved? Are you believing in Christ for the salvation of your soul? If you are not saved, we invite you to come to listen to the gospel; consider its message, and its implications for you. May you truly be brought into this salvation through repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. If you are already a true Christian, do come and enjoy the glorious message of the gospel being made known over these weeks.

When you come to the meetings you will be welcomed, provided with a hymn book and seated. Before the preacher begins to preach, there will be a couple of hymns, sung acapella. You may choose to join in, or you may choose not to sing! The preacher will pray briefly, the word of God, the Bible, will be read, and then he will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the close of the meeting, he will pray, and thank you for coming. A final hymn will then be sung. There is no specific dress code for these meetings. In the past some have chosen to dress more formally, but whether you have come in more formal dress, smart-casual, casual, or your work clothes, you will be made most welcome! At no point will there be any collection or any coercion. We invite you to come, listen and consider.