The Gospel - The Means of Grace X

Quickened By The Gospel

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." (Eph. 2: 1)

The word "quickened" is not in the original text. But, it is implied. In Ephesians 1: 20 Paul spoke of the quickening of Christ from the dead - "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised (quickened) him from the dead." So, when Paul says "and you has he quickened" he means "and you also has he quickened." Peter said that Christ was "quickened" from death "by the Spirit." (I Peter 3: 18)

This quickening of the soul is a work of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the word of God. So testified David, who said:

"This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me." (Psalm 119: 50)

When David testified that he had been "quickened" by the word of God, he did not exclude the Holy Spirit. Likewise, when men are said to be quickened from spiritual death, by the Holy Spirit, the word of God is not excluded. Men are quickened by God's word and Spirit, just as the Old Baptist confessions affirm. Men are not quickened by the Spirit alone (Hardshellism) nor by the word alone (Campbellism).

Quickening always has to do with resurrection from death. Where there is no death there can be no quickening. Men do not quicken that which is alive. Notice these words of scripture in proof of this point.

"God, who quickeneth the dead..." (Rom. 4: 17)

"Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die." (I Cor. 15: 36)

Paul said it is foolishness to speak of quickening that which has not died, of quickening what is already alive. It is Hardshell foolishness to say that David was not talking about his spiritual resurrection, for they say he was quickened apart from God's word. They say that David only means that he was revived from lethargy and from a fainting condition. Thus, the quickening was a quickening of the living. Yet, Paul said this was foolishness. You don't quicken what is already alive.

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6: 63)

Jesus said that "the spirit" quickens and then identifies "the spirit" as being "the words that I speak." The words of Jesus quicken the dead. These words have the power to quicken whether spoken by Jesus himself or by those who "preach the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." (I Peter 1: 12) The "spirit" that "giveth life" (II Cor. 3: 6) is the "spirit" of the divine revelation as contained in the new covenant gospel.

Hardshells say that the "words" of Jesus that "quicken" are the words that Jesus personally speaks to the spiritually dead and deny that the words of Jesus have such power when spoken by apostles or evangelists. But, this is contradictory of them, for they argue that the quickening (regeneration) experience is non-cognitive and on the sub-conscious level so that the person being spoken to is not aware of Christ speaking to them, and do not know what he says to them. What "words" did Christ refer to? Was it not the words of glad tidings, or of the gospel?

It was the word of God that quickened the dry dead bones in Ezekiel 37, though it was spoken by the prophet.

"Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." (Phil. 2: 16)

What is this "word of life"? We know that the apostle John refers to Jesus as "the Word of life." (I John 1: 1) But, it is doubtful that Paul alludes to Jesus proper, but to that word that he was sent to bring to the world, the "word of this salvation." (Acts 13: 26) It is the "word of life" because the words of Jesus are spirit and life. This word is held forth to all and is the means God has chosen to bring life and salvation to dead sinners. But, even if it is allowed that Paul refers to Jesus by title in saying "word of life," his holding him forth is certainly by means of preaching.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb. 4: 12)

The word of God is "quick," that is, it is "living," or the "word of life," and is that which God uses to "quicken."

"Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." (Acts 5: 20)

"Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." (John 6: 68)

Dr. Gill wrote:

"all the words of this life; all the doctrines of the Gospel; none of them are to be dropped or concealed, but to be spoken out, fully, freely, and faithfully, with all boldness and constancy; though they cannot be comprehended by reason, and are rejected by learned men, and the majority of the people; though charged with novelty and licentiousness, and attended with reproach and persecution: and these may be called, "the words of life", even of eternal life, as in Joh 6:68 because they show the nature of it, and point out the way unto it; not by the law, and obedience to that, but by Christ and his righteousness; and are the means of quickening dead sinners..." (Commentary on Acts 5: 20)

"words of eternal life: "...for so the Gospel, and the truths of it, are called, Ac 5:20; and that because the Gospel brings life and immortality to light, gives an account of eternal life; of the nature of it, that it is a glorious life, a life free from all the sorrows of the present one; a life of pleasure, and of perfect knowledge and holiness, and which will last for ever: and because it points out the way to it, that it is not by the works of the law, but by the grace of God; that it is his free gift, through Christ; and that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, or the true way to eternal life: and because it is a means of quickening dead sinners...and each of these senses carry in them a reason why souls should go to Christ, and to him only, for life and salvation." (Commentary on John 6: 63)