Re: "He did NOTHING."
Posted by: introspicere <introspicere@...>
I concur with Brother Hamill. Sadly it seems clear
that the presentation and reception of the gospel
message wasn't quite everything it should have been in
this case. Particularly disturbing is the comment, "I
really don't know why your god hates my guts,
especially after I served Him as hard as I could. WHy
does HE never deliver?!!!" This comment alone
indicates that the gospel message this person received
did not include clear explanations that: 1) that Gods
love for his creation is unwavering, and 2) that God
is not some sort of far removed performance-based
diety; there is nothing we can do to earn or merit the
gift of His love and salvation, aside from simply
placing our trust and faith in Jesus Christ as our
Lord and savior.
Here are the notes for three items I found in my Life
Application Bible that I would hope to use and review
with this individual. I hope they will be helpful to
all.
May God continue to richly bless you in your
ministries for Him.
Peace always,
Hugh C. Keith
Introspicere
http://www.introspicere.org
---------------------------
Salvation's Freeway
===================
Romans 3:23 = Everyone has sinned.
Romans 6:23 = The penalty for our sin is death.
Romans 5:8 = Jesus Christ died for sin.
Romans 10:8-10 = To be forgiven for our sin, we must
believe and confess that Jesus is Lord. Salvation
comes though Jesus Christ.
Salvation Through Faith
=======================
[The original presentation is in a side by side
comparison chart.]
Religion through self-effort:
-----------------------------
Goal: Please God by our own good deeds.
Means: Practice, diligent service, discipline, and
obedience, in hope of reward.
Power: Good, honest effort through
self-determination.
Control: Self-motivation, self-control.
Results: Chronic guilt, apathy, depression, failure,
constant desire for approval.
Salvation through Faith:
------------------------
Goal: Trust in Christ and then live to please God.
Means: Confess, submit, and commit ourselves to
Christ's control.
Power: The Holy Spirit in us helps us do good work
for Christ's kingdom.
Control: Christ is in us; we are in Christ.
Results: Joy, thankfulness, love, guidance, service,
forgiveness.
Salvation through faith in Christ sounds too easy for
many people. They would rather think that they have
done something to save themselves. Their religion
becomes one of self-effort that leads either to
disappointment or pride, but finally to eternal death.
Christ's simple way is the only way, and it alone
leads to eternal life.
Crucial Concepts In Romans:
===========================
Election: Romans 9:10-13
God's choice of an individual or group for a specific
purpose or destiny.
Justification: Romans 4:25; 5:18
God's act of declaring us 'not guilty' of our sins,
making us 'right' with him.
Propitiation: Romans 3:25
The removal of God's punishment for sin through the
perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Redemption: Romans 3:24; 8:23
Jesus Christ has paid the price so that we can go
free. The price of sin is death; Jesus paid the
price.
Sanctification: Romans 5:2, 15:16
Becoming more and more like Jesus Christ through the
work of the Holy Spirit.
Glorification: Romans 8:18, 19, 30
The ultimate state of the believer after death when he
or she becomes like Christ (1 John 3:2).
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