Post by pitbull on Dec 26, 2005 7:26:58 GMT -5
THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT OF THE GOSPEL
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” [Romans 10:17]
What do we need to hear and learn from the Word of God?
1. Did you know that we are sinners?
· “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” [Psalm 14:1]
· “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” [Psalm 14:3]
· “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” [Psalm 51:5]
· “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” [Isaiah 53:6]
· “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” [Isaiah 64:6]
· “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” [Romans 3:10]
· “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” [Romans 3:23]
· “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners…” [Romans 5:19]
· “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” [Galatians 3:22]
· “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”[1 John 1:8]
2. Did you know that there is a penalty for our sins that we have earned [i.e. wages]?
· “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all nations that forget God.” [Psalm 9:17]
· “Hell and destruction are never full…” [Proverbs 27:20]
· “…the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” [Ezekiel 18:4]
· “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans 6:23]
· “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death pass upon all men, for that all have sinned:”” [Romans 5:12]
· “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” [1 Corinthians 6:9-10]
· “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” [James 1:15]
· “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” [Revelation 20:14-15]
· “But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and sleepermongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” [Revelation 21:8]
3. Did you know that God loves us and because this Christ paid the penalty for our sins?
· “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8]
· “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans 6:23]
· “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16]
4. Did you know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven?
· “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” [John 3:16-18]
· “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” [John 3:36]
· “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” [John 10:9]
· “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” [John 14:6]
· “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” [Acts 4:12]
· “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” [1 John 5:12]
· “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” [Matthew 7:13-14]
· “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” [Luke 13:24]
5. Did you know that none of the following good works/deeds will get us into Heaven?
· getting baptized · giving your tithe · being a law-abiding citizen
· joining a church · being kind to family and friends · helping our neighbors
· helping charities · being compassionate to strangers · living a clean, moral life
· being religious · serving as a deacon or preacher · going on a pilgrimage
· being a missionary · reciting prayers · reading the Bible
· “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified in the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” [Galatians 2:16]
· “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9]
· “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” [2 Timothy 1:9]
· “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost;” [Titus 3:5]
Good works/deeds are the result or fruit or proof of ones salvation. They do not help you to produce, gain, or keep your salvation, but rather are the external evidence of the internal change to both yourself and others. [Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:8; James 2:14-26]
After we realize the truth of God’s Word and the Gospel, what do we need to do?
· “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” [Mark 1:15]
· “Then said they unto him, what shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” [John 6:28-29]
· “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” [Acts 16:30-31]
· “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” [Acts 17:30]
· “That is thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” [Romans 10:9,13]
Just like the people in John 6 and the jailer in Acts 16, many people falsely think they need to do some work [baptism, church membership, communion, etc.] in order to get saved. This is not what the Bible teaches. Instead, you must believe and repent. When you believe the Gospel, you will repent of your sin. When you repent of your sin, you will believe the Gospel. This is not two separate “steps” but two different ways to describe what happens inside the heart and soul when you are convicted by the Holy Spirit to trust Christ as your Savior.
If you believe the Gospel and want to repent of your sin, pray a prayer similar to this to ask Jesus to save you:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I realize that I am a rotten, vile sinner and deserve to spend eternity in Hell.
I honestly confess and repent of my sins. Have mercy on me.
Please forgive me of my sin and come into my heart.
Thank you for saving my soul.
Amen.
Here are a couple examples of a “sinner’s prayer from the Bible:
· “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” [Matthew 14:30]
· “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” [Luke 18:13]
If you want to be saved and escape Hell, you need to pray honestly from your heart and acknowledge that you are a wretched sinner so God can know of your repentance.
When you believe in the Son of God [e.g. believe the Gospel], the following will take place:
· Remission or forgiveness of sins [Acts 10:43]
· Gain everlasting life [John 3:16]
· Imputed or accredited righteousness and justification [Romans 4:3, 20-25]
· Become an adopted child of God [John 1:12]
· Receive Christ [Galatians 3:22]
Remember that God will not take back His free gift of salvation from you.
· “And I will give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” [John 10:28-29]
· “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? …nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Romans 8]
· “If we believe not [or, are not faithful], yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” [2 Timothy 2:13]
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” [Romans 10:17]
What do we need to hear and learn from the Word of God?
1. Did you know that we are sinners?
· “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” [Psalm 14:1]
· “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” [Psalm 14:3]
· “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” [Psalm 51:5]
· “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” [Isaiah 53:6]
· “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” [Isaiah 64:6]
· “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” [Romans 3:10]
· “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” [Romans 3:23]
· “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners…” [Romans 5:19]
· “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” [Galatians 3:22]
· “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”[1 John 1:8]
2. Did you know that there is a penalty for our sins that we have earned [i.e. wages]?
· “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all nations that forget God.” [Psalm 9:17]
· “Hell and destruction are never full…” [Proverbs 27:20]
· “…the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” [Ezekiel 18:4]
· “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans 6:23]
· “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death pass upon all men, for that all have sinned:”” [Romans 5:12]
· “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” [1 Corinthians 6:9-10]
· “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” [James 1:15]
· “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” [Revelation 20:14-15]
· “But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and sleepermongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” [Revelation 21:8]
3. Did you know that God loves us and because this Christ paid the penalty for our sins?
· “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8]
· “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans 6:23]
· “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16]
4. Did you know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven?
· “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” [John 3:16-18]
· “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” [John 3:36]
· “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” [John 10:9]
· “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” [John 14:6]
· “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” [Acts 4:12]
· “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” [1 John 5:12]
· “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” [Matthew 7:13-14]
· “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” [Luke 13:24]
5. Did you know that none of the following good works/deeds will get us into Heaven?
· getting baptized · giving your tithe · being a law-abiding citizen
· joining a church · being kind to family and friends · helping our neighbors
· helping charities · being compassionate to strangers · living a clean, moral life
· being religious · serving as a deacon or preacher · going on a pilgrimage
· being a missionary · reciting prayers · reading the Bible
· “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified in the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” [Galatians 2:16]
· “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9]
· “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” [2 Timothy 1:9]
· “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost;” [Titus 3:5]
Good works/deeds are the result or fruit or proof of ones salvation. They do not help you to produce, gain, or keep your salvation, but rather are the external evidence of the internal change to both yourself and others. [Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:8; James 2:14-26]
After we realize the truth of God’s Word and the Gospel, what do we need to do?
· “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” [Mark 1:15]
· “Then said they unto him, what shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” [John 6:28-29]
· “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” [Acts 16:30-31]
· “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” [Acts 17:30]
· “That is thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” [Romans 10:9,13]
Just like the people in John 6 and the jailer in Acts 16, many people falsely think they need to do some work [baptism, church membership, communion, etc.] in order to get saved. This is not what the Bible teaches. Instead, you must believe and repent. When you believe the Gospel, you will repent of your sin. When you repent of your sin, you will believe the Gospel. This is not two separate “steps” but two different ways to describe what happens inside the heart and soul when you are convicted by the Holy Spirit to trust Christ as your Savior.
If you believe the Gospel and want to repent of your sin, pray a prayer similar to this to ask Jesus to save you:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I realize that I am a rotten, vile sinner and deserve to spend eternity in Hell.
I honestly confess and repent of my sins. Have mercy on me.
Please forgive me of my sin and come into my heart.
Thank you for saving my soul.
Amen.
Here are a couple examples of a “sinner’s prayer from the Bible:
· “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” [Matthew 14:30]
· “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” [Luke 18:13]
If you want to be saved and escape Hell, you need to pray honestly from your heart and acknowledge that you are a wretched sinner so God can know of your repentance.
When you believe in the Son of God [e.g. believe the Gospel], the following will take place:
· Remission or forgiveness of sins [Acts 10:43]
· Gain everlasting life [John 3:16]
· Imputed or accredited righteousness and justification [Romans 4:3, 20-25]
· Become an adopted child of God [John 1:12]
· Receive Christ [Galatians 3:22]
Remember that God will not take back His free gift of salvation from you.
· “And I will give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” [John 10:28-29]
· “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? …nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Romans 8]
· “If we believe not [or, are not faithful], yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” [2 Timothy 2:13]