**FEATURED GOSPEL
MESSAGE
FOR THE CURRENT MONTH***.
FOR THE CURRENT MONTH***.
There is a strong effort underway
in our society to remove Christ out of Christmas and God out of our world. The purpose of this message is to tell you
about “The Christ of Christmas” and to explain why His coming into the world
can indeed be, “good tidings of great joy” for
YOU personally.
SPECIAL MESSAGE’S
FOR THE SEASON
There is a strong effort underway
in our society to remove Christ out of Christmas and God out of our world. The purpose of this message is to tell you
about “The Christ of Christmas” and to explain why His coming into the world
can indeed be, “good tidings of great joy” for
YOU personally.
It says in the Bible, in (Luke 2:11) “Unto YOU is born … a Savior, which is Christ the
Lord”. In this Christmas season,
a time of giving and receiving gifts, why not take some time to consider God’s
wonderful gift to YOU. This message will
explain the gift of God’s Son and the salvation offered through His finished
work on the cross.
Once again we enter into a New
Year. Time goes by swiftly does it
not? The Bible, the Word of God, has
important things to say about “TIME”.
The focus of this message is on five important aspects of time that you
cannot afford to ignore. Will you use
YOUR TIME wisely this year? This is “A
NEW YEAR, WILL THERE BE A NEW YOU”? New Years resolutions are fine if you keep them, but they have
no value for eternity. More important
than “resolution” you need “regeneration”.
This is the only way you can be prepared for eternity and be a new you
in this New Year. Read this message to
see how this can be accomplished.
DIVINE IMPERATIVES SERIES
The dictionary defines “imperative”
as, “to command or a commandment”. It is
something that is” absolutely necessary”, “urgent” or “compelling”. It is a binding or compelling rule, duty,
requirement, etc. The dictionary further
defines an “imperator” as a “commander in chief”. The word “Emperor” is taken from this
word. In ancient Rome it was a title of
honor, given to generals and later to emperors. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
“Divine Imperator”. In the Bible, the
Word of God, we find many “Divine Imperatives”.
The Gospel messages in this series include some of the divine imperatives
found in the Holy Scriptures.
These
words were spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ in (Matthew 16:21). It is another “Divine Imperative” in the Word
of God. Read this message about “The
place to which He must go”, “The pain which He must endure”, “The passion which
He must experience”, and “The power which He must manifest”.
These
words were spoken to a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He was therefore, a man of fame and
position. He was educated, religious,
moral, respected and upright. He
believed in God and he believed in resurrection. If this man needed to be “born again”, what
about you? Read this message to get an understanding of the doctrine of
the “new birth” and learn why you need to be “born again”.
God
says in His Word (the Bible) that “WE MUST BE SAVED”. Have you been saved? Read this message to learn why God
says you must be saved and how you can be saved. This is not a subject you will hear about in
today’s contemporary news media or read about in today’s newspaper or
magazines. God’s Word, however, has much
to say about this most important subject.
It
says in the Bible, (John 3:14) “As Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP”. What is the meaning of this
scripture? Why MUST the Son of Man be
lifted up? Who is this Son of Man? How would He be lifted up? Read this
important message from God’s Word to get the answers to these and other
questions.
GOSPEL
MESSAGES;
Who
is God’s Servant? The Bible, the Word of
God, tells us who He is. We read in (Philippians 2:5-7) that it is the Son of God, the
Lord Jesus Christ that He “Eternally existed in THE
FORM OF GOD. He came down from
heaven and, “made himself of no reputation, and took
upon him THE FORM OF A SERVANT”. Did
He suffer? He surely did. It says in, (Hebrews
2:9) “Jesus was made a little lower than the angels FOR THE SUFFERING OF
DEATH”. Read this message about
the Savior’s wondrous love and condescending grace that brought Him from heaven
to die on a cross for your sins and my sins.
You
probably have heard the expression, “I have good news and bad news.
Which do you want to hear first”? The “Gospel” means good news. It is
God’s good news. It is defined in, (1
Corinthians 15:3, 4) “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures. You should also know
that you need to hear the bad news as well.
This message is about “Bad News for Good people” and “Good News for Bad
People”. Read this message to see why this
is so.
The
Spirit of God has led the writers of the Old and New Testaments to include
reference to a “sword” when describing certain biblical accounts. There are six particular swords referred to
in God’s Word tell a portion of the Gospel Story. Read this message to learn about these six
swords.
Hollywood
created a film awhile back called the “Passion of Christ”. The film focused on the physical sufferings
of Christ and as a result many Biblical truths were not disclosed. This message will give you the “rest of the
story” and will consider “The Passion, Power and Posterity of Christ”. The full story and the true story is about
God’s wonderful plan of salvation. Read
this message to learn about “God’s Way of Salvation”.
Mary,
the mother of Jesus (the incarnated Son of God) is well known in
Christendom. Some people, through misunderstanding
or religious superstition, have elevated her to a place that scripture does not
give her. There are, however, some good
attributes recorded of Mary which we find in the Word of God. One good attribute of Mary that most people
overlook is her “Good Advice”. Read this
message to learn about “Mary’ Good Advice” when she said regarding the Lord
Jesus Christ, “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it”.
THE
MIRACLE OF BIRTH (This message later)
The
Lord Jesus Christ said in, (Luke 4:17) “The Spirit of
the Lord is upon me, because he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted”. There are many broken hearts in this
world. We live in a “broken world”
filled with “broken confidence”, “broken relationships”, “broken homes”,
“broken lives”, etc., etc. WHAT IS THE
PROBLEM? The problem is S I N. Sin and sorrow and broken hearts are
connected together. Read this message to
see how and why the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became the “Man of
sorrows” and learn how he is able to heal your broken heart and “turn your
sorrow to joy”.
The
Lord Jesus Christ said in, (Luke 4:17) “The Spirit of
the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the
poor”. There are many kinds of
poverty in the world. The worst kind,
however, is “spiritual poverty” which means to be poor in the sight of
God. You may be financially secure and
live on “Easy Street” so to speak, but as it says in, (Mark
8:36) “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul? Or what shall a man give
in exchange for his soul”? If you
are not saved you lack the necessities of life, of eternal life from God. Read this message to see why and how the Lord
Jesus Christ, in His marvelous grace, “Who though he
was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, that ye through His poverty might be
rich”. He is able and willing to
take you from spiritual “rags to riches” if you believe in Him.
A
SAVIOR FOR THE CAPTIVES (This message later)
DEATH
AND DESTINY (This message later)
In
the Bible, the Word of God, we have revealed what can be described as THE
DIVINE DILEMMA. Man is a guilty sinner,
facing the wrath and judgment of God.
God is holy and righteous and must execute the sentence decreed for sin,
which is death. But, God is a God of
love and God loves the sinner. The
“divine dilemma” required a DIVINE SOLUTION.
LOVE FOUND A WAY to provide salvation for sinful man. It is the great principle of
substitution. (John
3:16) “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Read this message to see how YOU CAN
FIND YOUR WAY TO GOD AND WHAT GOD’S LOVE DID FOR YOU.
Many
people have heard the 23rd Psalm in the Bible that begins with the
words, “The Lord is my Shepherd”. Many people have quoted the 23rd
Psalm during times of distress or bereavement.
It may be that you also, dear reader, have spoken these words at one
time or another. Can you honestly say,”
The Lord is MY Shepherd? Your eternal
security depends on whether you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal
Shepherd Savior. Please read this
message to discover how you can be one of the sheep of His flock and know that
heaven is your eternal destiny.
The
definition of a “good Samaritan” is “a person who pities and helps another or
others unselfishly”. The phrase “good
Samaritan” is found in the Bible, the Word of God, in the gospel of Luke,
chapter 10, verses 25 through 37. This
message will explain why the Lord Jesus Christ is THE Good Samaritan because of
the offering of Himself on the cross and the salvation He has made available
for helpless, hopeless sinners.
(John
3:16) is a well-known verse in the Bible.
Sometimes, however, over familiarity can be a disadvantage. There can be a tendency to overlook or gloss
over the words and as a result to miss the fullness and profoundness of these
wonderful words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ. This message “puts the magnifying glass” on
this verse to examine closely the many “heavenly truths” revealed in these
twenty-five words.
The
pace of life seems to be getting faster and faster. Many people are finding it increasingly
difficult to be able to cope with the hectic pace of modern life. In this message I am urging you to slow down,
take a step back and CONSIDER some very important things God says you need to
deal with. To CONSIDER denotes a
directing of the mind to something in order to understand it or to make a
decision about it. Read this message to
learn what these “Important Considerations” are.
These
“two days” are separated by many thousands of years yet there is a commonality
about them. The lessons of history are
important, particularly to prevent repeating the mistakes of the past. Read this message to learn why these days are
important to your personal eternal security.
This
message is about “choices”. We have to
make them almost every day. Some are
more important than others. Some choices
can have lifelong consequences. Read
this message to learn about, “THE GREATEST CHOICE YOU WILL EVER MAKE”. Your eternal destiny depends on making the
right choice.
We
read in, (Acts 13:38, 39)” Through THIS MAN is preached
unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by HIM all that believe are justified
from all things”. There is no
other man through whom you can have forgiveness of sins or be justified before
a holy God. Your eternal destiny depends
on “knowing this man”. Read this message
to find out who He is and how you can be saved.
The
lost son is a picture of every sinner who is “lost” in trespasses and
sins. It is a descriptive term for all
men who, by nature, are lost, helpless hopeless sinners. In this
message we consider the lost son in
his departure, his degradation and his decision. We consider also the
loving father. We consider the father’s heart, the father’s house
and the father’s happiness. This story
can be your own personal story if YOU believe this gospel message.
A
question is asked in, (1 Peter 4:17) “What shall the end
be of them that obey not THE GOSPEL OF GOD”?
The purpose of this message is to provide an understanding of
“the meaning of the gospel” as well as answer the question above. Have
YOU considered YOUR END? Have you made preparation for eternity ahead?
Read this message to see why you must
obey the gospel.
It
says in, (2 Samuel 14:14) “God doth devise means that
His banished be not expelled from Him”. The
unsaved, because of their sins, have banished themselves from God. If they die in their sins they will
experience eternal separation from God in the place He calls the “lake of
fire”. God is not willing that any
should perish therefore He has devised a way by which the sinner might be
forgiven and restored. This is called,
“GOD’S SALVATION”. In this message we
consider THE NEED, THE SOURCE, THE WAY and THE TIME for God’s salvation.
This
message considers the scripture portion found in, (1
Timothy 1:15, 16) “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” If your sin is not forgiven, it will
at last keep you out of heaven and eternally separate you from God. Christ Jesus came down from heaven in
condescending grace to die on the cross for sinners, to die for you. If He had not come into this world we would
all be destined for a lost eternity?
But, thank God He came. He came
to save sinners. He came to do a work
that only He could do. Read this message
to learn what your responsibility is in light of this great truth.
This
startling description of God is found in the Old Testament and the New
Testament of the Bible, the Word of God.
This description speaks of God’s holiness manifested in judgment. People like to think of God as a loving God,
which He is. But, God will not be a
loving God at the expense of His holiness.
In this message we consider “Five Significant Fires of Scripture”. Read this message to learn what this means to
YOU personally.
The
Lord Jesus gave His disciples a “model prayer” in (Matthew 6:9). He said, “After this
manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name. Thy kingdom come, THY WILL BE DONE
IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN”. The
Lord’s people are exhorted to pray that God’s will, God’s gracious desire, will
be acknowledged on earth as it is in heaven.
Most people are not aware that God’s will on earth is already being
carried out. It has been in the
past. It is being carried out at the
present and it will be carried out in the future. Read this message to see how this is being
done and what it means to YOU.
It
is a known fact that we need physical rest for our body. Lack of sufficient rest can result in a
multitude of health problems and can even lead to death. You know this to be true. Did you also know that you need spiritual
rest for your soul? “GOD OFFERS YOU
ETERNAL REST”. Unless you receive this
wonderful offer of God’s rest, the alternative is unrest in this life and
eternal unrest resulting from God’s judgment and punishment for your sins. Read this message to learn about “God’s
rest”.
There
is a tendency in all of us to procrastinate; to put things off, to postpone
things to what we believe may be a more convenient time. When it comes to eternal matters and issues
that have to do with your eternal destiny, procrastination will have eternal
consequences. “God says NOW” regarding
what YOU must do about your sins and the salvation that is available to you
through His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Read this message to learn why “God says Now”.
This
message is based on a parable spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ in, (Luke
15:8-10). This earthly story with a
heavenly message is a picture of how a lost sinner can be saved for
heaven. The “lost silver” is a picture
of a lost sinner and the searching woman is a picture of the activity of God
and the Holy Spirit in the salvation of that lost sinner. Read this message to see how this applies to
YOU.
It
says in, (Luke 19:10) “The Son of man (Jesus Christ) is
come to seek and to save that which was lost”.
This truth is explained in a parable in (Luke 15:1-32). In the first seven verses of this parable we
read about the lost sheep and the seeking Shepherd. The unsaved are like “lost sheep”. It says in, (Isaiah
53:6) “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own
way; and the Lord hath laid on Him (Jesus Christ) the iniquity of us all”. Read this message to see how YOU can
be saved and be brought into a relationship with Him so that He will say of you
“My Sheep” and you will say of Him “The Lord is My Shepherd”.
Marriage
is a divine institution. It is ordained
by God an introduced by the union of Adam and Eve found in the first
pages of
God’s holy Word, the Bible. (See Genesis 2:21-25). God has planned a
marriage for His Beloved
Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is
revealed in a parable, recorded in (Matthew 22:1-14) and the actual
wedding is
recorded in (Revelation 19:7-9). In this
parable we have the “King’s Call” and the “King’s Conditions” for the
Wedding
Feast. Have YOU accepted YOUR invitation to this wedding? Do YOU have
on YOUR “wedding garment”? Read this message to see what the King
requires of YOU.
In
(Acts 17:16-34) the Apostle Paul visited the city of Athens during his
second
missionary journey. While he was there
he saw an altar “To the Unknown God”.
In its time the city of Athens was populated with the world’s
intelligentsia and it was the center of philosophy, literature, art and
science. In the midst of all this “human
wisdom”, and idolatry, they did not know God.
They did not know the God of creation and the God of the bible. Do YOU
know God the Savior? You cannot be saved unless you know Him. Reading
and believing this message will enable you to know God and
the free gift of salvation He offers to you.
A
brief definition of “Glory” is “excellence in display”. The highest glory we can consider is the
glory of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this message we seek to bring to your attention some of the
perfections of His deity and humanity.
It is the prayerful desire of the writer that your heart might be drawn
to the Savior by the Spirit of God, and in doing so; Jesus Christ might become
your own personal Savior.
It
says in, (Romans 2:3) “Thinkest thou this, O man…. that
thou shalt escape the judgment of God”? Many
people refuse to believe that God will one day judge them for their sins. The Bible, the Word of God, makes it
abundantly clear that God will indeed judge man for his sins. The White Throne Judgment should be enough to
strike terror into the heart of every unsaved mortal. At this judgment there will be no salvation,
no mercy, no grace and no escape. There
will be only the inflexible, invincible justice of God. Please read this message to make sure you
will not be among the “small and great” that stand before the judge, the Lord
Jesus Christ.
The
story of the miraculous cleansing of Naaman, the leper, in (2 Kings, chapter
5), is “a picture of salvation”. In this
story we read about the man, the malady, the maiden, the message, the mistake
and the miracle. God’s Word declares
that all mankind suffers from “the leprosy of sin” but the good news (the
Gospel) declares that all can be cleansed.
Read this message to learn how.
The
Greek word translated “kindness” in the New Testament signifies “goodness in
action”. This message looks at King David’s
kindness to a man called Mephibosheth in (2 Samuel 9:1-13) as a type or picture
of God’s kindness (or God’s goodness in action) towards mankind. This message will make you aware of God’s
loving kindness if you have never considered it previously.
This
message considers five “Significant Gardens of Scripture”. They are
illustrative of the Gospel and
“God’s Way of Salvation”. The Bible, the
Word of God begins and ends with events that are recorded in a garden.
Man’s history began in a garden. Man’s fall and the entrance of sin
into the
world began in a garden. The eternal
home of the child of God will be in paradise (a garden) a description
for
Heaven. Will YOU be there? This message will show you the way.
The
title of this message is taken from (John 19:5) when Pilate brought Jesus forth
before that angry crowd. Pilate said to
them “BEHOLD THE MAN”. Their response
was “away with Him, crucify Him”. Just
prior to this, when Pilate said, “who should I release unto you”, (John 18:40)
their reply was “Not this Man”. What do
you say dear reader? Are you still
rejecting Him? Have YOU ever “beheld
this Man”? Have you ever given serious
thought about the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did for you personally when He
died on the cross? This message will
explain why you should “BEHOLD THE MAN”.
Psalm
24 reveals the Lord Jesus Christ as the “Chief Shepherd” that we read about in
(1 Peter 5:4). In this psalm we see the
Lord as the “Sovereign” and His “future ministry” to take the throne of world
dominion. Read this message to discover
why the Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who is worthy to take the throne of
world dominion and who will be His subjects in His Millennial Kingdom.
Psalm
23 is about the Lord Jesus Christ as the “Great Shepherd” and His care for
those who are His sheep. This beloved
Psalm contains many wonderful promises to those who are the sheep of the
Shepherd. It is only for those who can
honestly say “The Lord is MY Shepherd”.
The focus of this message is on these first five words. Read this message to learn how the “Great
Shepherd” can be YOUR Shepherd.
Psalm
22 is about the atoning sufferings of Christ that occurred about 1000 years
after this psalm was written. Many
graphic details are given of the suffering and death, on the cross, of the Lord
Jesus Christ. This psalm reveals details
about both the Lord’s suffering and also the glory to follow. Read this message to find out WHY He suffered
on the cross and why you should have a personal interest in this event.
This
is the question that Thomas asked the Lord Jesus Christ in (John 14:5). He wanted to know the way to heaven, the way
to the Father’s house. This message deals with the only two ways and two
destinies of mankind. The “broad way”
leads to hell and eternal ruin. The
“narrow way” leads to heaven and eternal blessing. Which way are YOU traveling through
life? Do you have a sincere desire to
know the way to heaven? This message
will answer this question.
God
has given mankind a great Savior. This Savior is none other than His beloved
Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This great
and wonderful Savior, by His death on the cross and His subsequent
resurrection, has provided a great salvation for fallen, sinful, man. Read this
message to learn why He is a great Savior and why God’s salvation is a great
salvation.
God
has appointed man life (time) and he must live it. God has appointed man death and he must
experience it. God has appointed man a
time for judgment and man must appear for it.
God has appointed man a place of refuge from the coming wrath and
judgment and man has the opportunity to avail himself of it. Read this message to see how these four key
appointments will affect you personally.
Have
you ever considered that the God of creation is also a God of
communication? The scriptures reveal
that on a number of occasions God wrote things. There is great interest in our
society regarding the writings of favored and famous authors. People wait expectantly for the next book or
article. Is it not more important to
know and read the writings of God? This
message considers four important writings of God and their implications for all
mankind.
This
is a profound statement found in the Bible, the Word of God. God has a
Lamb. It is His great provision for a world lost in
sin and under the condemnation and impending judgment of God. Have YOU
ever “beheld the Lamb of God”? Read this message to learn what it means
to
“Behold the Lamb of God” and what it is specifically that God wants you
to
behold about Him.
The
Bible has much to say about “trees” and “gardens”. There is a special tree revealed in God’s
Word called “The Tree of Life”. In the
book of Genesis, we read the account of the entrance of sin into God’s
creation. As a result, Adam and Eve and
all their posterity forfeited their right to the “Tree of Life”. In the book of Revelation, we once again read
about “The Tree of Life”. We learn that
those in Heaven have a right to this tree.
How could God on one hand deny access to the Tree of Life and then on
the other hand grant access? The answer
is found in another tree and another garden, “The Tree in the Garden of the
Crucifixion”. Read this message to learn
how you can have access to “The Tree of Life”.
In
the Bible, in the epistle of (Romans 6:23), it says “The
wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord”. Sin pays wages, the
wages of death. God
has the remedy; He has a gift for you.
Have you ever received His wonderful gift of eternal life? A gift is
free of course. Read this message to learn of the great price
that was paid in order to provide this gift to you. The gift is
“through Jesus Christ our Lord”
and therefore I want to show you “A Five Part Portrait of God’s
Suffering
Servant”.
The
Bible is a great book because it is the Word of God. It deals with great issues because it is
God’s message to mankind. In the Bible
we find the “Gospel”, God’s good news for mankind and a message of great
importance. There was a “Great Fall”
when our first parents fell into sin and brought sin into the world. Because of this, God’s “Great Love” gave us a
“Great Shepherd” who has provided a “Great Salvation” for all who will receive
it. Read this message which is about
“great” things.
GREAT BIBLE CONVERSIONS
SERIES;
The
Lord Jesus Christ said, (Matthew 18:3) “Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of Heaven.” The message is clear,
you must have a conversion experience in order to escape Hell and be saved for
Heaven. The thief on the cross had a conversion experience. As a result, he was rewarded for his
faith. The Lord Jesus said to him, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Please read this message to get an
understanding of what it means to be converted.
Like
each one of us, before God, she had a great debt and nothing to pay. Sin is a
debt that we cannot pay. God is the creditor and we are the debtors. Since we
have nothing to pay, how can this sin debt be paid? The answer is that someone
else must pay the debt. Jesus Christ paid the debt for us when He died on the
cross for our sins. Because of this, the Lord could say to the woman, “Her
sins, which are many, are forgiven”. Read this message to discover how you also
may have forgiveness of sins.
It’s
the story of a little man who climbed up into a Sycamore tree. The Savior was
passing by where Zacchaeus was located. He must take advantage of the
opportunity to meet the Savior. It’s the same for you my friend. You never know
if you will have another opportunity to be saved. That’s why God says in His
Word “NOW is the accepted time; behold NOW is the day
of salvation”. (2 Corinthians 6:2). Read this message to learn the
wonderful outcome of this meeting of a sinner with the Savior.
He
was a man who was successful and prosperous in his business career. In spite of
all this there was a void in his heart and life. Materialism and other “creature
comforts” could not fill this void. Does this sound familiar to you? Read the
story of a man who was RIDING – REACHING – READING and ultimately REJOICING.
Find out how you can also “go on your way rejoicing”.
His
course in life was anti-God, anti-Christ, and anti-Christian. He openly opposed
Christ and the people of Christ who were called Christians. He was on a path of
darkness. Then, there was a sudden, dramatic change. The man in darkness saw a
light from Heaven. Later, Paul would call himself the “chief of sinners”. If
the Lord would save the “chief of sinners” then you too can find grace and
mercy by coming to Him in repentance and believing on Him. Read about the
COURSE, the CONVERSION, the COMMISSION and the COMPLIANCE of Paul.
He
was a Gentile and a RESPONSIBLE man being a man of rank and authority. He was
RELIGIOUS and self-RIGHTEOUS yet he was a RUINED man. He was not saved. He had
never been “born again” (born from above) by the Spirit of God. It’s the story
of “A Man Warned to Hear Words”. He needed to hear the Gospel, the good news of
God. Read this account to learn how a RUINED man became a REDEEMED man. Being,
so called, religious will never get you into Heaven. You must believe in the
Redeemer and accept Him as your own personal Savior.
The G.O.S.P.E.L Message Explained
What is the GOSPEL Journey message?
The word gospel means “good news” and is explained by the following six key truths of the GOSPEL Journey.
God created us to be with Him. (Genesis 1-2)
In these two chapters God creates all of the universe and everything
in it (Genesis 1:1), including the first man and woman, Adam and Eve.
God created Adam and Eve with purpose. He called them to “be fruitful
and multiply” (Genesis 1:28) and fill the earth with their offspring. He
gave them the mission of taking care of the earth and tending the
Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15.)
God made them to be in complete fellowship with Him and with each
other. Their nakedness (Genesis 2:25) represented the fact that they had
no sin, therefore no shame, therefore nothing to hide before God or
each other. They regularly communed with God in the garden and had sheer
bliss, pure happiness and unadulterated joy. It was during this time
that they were living everyday as God intended, in right relationship
with each other, God and His creation. The only command God gave to them
was not to eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil.
In the same way God made us to be in fellowship with Him. His
original plan was that you and I were in absolute and perfect
relationship with Him and with each other in total unity. God created us
to be in harmony with all of heaven and all of earth. But that plan was
disrupted by one evil act thousands and thousands of years ago.
Our sins separate us from God. (Genesis 3)
When Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan and ate of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:6), and thereby sinned, they
immediately became aware of their “error.” They sewed fig leaves
together to cover their shame and hid in the garden from God (Genesis
3:7,8). Now they were hiding from the one that they used to fellowship
with regularly. Men and women have been hiding from God ever since,
covering their sin and shame with the fig leaves of religion or
philosophy.
God confronted them face to face. As a result of their sin there were
immediate and future consequences. The immediate consequences were
being banished from the garden (Genesis 3:23,24), having difficulty in
childbirth (Genesis 3:16) and our work turning from a joy that we love
to a job that we hate (Genesis 3:17-19).
The future consequence for Adam and Eve was physical death. God had
promised in Genesis 2:17 that the day he sinned by eating of the fruit
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that he would “surely
die.” Spiritually Adam and Eve died the day they sinned in the garden.
Their souls became immediately polluted by sin and selfishness. As a
result all of their offspring (and that includes you and me) were born
sinful and selfish. Through Adam every person ever born is born deprived
and depraved, deprived of God’s fellowship and depraved to the core
(Romans 5:12-14).
When confronted by God the blame game begins. Adam blames Eve
(Genesis 3:12) and Eve blames the snake (Genesis 3:13). Humanity has
been playing the blame game ever since. What began as paradise unraveled
with a single choice to disobey God and listen to Satan instead. Every
war, famine, argument, sin and tragedy can be traced back to the garden
of Eden where Adam and Eve chose to turn their backs on God for a taste
of fruit.
Sins cannot be removed by good deeds. (Genesis 4 – Malachi 4)
From the beginning humanity has attempted to remove the stain of sin
by good deeds. When Cain offered God vegetables as an appeasement for
his sin God rejected it (Genesis 4:1-4). Cain was infuriated and killed
his brother Abel.
In Exodus, the second book of the Bible, God gave the Israelites the
10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), not to save them from their sin, but
to show them that they couldn’t live up to his perfect standards on
their own (Galatians 3:23-24). Instead of looking to Him in faith many
of the Jews looked to themselves and thought they could please God in
their own strength. But God saw their “righteous” deeds like filthy rags
(Isaiah 64:6). Even the best of their good deeds were corrupted by
selfish motives.
In Leviticus, the third book of the Bible, God gave the Israelites
the sacrificial system. Every time a Jew sinned he or she was to
sacrifice a goat without any blemishes (Leviticus 4:27-31). Think about
that. If you were a Jew in the Old Testament and had to make a sacrifice
every time you lied, lusted, gossiped, complained or argued you would
soon run out of goats. Other offerings included offerings of bulls and
sheep.
The sacrificial system was meant to point inward, upward and forward.
It pointed inward to convince you of your sinfulness. If you were
honest before God then you would soon realize that you could never make
enough sacrifices for your sin. It pointed upward to make you trust in
God for your salvation instead of sacrifices that you could make (Psalm
51:16,17). It pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of the lamb of
God, Jesus Christ, who would someday come to take away the sin of the
world (John 1:29).
The rest of the Old Testament tells the story of the Jewish people,
some of whom realized they were sinners and needed God to save them
(Psalm 51:1,2) and most of whom trusted in their own goodness instead of
the mercy and grace of God (Isaiah 64:6).
Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.
(Matthew – Luke)
When Jesus came to the earth he came as the fulfillment of the law
(Matthew 5:17) and the ultimate sacrifice (Luke 24:46). He lived the
perfect life that we could not live and died in our place, for our sin.
When he died upon the cross he screamed the words “It is finished” (John
19:30). What he meant by these three words was that the price for our
sins was paid completely. He was fully God and entirely man. As a
perfect human he could die for other humans. As the true and living God
his payment for sin was infinite.
Jesus rose from the dead three days after he was murdered on the
cross (Mark 16:6). He was seen by over 500 witnesses (I Corinthians
15:6) on at least 12 separate occasions over the course of forty days
(Acts 1:3). Because he died our sins are paid for entirely. Because he
rose from the dead we know that Jesus was who he claimed to be, God in
the flesh.
Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life. (John)
The amazing thing about eternal life is that it is a free gift given
to us by God through faith alone and not by any of our good deeds
(Ephesians 2:8,9). Jesus paid the price for our sins when he died on the
cross and all we must do is receive the gift of forgiveness through
faith. When we believe that Jesus died for our sins and trust in Him
alone we receive eternal life, are passed out of death into life and are
guaranteed a home in heaven (John 5:24).
Eternal life is not achieved by good deeds but received through
faith. It’s not a matter of trying but trusting. When we believe we
receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. Almost the
entire New Testament is dedicated to talking about this eternal life
and the implications of it in our everyday lives. From John through Jude
the disciples of Jesus show us how to live like Jesus intended, serving
each other in love. This is the heart of eternal life!
Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever. (Acts – Revelation)
Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead we will be
with Jesus forever in heaven. When we trust in Jesus we enter into a
personal, permanent relationship with God called “eternal life.”
Part of the reality of eternal life is that it doesn’t start after
you die but as soon as you believe (John 10:10). This life is the joy of
a real, exciting relationship with Jesus every single day through
prayer, worship and living in the strength that God provides through his
Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
The other part of the reality of eternal life is that all who have it
will be with Jesus forever and ever in heaven someday. Once we receive
it is ours forever and we are his forever!
The last chapter of the last book of the Bible makes it clear that we
will “rule and reign forever” with Jesus (Revelation 22:5). In essence
the last chapter in the story of the Bible concludes by saying, “and
they lived happily ever after.”
Sixteen Short Sermons
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30).
Sermon # 1
Matthew 16:26
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Sermon # 2
1 John 3:4 "Sin is the transgression of the law."
Sermon # 3
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Sermon # 4
Galatians 3:10 "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."
Sermon # 5
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death."
Sermon # 6
Acts 16:30 "What must I do to be saved?"
Sermon # 7
Mark 1:15 "Repent ye, and believe the Gospel."
Sermon # 8
1 Timothy 1:15
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."
Sermon # 9
John 6:37 "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
Sermon # 10
Romans 5:1 "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Sermon # 11
1 Peter 2:7 "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious."
Sermon # 12
Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
Sermon # 13
Titus 2:13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."
Sermon # 14
Luke 11:13 "If ye
then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how
much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that
ask him?"
Sermon # 15
Hebrews 9:27 "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
Sermon # 16
Hebrews 2:3 "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"
GOSPEL MESSAGES
The word "Gospel" means "good news" but it can only be "good news" when
a person realizes the "bad news." The "bad news" is the fact that no one
can either merit or inherit a place in God's Heaven, and therefore will
be consigned to eternal torment. The "good news" is the fact that anyone
can reach Heaven by repenting of their sin and trusting in the Lord Jesus
Christ, alone, as the Saviour of their soul. Are you saved, or are you
lost?
The following are Gospel messages which, I believe,to be especially
pertinent for these momentous days in which we live. These messages are
written in love for your soul and in view of the vast eternity just ahead.
AND
REMEMBER, THIS IS FOR ETERNITY!
Messages
- Second Coming of Jesus Christ
The basic and fundamental Scriptural facts relative to the second coming of Christ are that it is Sure, and will be Soon, Sudden, Selective and Separating, Startling and, to the true Christian, it will be Satisfying. - First and Second Coming of the "Son of Man"
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is referred to as the "Son of Man" 80 times in the New Testament. He referred to Himself as the "Son of Man" 72 times. Why did He come the first time, and how important is the second coming of Christ? - "SALVATION" : A Sovereign Sacrifice And Surety
There are many Scripture verses which focus in on the various aspects of our soul's Salvation. However, in these two verses, Romans 5:8,9, we notice 7 characteristics of Salvation. We see the CONCEPTION, the COMMENDATION, the CAUSE, the CHANNEL, the COST, the CURE, and the CONSEQUENCES relative to God's Salvation. - Many Questions With A Common Scriptural Answer
Conditions in the world today, characterized by chaos, confusion, and conflict, are very depressing and difficult to understand with our mere finite minds. These conditions arouse our interest and, consciously or otherwise, we seek a response to certain questions, all of which can be answered by one verse of Scripture, Romans 3:18, "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." - A Divine Promise - "SURELY"
At one time or another, we've all been victims of a falsehood or deception; and confidence in our fellowman has dwindled, dissipated, or perhaps, disappeared altogether. However, when God makes a statement in His Book, the Bible, we can be SURE that what He says is true, because in Titus 1:2 we're reminded that God "cannot lie." Yes, "God says what He means; and He means what He says." - Where Art Thou?
After disobeying God's warning regarding their partaking of the forbidden fruit, our first parents, Adam and Eve, sought to hide from God amongst the trees of the garden. God's first question to Adam was "Where art thou ?" In view of eternity, how would you answer that question? Are you on the road to Heaven, or are you on the road to Hell ? - How A College Professor Became A Christ Possessor
The personal testimony of Minor Hawk. - God Says "Now," "Today," Not "Tomorrow"
In these days of worldwide terrorism, and the substantiated fear of "weapons of mass destruction", we have every reason to believe that the day of God's grace is quickly drawing to a close. If souls are to be "saved", they will have to be "saved" soon; preferably "NOW", "TODAY", not "TOMORROW". Life is short; death is sure; sin is the cause; but Christ is the cure! - "Rejoice" But "Remember"
In these days just prior to the Lord's return, it is obvious that young people in particular, are involved in activities where they rejoice, but the promised result of their actions is divine judgment. They are reminded that now is the time to remember their need of salvation, and their eventual meeting with God. - Why? "Because"
In the scriptures, we are reminded that (1) we should be saved because we will incur God's wrath, if we don't accept His love; (2) there is a division amongst mankind because of God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; (3) God commands all of us to repent, because the alternative is to face divine judgment at the Great White Throne; (4) if we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, we should rejoice because our names will be written in Heaven. - "Never" Always Means "Never"
In John's Gospel, the Lord Jesus Christ made some wonderful promises to those who realize that they need to be "saved", or "born again", if they ever expect to be in God's Heaven. He promises that if they will accept Him as their personal Saviour, they shall "NEVER thirst; NEVER hunger; NEVER die; and NEVER perish." And don't forget what we read in John 7:46, "NEVER man spake like this Man." - God Says That It Is "Great"
Now when God says that something is "great", we can be sure that it is something whose uniqueness surpasses our mere finite comprehension. - Lost! Loved! Left!
According to the word of God, the Bible, the unsaved individual is spiritually LOST, but they are still LOVED by Almighty God. However, if they are not saved before the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, they will definitely be LEFT behind to suffer the judgment and divine wrath of God. - The Seven P's in the Pod of Salvation
In our text, Acts 13:38,39, the Apostle Paul characterizes God's salvation as being Proclaimed, Purchased, Present, Personal, Precious, Plenteous, and Perfect. - The Cross
The cross on which the Lord Jesus Christ died is the only thing Christians can glory in, even though, to the unsaved, it is foolishness to preach about it. The Lord Jesus Christ was God's Perfect Servant, Who became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. What happened at Calvary's Cross brings us peace and reconciles us to God, while it nullifies the the legal and ceremonial ordinances which condemned us. - Some Characteristics of God
Of the many characteristics of God, the most obvious are: His love for everyone in the world; His abundant pardon for the guilty; His amazing grace for the sinner; His abounding mercy for the condemned; His patience and longsuffering for the spiritually lost; His great kindness for the spiritually ignorant; and His eternal security for His own. - Their Eyes Were Opened
In Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve had their eyes opened to their SIN, and the SACRIFICE for SINNERS. In Acts chapter 9, Saul of Tarsus, who became the Apostle Paul, had his eyes opened to SALVATION, and SERVICE for the SAVIOUR. In Luke chapter 16, the former rich man who died and went to Hell, had his eyes opened to SUFFERING, SEPARATION, and SUPPLICATION. - A Very Important Question
There are many questions found in the Bible, and each of them is important, or they would not appear in the word of God. However, the question we have in Hebrews 2:3 is very important, because it is so soul-searching, especially to those who have heard the Gospel, but are still unsaved. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" - God's Word Says "Behold"
God wants us to pay attention to the following facts: (1) We are all born with sinful natures contrary to God; (2) We have sinned against God and our sins will be exposed; (3) Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world; (4) God's hand is outstretched to save us; (5) Jesus Christ is knocking at the door of our heart; (6) Now is the day of salvation; (7) Jesus Christ is coming back again soon. - What a Gift! An Abundant Life!
Only the Lord Jesus Christ can provide the abundant life to those who are spiritually dead, and who are spiritually thirsting for that life. Trusting Him as your Saviour and Lord results in you receiving the gift of life; drinking the water of life; eating the bread of life; having your name written in the book of life; walking in the light of life; and being assured of wearing the crown of life. - Jesus
Said, "Verily, Verily,"
In the Gospel by John, the Lord Jesus Christ used the expression,"Verily, verily," in 25 verses. In 5 of these verses, which are used in this Gospel Message, He reveals the reason, and the only possible way, for the unsaved individual to pass from spiritual death unto spiritual life. The Way to obtain everlasting life, of course, is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, alone. - The
Four-Fold Pleasure of God
God was PLEASED with the Deity and Condescension of His Son. God was PLEASED with the Deportment and Consecration of His Son. God was PLEASED with the Death by Crucifixion of His Son. And God is PLEASED by our Declaration and Confession of His Son as our Lord and personal Saviour. - It Is
Your Choice: "The Wages" or "The Gift"
The word SIN is fast-becoming obsolete and is rarely, if ever, mentioned even by clergymen from their church pulpits. The WAGES OF SIN have never been reduced, and the GIFT OF GOD is still eternal life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ALONE! - Are
You Prepared to Meet God?
Four questions relative to the text, Amos 4:12. WHY should we prepare to meet God? HOW should we prepare to meet God? WHEN should we prepare to meet God? WHAT is the RESULT of preparing to meet God? - Remember
Lot's Wife!
"Remember Lot's wife" because the Speaker is the Lord Jesus Christ; she was the object of intercession; she was living in a terribly sinful world; she was warned; she was the wife of a "just and righteous man"; she was headed in the right direction and almost saved; but she committed the sin of disobedience, perished, and is now in Hell. Please don't join her! - Five
Important Days
The most important days for each of us are the day of our birth, the day of salvation, the day of our death, the day of judgment,and the day when the Lord Jesus Christ comes again! - What
Think Ye of Christ?
We know that He was a great teacher, a great preacher, a great physician, and a great comforter, but was He truly Whom He professed to be - the Son of God and Saviour for all mankind? - The Royal
Command
We want to look at the following questions relative to this New Testament commandment. WHO gives the command? WHEN is it given? TO WHOM is it given? WHAT is the command? WHY is it given? WHAT IS THE RESPONSE TO THE COMMAND ? - Destiny
Is Determined By Decision
During our lifetime, we make countless important decisions, but the most important decision of our entire existence will determine whether we spend eternity up in Heaven or down in Hell. - Are There
Few That Be Saved?
Yes, because people are disobedient to God's warning; they are not seeking God's salvation; they are blinded to the truth of God's word; they are listening to unsaved or unfaithful preachers; they lack a reverential fear of God; and they are prolific and persistent procrastinators. - Preaching
The Gospel Is "Foolishness" To Perishing Fools
The Fearless Fool, the Self-Reasoning Fool, the Educated Fool, the Proud Fool, the Self-Sufficient Fool, and the Rebellious Fool. - Many
Roads Lead to Hell, but Only One Road Leads to Heaven
Atheistic Alley, Agnostic Avenue, Legality Lane, Reformation Road, Morality Midway, Self-Righteousness Street, Ritualistic Ramp, Delusion Drive, Modern Thought Boulevard, Temperance Trail, Second Chance Speedway, and Procrastination Parkway. God's Only Way is His Only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ ! - Seven
Characteristics of Salvation
It is God's Salvation; a Common Salvation; a Great Salvation; the Only Salvation; a Personal Salvation; a Present Salvation; and an Eternal Salvation ! - Who Is Your Doctor?
When we travel along life's highway and realize that we are spiritually sick, and ultimate death is fast approaching, to what physician do we go to receive a spiritual healing? Is it Dr. Atheist? Dr. False Peace? Dr. No Hell? Dr. Do Better? Dr. Procrastination? or to the One and ONLY "GREAT PHYSICIAN", Dr. Jesus Christ? - What
Happens After Death?
Where will you spend eternity--Heaven or Hell? When a Christian dies, their soul immediately enters the glories of Heaven to be WITH and LIKE their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. However, when an unsaved person dies, their soul immediately drops into the place of eternal torment, which the Lord Jesus Christ called "Hell". Furthermore, there is no such a place called "Purgatory" found in the Bible. - Why Preach the Gospel?
The 5 good reasons given to Christians in II Corinthians Chapter 5 are:"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ"; "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men"; "For the love of Christ constraineth us"; "He has committed unto us the word and ministry of reconcilation"; and finally, "We are ambassadors for Christ." - Are You Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ?
Most Christians in the world today have relatives, friends, and other associates who are yet unsaved. Therefore, it is necessary for Christians to be faithful in their testimony and witnessing to them. True Christians will not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Scriptural way for anyone to be in Heaven for all eternity.Thanks for reading
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