Gospel
🌟 A Message to My Neighbors in Southern Pines, NC 🌟
✨ Revealing the Secret to Everlasting Joy and Peace ✨
I hope all is well with you and your families. In these challenging times, we all need hope and assurance. This message could be the turning point you've been waiting for. Even if you've heard it before, today might be the day it truly sinks in and God changes your life.
👑 God's Kingdom is Here!
The Bible tells us that God's Kingdom has come near to us (Mark 1:15). It is a Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
Mark 1:15: Jesus said “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”Romans 14:17: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.🙏 Repent of Sin
We are all born with a sin nature (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12) and have sinned against God (Romans 3:23). Repentance involves turning away from sin and turning to God (Acts 3:19; 2LBCF Ch 15, p. 3). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
Acts 3:19: Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out2LBCF Ch 15, p. 3: This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, does, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self–abhorrancy, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavor, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well–pleasing in all things.Romans 6: 23: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.🌿 Our Inclination to Rebel
We are all inclined to rebel against God, seeking our own autonomy (Romans 1:18-21; Romans 3:10-12).
Romans 1:18-21 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.Romans 3:10-12 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”🌟 The Good News of Christ's Death and Resurrection
Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all His enemies (1 Corinthians 15:25). His death atones for our sins (passive obedience) and justifies us before God. Through His life, God applies Christ's active obedience by accounting His righteousness to us (Romans 3:21-26; 2LBCF Ch 11, p. 1).
1 Corinthians 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.2LBCF Ch 11, p. 1 : Those whom God effectually calls, he also freely justifies, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in his death for their whole and sole righteousness by faith, which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.👣 Follow Jesus
Jesus calls us to follow Him and be His disciples (Matthew 4:19). In Him, we find everlasting joy and the true purpose of life.
Matthew 4:19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”🙌 Reconciliation with God
The Gospel is the news that you can be reconciled with God for your sins. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.🙏 The Power of the Gospel Declaration and the Work of the Holy Spirit
It's crucial to understand that God's chosen instrument for salvation is the declaration of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit works powerfully in people's hearts to bring about true conversion (1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2LBCF Ch 10, p. 4). If you find that the message of the Gospel has touched your heart and led you to repentance and faith in Christ, know that this is the work of the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.2LBCF Ch 10, p. 4: Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that do not receive the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess.🤝 Join a Community of Believers
If you have experienced this transformative work of God in your life, I invite you to reach out. You are not alone; there is a community of fellow believers eager to welcome you and walk alongside you in your journey of faith (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.May the Lord bless you abundantly and may His Spirit continue to work in all our hearts.