TAKE PRIDE IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
- SALVATION IS NEEDED
- SALVATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED
- SALVATION MUST BE ACCEPTED
ASHAMED? NOT A CHANCE…IF THE LIVING KNEW WHAT THE DEAD KNOW…THE WHOLE WORLD WOULD FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST!
Romans 1:16-17 ESV
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [17] For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
SO WHY DON’T THOSE WHO DO NOT FOLLOW CHRIST KNOW?…THEY DO KNOW…BUT CHOOSE NOT TO KNOW AS A FUTILE ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE GOD’S ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUDGMENT
GOD’S INESCAPABLE WRATH IS THE PUNISHMENT FOR DOING WHAT IS WRONG
Romans 1:18 ESV
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
GOD IS JUSTIFIED IN HIS INESCAPABLE WRATH TOWARD SINNERS BECAUSE HE REVEALS HIMSELF TO SINNERS
Romans 1:19-20 ESV
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] 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.
SINNERS WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD OR JUDGED BY GOD REJECT GOD’S REVELATION…ONLY TO CREATE THEIR OWN WORTHLESS GODS
Romans 1:21-23 ESV
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. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
SO AT SOME POINT, GOD ABANDONS THEM…LETTING THEM WORSHIP WHATEVER THEIR HEARTS DESIRE
Romans 1:24-25 ESV
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
WHEN SINNERS WORSHIP WHAT THEIR HEARTS DESIRE, THEY CREATE A MISERABLE AND CORRUPT SOCIETY
Romans 1:26-32 ESV
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; [27] and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. [28] And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. [29] They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, [30] slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, [31] foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. [32] Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
THIS WORLD SO BADLY NEEDS GOD…AND OUR ONLY PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE IS TO GIVE THEM THE GOOD NEWS THAT THEY CAN HAVE HIM…IF THEY WANT HIM…TAKE PRIDE IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!
SALVATION IS NEEDED…SALVATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED…SALVATION MUST BE ACCEPTED.
