The Gospel in 28 Days - Day 28

Urgency of trusting Christ

• Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men (2 Corinthians 5:11).
• God ... reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
• Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7).
  

Outline from Successful Christian Parenting by John MacArthur

Nathan Clark George in Concert - Sunday June 29th

It's no secret I'm a huge fan of this guy (see my previous post). He plays his music for God's glory and not his own. His lyrics are Christ-honoring and rich in Biblical truth about our Lord. NCG also writes arrangements for great hymns like "Not what my hands have done".

I found out a few minutes ago, that George will be doing a free concert at First Presbyterian Church in Lawrence, KS tomorrow (Sunday) at 5 pm.

Click here for more info: http://images.acswebnetworks.com/1/86/NathanClarkGeorgeconcertflyer.pdf

The Gospel in 28 Days - Day 27

Count the cost thoughtfully. Be prepared to follow Christ even to death.

• Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life (John 12:24-25).
• If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it; lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish"? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:26-33).
• Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to "set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law"; and "a man’s enemies will be those of his own household." He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me (Matthew 10:34-38).
  

Outline from Successful Christian Parenting by John MacArthur

The Gospel in 28 Days - Day 26

Count the cost thoughtfully. Take up your cross.

Jesus repeatedly stated that the cost of following Him involves a willingness to sacrifice all.

• Come, take up the cross, and follow Me (Mark 10:21).
• Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul (Mark 8:34-37)?
  

Outline from Successful Christian Parenting by John MacArthur

The Gospel in 28 Days - Day 25

What does God demand of sinners? Trust Him as Lord and Savior.

• Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).
• if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).
  

Outline from Successful Christian Parenting by John MacArthur

The Exclusivity of Christ

On Monday, Aimee and I saw a piece on ABC News and have been nauseated ever since. Here is the online article version:

Religious Americans: My Faith Isn't the Only Way

The subtitle says it all: "Religious Americans embrace many paths to eternal life _ even if their denominations don't" Here is an excerpt from the article (emphasis mine) ...

Among the more startling numbers in the survey, conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.

In all, 70 percent of Americans with a religious affiliation shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion.

"The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion.

This is an eye-opening and tragic reminder that Truth is found not in surveys but in the timeless pages of the Word of God!

As I have shared before here, John Piper does a great job of bringing the light of Scripture to bear on this heresy that denies the exclusivity of Christ. Piper answers--biblically--these three questions:

1. Will anyone experience eternal consious torment under God's wrath?
2. Is the work of Christ the necessary means provided by God for eternal salvation?
3. Is it necessary for people to hear of Christ in order to be eternally saved?

The clear answer to each of these questions is YES!

I'll close with my favorite scene from Trains, Planes and Automobiles. It perfectly illustrates the heart of American "Religion" right now.



If you're not following the Jesus clearly revealed in the Bible, ... YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!!!

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14)"

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:21-23)"

I hope to follow up with the specific passages dealing with these crucial questions in later posts.

The Gospel in 28 Days - Day 24

What does God demand of sinners? Follow Jesus.

• If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23).
• No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).
• If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. (John 12:26).
• You are My friends if you do whatever I command you (John 15:14).
  

Outline from Successful Christian Parenting by John MacArthur