You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Gospel' category.
Having worked in children’s ministry for a number of years, I find the following to be quite refreshing. Notice there is no mention of Jesus being your ‘forever friend’, ‘accepting Jesus into your heart’ or ’sinner’s prayer’. Rather we are pointed to Scripture and its power to save.
from John MacArthur
Question:
How can parents explain the gospel to their children without toning down the commands of Scripture?
Answer:
Certainly children are limited in their ability to understand spiritual truth, but so are adults. Very few people intellectually understand all the gospel truth at the moment of salvation. Fortunately, the essential truths are basic enough that even a child can understand. Jesus Himself characterized saving faith as childlikeness (Mark 10:15). True belief is not a function of advanced intellect, sophisticated theological understanding, or complex doctrinal knowledge.
Children old enough to be saved can grasp the concept of coming to Christ with an obedient heart, and letting Him be boss in their lives.
When sharing the gospel with a child, keep these points in mind:
- Remember that repetition and restatement are especially helpful. Give the gospel simply and briefly, but don’t assume the first positive response means they got all the truth they need to know. Continue explaining and expanding your explanations. Too many ministries to children equate every positive response with a real conversion.
- Use Scripture and explain it clearly. Even with children, God’s Word is the seed that produces life (1 Peter 1:23). Don’t use approaches that give gospel outlines with no Scripture. Only the Bible can speak with authority to the human heart–including a child’s heart.
- Understand the inherent danger in any outline or prefabricated presentation: they tend to follow a predetermined agenda that may bypass the child’s real needs or fail to answer his or her most important questions.
- Finally, remember that the issues in salvation are the same for a child as for an adult. The gospel is the same message for every age group. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote,
We must be careful that we do not modify the gospel to suit various age groups. There is no such thing as a special gospel for the young, a special gospel for the middle-aged, and a special gospel for the aged. There is only one gospel, and we must always be careful not to tamper and tinker with the gospel as a result of recognizing these age distinctions. At the same time, there is a difference in applying this one and only gospel to the different age groups; but it is a difference which has reference only to method and procedure (Quoted in Knowing the Times [Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1989], 2).
Children must be able to understand that sin is an offense to God’s holiness and that they are personally guilty (though because of their limited experiences, most kids obviously won’t have as deep a sense of personal guilt as adults). There’s nothing wrong with telling children about hell and God’s wrath. Children do not have a difficult time grasping such concepts. They understand punishment for wrongdoing and are capable of understanding that Jesus died to take the punishment for the sins of others. They need to be told that Jesus expects to be obeyed, and they will understand even better than some adults that trusting Jesus means obeying Him. The importance of obedience needs to be emphasized repeatedly, even after the child makes a profession of faith.
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
This true story, shared by Dr. Bob Griffin of Grif.Net, illustrates a pitiful view of Christ’s atoning blood that many hold today. I intend to ponder this one long and hard.
One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her
heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and
Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and
prostitution. But, the change in her was evident.As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually
became involved in the ministry, teaching young children.It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and
heart of the pastor’s son. The relationship grew and they began to make
wedding plans. This is when the problems began.You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past
such as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son. The church began to argue and
fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting. As the people
made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting
completely out of hand.The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up
about her past. As she began to cry, the pastor’s son stood to speak. He
could not bear the pain it was causing his wife-to-be. He began to speak and
his statement was this:“My fiance’s past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is
the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the
blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?”The whole church fell silent as they realized that they had been slandering
the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God, the blood DOES wash away
all sin!
“And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done, says the LORD God.” Ezekiel 16:6-63
“In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…” Ephesians 1:7
October brings with it many changes. Along with the delightful weather, I look forward to Mike Gendron’s quarterly publication called ‘Proclaiming the Gospel’. This newsletter’s main article is on repentance. which has been addressed on a previous post. May you be blessed by his article: The Role of Repentance in the Salvation of Sinners.
I recently found an excellent resource for Bible study. Precept Austin is a web ministry that has a plethora of information! From commentaries to charts and hymns to maps, this site has anything you could possibly need to aid you in your study. Here’s the link: http://preceptaustin.org/
This past January I started studying the book of Daniel. I used Dr. John Walvoord’s commentary as my guide. It took me over eight months to finish, however, it was a thorough study. One of the aspects of Dr. Walvoord’s teaching that I truly appreciate is the fact that he includes interpretations from others that differ from his, while offering reasons why he disagrees with biblical support for his view. Very insightful. Here’s the link to that series: http://www.walvoord.com/series.php?series_id=24
Lastly, may I suggest you spend some quality time reading the latest from the Berean Call. Dave Hunt and T.A. MacMahon consistently point us to the truth of Scripture. Here’s their latest offering: http://www.thebereancall.org/node/8076
Have a blessed weekend!
********************************************************************************
“Ah! believer, it is safer always for you to be led of the Spirit into gospel liberty than to wear legal fetters. Judge yourself at what Christ is rather than what you are. Satan will try to mar your peace by reminding you of your sinfulness and imperfections: you can only meet his accusations by faithfully adhering to the Gospel and refusing to wear the yoke of bondage.”
--Charles Spurgeon (Morning & Evening, September 6)
HT: Of First Importance
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
To bless God for mercies–is the way to increase them; 
to bless Him for miseries–is the way to remove them.
Christ uncrowned Himself–to crown us!
He put off His robes–to put on our rags!
He came down from heaven–to keep us out of hell!
He fasted forty days–that He might feast us to all eternity!
He came from heaven to earth–that He might send us from earth to heaven!
There is no going to the fair haven of glory–without
sailing through the narrow strait of repentance.
by William Dyer
HT: Grace Gems
Paul Washer sums up the answer to this question in two minutes. May the Lord use this teaching to edify you today.
VERSE OF THE DAY: John 7:46
‘Never did a man speak like this man speaks.’
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Imagine living at the time of Christ and hearing Him speak!
MINI BIBLE STUDY FOR THE DAY:
There have been many acclaimed teachers in the world. The Moslem faith is built on the teachings of Mohammed; Buddhism on Budda; Confucianism on Confucius, etc. But the greatest of these teachers is Jesus. More has been written, studied, and analyzed about Him than all the other reknowned teachers combined. And He didn’t spend a lifetime developing His following. He made His entire impact in only three and one-half years.
Yet, Christianity is NOT built around Christ’s teachings. Rather, it is built on who He is and what He did! It is not His teachings but Christ Himself who provides salvation.
Regardless of how esteemed Mohammad was, he was still a man. Who is Jesus? He is God (John 10:30, 14:9), and the only One to defeat death.
From Good Morning, Lord!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it.
Exodus 20:25
“God’s altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labor might be seen on it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; however, instead of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord’s own Word are defilements and pollutions.
The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Saviour’s work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonor it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man’s chisel or hammer will be endured.
There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with your tools. Fall on your knees in humble supplication. Accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of your atonement, and rest in Him alone.” {emphasis mine}
~Charles Spurgeon, Morning by Morning
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
HT: Truth Matters
“The atoning death of Christ, and that alone, has presented sinners as righteous in God’s sight; the Lord Jesus has paid the full penalty of their sins, and clothed them with His perfect righteousness before the judgment seat of God.
But Christ has done for Christians even far more than that. He has given to them not only a new and right relation to God, but a new life in God’s presence for evermore. He has saved them from the power as well as from the guilt of sin.
The New Testament does not end with the death of Christ; it does not end with the triumphant words of Jesus on the Cross, “It is finished.” The death was followed by the resurrection, and the resurrection like the death was for our sakes.
Jesus rose from the dead into a new life of glory and power, and into that life He brings those for whom He died. The Christian, on the basis of Christ’s redeeming work, not only has died unto sin, but also lives unto God.”
—J. Gresham Machen, Christianity & Liberalism
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
