“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” —Romans 1:16
The Bible plainly tells us in Romans 1:16 that men are saved by the power of
the Gospel; not by our eloquent words or theological prowess. If a lost
sinner won't obey the simple Gospel, then nothing we say is going to change
their mind. I have received numerous letters from web visitors who ask me
how they should witness to a Catholic, or a Wiccan witch, or a Muslim. I
always tell them the same thing—just give them the simple Gospel of Jesus
Christ and let the Holy Spirit take it from there.
Umpteen books have been authored attempting to better equip the Saints to win souls to Christ. The biggest result of such books have been bigger bank accounts for the publishers and authors. It seems that everyone has a book these days. If I could have your undivided attention for just a moment, I would highly encourage you to abandon all those books and open THE BOOK. 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 states: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” The Bible is our sole Textbook, our Instruction Manual, our Guidebook if you will. Phooey on modern methods and New Evangelicalism! Just give me the ole King James Bible!
Many churches today have resorted to bringing
in worldly music, entertainment, the contemptible
New International
Version, and a wishy-washy preacher to increase church attendance
(and thus revenues). As a consequence, lost souls aren't getting saved. The
Gospel is not being preached door-to-door as done in the Book of Acts (Acts
20:20). Preachers no longer warn the wicked of eternal punishment in the
Lake of Fire. The old hymns of the faith have been abandoned. It is tragic!
Perverted Bibles Destroy Churches!
All of the following words have been completely removed from the New International Version of the Bible as compared to the precious King James Bible:
regeneration, mercyseat, Calvary, remission, Jehovah, immutable, omnipotent, Comforter, Holy Ghost, Messiah, quickened, infallible, fornication, trucebreakers, winebibbers, carnal, slothful, unthankful, effeminate, backbiting, vanity, lasciviousness, whoredom, devils, Lucifer, damnation, brimstone, and the bottomless pit.
Should it be surprising why so many churches today are doctrinally messed up? Every church I've been to that uses the NIV preaches a perverted gospel of Lordship Salvation. Jesus paid for our sins so we wouldn't have to; yet so many false prophets nowadays are are errantly teaching that sinners must cease from their sinful lifestyle to get saved, thus negating the gift of God. You'll never hear a Lordship Salvationist quote Romans 4:5-6... “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.” Amen!
The Simple Gospel
It matters not to whom you are witnessing, just give them the simple Gospel. Explain to them that they are sinful in God's eyes, because they have broken God's Laws. Romans 3:19 states: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” The word “guilty” in Romans 3:19 means “having lost one's case in court.” God's Law indicts (formally charges) mankind for having violated God's holy Law. God has declared all mankind “guilty,” and has thus pronounced the death sentence for humanity in the Lake of Fire (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8).
Thankfully, Jesus offers to be our Advocate (Defense Attorney) . . . “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Literally, Jesus will be our Lawyer. Jesus shed His physical blood for our sins at Calvary, to pay for our sins and set us free. Salvation is NOT a plea agreement, which is a lesser conviction. Salvation is being JUSTIFIED... JUST-IF-I'D never sinned!!! Amen!
All that God requires is that we come by way of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. There is no other hope of salvation (Acts 4:10-12). If we do not receive God's free pardon for our sins, then we are scheduled to stand trial at The Great White Throne of Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). The Unsaved will be judged according to their works and cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (molten sulfur). This is exactly what 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9, Revelation 20:11-15 and Revelation 21:8 warn. God keeps His PROMISES, and just as with the free gift of eternal life, God has PROMISED to punish the wicked in flaming fire for ever (Jude 1:7... “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire”).
If any sinner, no matter how vile or wicked, repents toward God by believing on Christ for the forgiveness of sins, then they are saved. Repentance means admitting to God that we are as vile as He has declared us to be in His holy Word, and by faith trusting the Lord Jesus Christ to wash our sins away with His blood (1st Peter 1:18-19). Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Believe upon the Lord and the work is done my friend. Salvation is received, not achieved. Eternal life is a free gift my friend—freely offered (Romans 6:23) and freely received (Revelation 22:17). Christ's righteousness is imputed (charged) to him that believeth. Our faith is COUNTED for righteousness...
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works” (Romans 4:5-6).
If we are willing to admit our guilt of sin, and believe on Jesus Christ for forgiveness, then God is willing to justify us on the basis of Christ's blood sacrifice and set us free from the curse of the Law. Amen!
The Gospel is simply this—Jesus died, was buried, and rose again (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). We are sinners and Jesus is the Savior.
“I want to preach the gospel so plainly that men can come from the factories and not have to bring along a dictionary.” —Billy Sunday
