The Gospel of Jesus Christ Tract by HeartCry (Paul Washer)

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

The Character of God The Holiness of God Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor. Habakkuk 1:13 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:2 The Justice of God For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face. Psalm 11:7 But the LORD of hosts will be exalted in judgment, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness. Isaiah 5:16 God is a righteous judge, and a God who has indignation every day. If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. Psalm 7:11-12  The Depravity & Condemnation of Man For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garmentIsaiah 64:6 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ACCURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM. Galatians 3:10 The Great Dilemma He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 17:15 Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly? Genesis 18:25  God's Action While maintaining His holiness and justice, the Bible also affirms that God is love, and that in love He has responded to the plight of man. Motivated by Love God is love. By this the love of God is manifested in us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:8-10 The Cross of Christ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:23-26 The Resurrection He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.Romans 4:25 Man's Response Repentance begins with a recognition and confession that what God says about us is true that we have sinned. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge. Psalm 51:3-4 A genuine recognition of our sinfulness and guilt will also lead to genuine sorrow, shame and even hatred for what we have done. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from this body of death? Romans 7:24 Apparent sincerity of confession alone is never definite evidence of genuine repentance. It must be accompanied by a turning away from sin. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil.Isaiah 1:16 therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:10 Faith Defined Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Romans 4:21 Faith Based on The Promises of God For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16  Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved Acts 16:31 Example of a Believer worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh Philippians 3:3 The Basis of Genuine Assurance True conversion: A true Christian is a new creation and will live a life that reflects God's radical work of re-creation in his/her life. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17  You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? Matthew 7:16  Assurance is based upon self-examination in the light of Scripture. Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 Test of Biblical Assurance 1 John 1:5-7 (Walking in the Light), 1 John 1:8-10 (Confession of Sin), 1 John 2:3-4 (Obedience), 1 John 2:9-11 (Love for the Brethren), 1 John 2:15-17 (Hatred for the World), 1 John 2:24-25 (Perseverance in Doctrine), 1 John 3:10 (Righteousness), 1 John 4:13 (Spirit's Testimony), Hebrews 12:5-8 (Discipline)

Thinking out loud.....

"On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name (or speak in tongues?), and cast out demons in Your name, and DO many mighty works in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness." Matthew 7:21-23 

The fruit of the Spirit--evidence of Christ in our lives is => love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22,23 also read 1 Cor.13--"if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I AM NOTHING." The fruit of the Spirit can be counterfeit too, many are deemed to be filled with the spirit b/c they are nice and appear to love others and be generous, good, moral and so on...but this is also referenced in Matt.5:46 and also more extensively in Luke 6:27-36 =>


"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." 


Right after this passage, Jesus goes on to speak of ""Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."" (vs.37,38)

Many use this as an offering slogan but it is speaking if the way we treat others...this is evidence of our BELIEF in Jesus Christ. We are not kind b/c someone "deserves" it. We are kind b/c we see and understand that Jesus was kind to us when WE did not deserve it. We love others b/c He loves us and we are unworthy, undeserving recipients. These are the true evidences of the Spirit. Believing what Christ has done and acting in that toward others. The gifts of the Spirit will vary but the fruit of the spirit WILL NOT.