I've been writing down different ways to share the gospel in the context of open air preaching, sort of like scripts to practice and use when I go downtown as I'm learning and starting out. I thought I'd start posting them for critique, suggestions, scripture to include, what to add or remove, what people think is good or is not good, needs work etc. I want to grow in this so please be honest. I want to be as biblical, direct, and clear as possible, and I know theres tons of room for improvement. Thanks.
This message is called "Jesus Died!"
Only the truth will set you free.
There is one truth and that is Jesus Christ.
Do you understand this? Jesus died! Christ died for you! It took the death of God, it took the blood of God Himself to wash away the wickedness of mans sin.
Many people believe that Christ died for them, they say, “Of course Jesus died for me, He loves me!” as if they deserve it, as if God somehow owes them salvation, a way to heaven & eternal life.
Romans 3 says this, “There is none righteous, not even one. There is none who understands, there is none who seek for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, not even one. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” You do not deserve heaven. You do not deserve salvation. Not one human being on the face of this earth is worthy. All are guilty before God because all have sinned and have not obeyed God.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God, one who is angry at sinners who turn their backs to him all day long. Do you turn your back on God by denying His existence? Do you turn your back by being religious? By knowing the truth about Christ, but not loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. To love God with everything was Christ’s greatest commandment.
Jesus died! Our redemption, our salvation from sin and death and the holy wrath of God came at the highest price. The price has been paid. Jesus Christ’s blood paid it. Jesus Christ bore the sin of the world on His shoulders. Even though He was perfect and without sin, He became sin for us. Though innocent and perfect in every way possible He suffered in our place, He suffered to pay the debt for our sin that you and I could never pay.
Jesus died! And His death is enough. He arose from the grave and is seated at the right hand of God. One day you will be judged by Him. Are you ready to stand before the Lord when you die? Have you truly repented of your evil ways? Have you truly renounced your sin, let it go, and have you turned to Christ with true remorse and shame asking for forgiveness and now seeking to follow Christ and live like Him and obey Him. To many people, Christ’s words are spoken, “Why do you call me Lord and do not do what I say?”
Is Christ your Lord? He died for you! But are you willing to die for Him? Christ said that if you aren’t willing to take up your cross and die daily you aren’t worthy to be His disciple and you aren’t a Christian. You cannot hold to any sin, any idol, any selfish desire in one hand and hold to Christ in the other. You cannot have the world in one hand and Christ in the other and make it through the narrow gate that leads to life. Forsake everything and Christ will be yours. You must let go of everything to enter into life. The way is narrow that leads to life and there are few that find it.
Will you forsake this world to gain Christ and everlasting life? Or would you rather gain the whole world and lose your soul? There are only two choices. Right now you are choosing one. Right now you are living for one.
Do you want to be saved? Don’t you want to be free from your bondage to sin? Don’t you want to have the weight of sin lifted off your shoulders and to rest in Christ? He accomplished everything for you, if you will only take hold with both hands the gift that Christ freely offers. Will you heed the call or continue on the broad way that leads to destruction? Will you let go of everything and cling to Christ who alone can save your soul? Christ came to die for sinners, for wretches, for the lost. If you think you are a good person. If you think you have your life together. If you think all is well and good, you are in great danger. Listen, Christ did not come to save the righteous. He did not come for those who trust in their own goodness, He came to seek and to save that which was lost. Until you see the sinfulness of your sin in light of the great holiness of almighty God, until you see the reality of your lostness and your great need for God and a savior, you will remain in your sin, and on that day when you stand before God, your righteousness will fall short. It won’t be good enough. The Bible says that our greatest works are like filthy rags. If the best you have to offer God are filthy rags what hope do you have? If your hope is not in Christ you have none. The only hope is Christ! The only way is Christ!
May the Lord awaken your souls to see you stand under the wrath of God. His wrath is pressing down to fall upon you, and yet this God of grace is holding it back, bearing with your sin, that you might still turn to Him and live. With one hand Christ beckons you to come. With the other hand He holds back the wrath of God. But on that die you die, if you are without Christ, he will drop both hands and you will be consumed by God’s wrath. The ground beneath you is not secure. You may feel secure but at any time the ground you stand upon may give way and you will fall. Death comes swiftly. Life is a vapor, a breath here now and gone tomorrow. Are you ready to face God?
When you see Christ on that day He won’t be as most of you picture Jesus. He came to earth as a baby, He came and served man and died for their sin. But on the day Christ returns, on the day when there is judgment this is the Christ we will see.
Revelation 19:11-16
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
With eyes like flaming fire, with a sword He will judge and tread the winepress of God’s wrath. The coming judgment is a fearful one for the man or woman who is not secure in Christ. They are not safe, not safe from God! Christ is the only one who can stand in your place to be crushed under God’s wrath, and He was. But if you will not turn to Christ, if you will not believe upon His Name and bow your knee to the Lord who made you and commands all men to repent and believe that they might live, there remains for you no mercy. On that day there will be no mercy. Without Christ’s atoning blood to cover your sins you will be crushed under the wrath of God. On that day you will not be able to bear it, and after 1000 years you will still not be able to bear it, and yet hell will last for all eternity. There will be no escape, no second chance, no mercy to be found, only hopeless despair and wishing for death that it might end, but your soul will live on forever.
I say this because it is true and because I care about your soul. The gospel of Christ is good news to those who are perishing because there is hope for the one who will look to the Savior. I say this because today is the day of salvation. Today you can be made right before God; today the Lord can open your eyes and give you a new heart and real life. Will you come to Him? Will you come to Christ and look to Him alone as your only way to be saved?
There is no other way. I beg you, look to Christ and be reconciled to God.
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