JURONG OUTREACH - August 06

HAS MAN OUTGROWN THE GOSPEL? (Pt 1)
6 AUGUST 06

Times change. Today’s “new” is tomorrow’s “old,” this morning’s breakthrough is this afternoon’s castaway, this year’s popular is lost in next year’s “latest.” The up-to-date is soon out-of-date. 

Truth doesn’t change. It reads the same today as yesterday and as it will tomorrow. It is “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Some feel they have outgrown the ancient Gospel. The idea that there is a standard which is absolute is, to them, obsolete. The concepts of sin and spiritual death are replaced by the exaltation of self and sensuality. The idea of self-denial now to gain heaven later is given a passing thought—and then passed on. Bible concepts—power in the blood, a virgin-born, sinless, sacrificial, miraculously raised Saviour—are but myths of a bygone era. Post-moderns have “grown-up.” They don’t need the Gospel anymore. Or have they? 

HAS MAN OUTGROWN THE GOSPEL?

NOT UNLESS HE HAS FOUND ANOTHER FOOD FOR THE SOUL.

Vegetables and fruits have been on kitchen tables since Eve prepared meals in the Garden, but no one is calling them outdated. Noah must have grilled the first T-bone just after the Flood, but, though several thousand years have passed, steakhouses still do pretty well. What nourishes the spirit? The Gospel fills those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Mt. 5:6). Baby Christians first take the “sincere milk of the word” (1 Pet. 2:2), and progress until they can eat “strong meat” at God’s table (Heb. 5:12-14). No one has found a substitute for God’s “soul food.” 

NOT UNLESS HE HAS FOUND ANOTHER CURE FOR MAN’S MOST SERIOUS DISEASE.

Medical treatments have been around at least since Moses (Lev. 12:1-4; Deut. 23:10-14), but nobody’s in a hurry to close hospitals and pharmacies. A cure for sin (forgiveness) is still man’s most basic spiritual need (Rm. 3:23; 6:23). We all have ancient Israel’s contagion: “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment” (Isa. 1:6). The only antidote has “Gospel” on the label
(Rm. 1:16). 

Look around—if anything, sin has greater influence now than it did with ancient man. Violence, greed, lust, selfishness, drunkenness, drugs…no society—yea, no individual—has mastered sin. Paul would say today what he said in A.D. 57: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rm. 3:23). Mankind has not conquered carnal desires. We are still prone to give in to the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 Jn. 2:15-17). We cannot overcome without the power of the written Word (Heb. 4:12). Jesus used its power to defeat Satan in the “showdown in the desert” (Mt. 4:1-11); Paul urged Timothy by it to “make a good warfare” (1 Tim. 1:18); and we can only beat our adversary with the same time-tested weapon (Eph. 6:17).  

Since the eternal God is the One who determines what sin is, sin does not change from culture to culture or with the passing winds of time. Men may change what they consider sin or what they call it (Isa. 5:20), but it will not alter reality. Sin is still transgressing God’s law (1 Jn. 2:4), violating one’s conscience (Rm. 14:23), omitting a duty (Jas. 4:17), and, in general, “all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 5:17). We’ve all done it; thus we all need the cure that only the Gospel can give. 

NOT UNLESS HE HAS UNEARTHED ANOTHER MAP TO HEAVEN.

This world is not all there is. It is but the prelude to the main performance, the foreword to a great book, the entrance foyer to a grand hall, the gestation period of an endless life. Jesus used another figure. It is a short trip to an everlasting home. He plainly mapped out the road that leads to life (Mt. 7:14). He stated the conditions by which man can reach salvation. He must believe in Christ (Mk. 16:16), change his sinful life (repent, Lk. 13:5), confess Christ’s name (Rm. 10:9, 10) and be immersed for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Rm. 6:4). Some have tried to invent their own ways to heaven, but their maps will only get a person lost. If we follow the “Faith Only Lane” or “Works Avenue,” or “Direct Spirit Leading Way,” or the popular path, “Once Saved Always Saved,” we are traveling the various lanes of the interstate Jesus called a “broad way that leads to destruction” (Mt. 7:13). Jesus is the “way, truth, and life”—and His way is only found in His Book (Jn. 14:6).

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

(To be continued)

Man has not outgrown nor can ever outgrow the gospel. It is the everlasting word of truth. Will you obey the gospel today?

HAS MAN OUTGROWN THE GOSPEL? (Pt 2)
13 AUGUST 06

Times change. Today’s “new” is tomorrow’s “old,” this morning’s breakthrough is this afternoon’s castaway, this year’s popular is lost in next year’s “latest.” The up-to-date is soon out-of-date. Truth doesn’t change. It reads the same today as yesterday and as it will tomorrow. It is “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).  

HAS MAN OUTGROWN THE GOSPEL?

NOT UNLESS HE HAS FOUND ANOTHER WEAPON SATAN FEARS.

The old lion isn’t dead; he is still “roaring… walking about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). The serpent is not hibernating; he still lurks to entice, entrap, and engulf the simple (Gen. 3:1-7; 2 Cor. 11:3). Man is still in danger; therefore he needs the one weapon which makes Satan cringe. A lion does not fear a rock in the hand of a child; Satan does not fear man’s strength in man’s hand. He does fear God’s power in man’s hand (“it is written,” Mt. 4:1-11; Jas. 4:7). 

NOT UNLESS HE CAN MAKE HIS LIFE MEANINGFUL WITHOUT IT.

The Bible is able to make us “complete” (2 Tim. 3:17) “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” Its message fills the void found in every heart. It has the power to convert (change) a person. The Gospel has power to “translate” us from the power of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Col. 1:13). In every case of conversion in the New Testament (see the Book of Acts), someone preached the Word, which produced a change in the hearers.  

An American skeptic visiting the jungle came across a native reading the Bible. He told him that “over in America people no longer read that old Book.” The native said nothing for a moment and then responded in broken dialect, “This Book teach me not to eat you!” Would the writings of Hume, Voltaire, Ingersoll, Paine, Russell, or O’Hare have had such effect on a cannibal? 

A stewardess came down an aisle asking what each passenger wanted to drink. Several in a row said, “Make mine a martini.” Coming to the next seat, she noted a man with an open Bible. Somehow it seemed inappropriate to ask a Bible-reader if he desired a martini, so she said, “Tomato juice, Sir?” He later observed, “Now what other book could I have been reading that would change a martini into tomato juice?” Those who change the Gospel put themselves under God’s curse (Gal. 1:6-9) “ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. “ As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed., and will find that it will meet them in judgment unchanged (Rev. 20:12) “ And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” 

Those who choose to ignore it will find it was the one great essential of their earthly pilgrimage (2 Thes. 1:9) “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Let’s not cast away the only Book God ever wrote! 

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The world has lost the right of prayer,

And saints have failed to pray,

What loss sustained beyond repair!

How blind of heart are they!

The Father speaketh in His word,

He talks no other way!

And to converse with Him, our Lord,

We must take time to pray

WHAT ABOUT "DEATH BED" SALVATION
20 AUGUST 06

The emphasis of the Bible concerning salvation is always “today.” Quoting Isaiah, Paul said, “I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).  

When Jesus saw the interest of Zacchaeus, who had climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, He told him, “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house” (Lk. 19:5). As Jesus forgave the sins of the “thief on the cross,” He said, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43). It is never wise to put off responding to God’s love. Some, however, seem to be counting on waiting until they are near death to make things right with God. 

The Book of Acts lays out God’s law of pardon for our time, the Christian Age. The first offer of pardon under the Christian Age was made by Peter and the apostles at Pentecost. As the multitude understood they had crucified the Son of God, they realized they needed to respond to God’s love.  

“They were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:37, 38).  

Other conversions in the Book of Acts follow this pattern. The Samaritans (Acts 8), the Ethiopian (Acts 8), Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9, 22), Lydia (Acts 16), the jailer (Acts 16), and the Corinthians (Acts 18) realized their need for conversion to Christ, and their faith in Christ moved them to repent of their sins, confess their faith, and be baptized. Not every conversion mentions each of these steps to salvation by faith, repentance, and confession, but every conversion account does mention baptism. 

Does God change His law of pardon for the person on his death bed? There are no New Testament examples of such conversions, so there is no evidence to suggest that God has a different plan for those near death. The “thief on the cross” is not an example we may follow to know “how to be saved” because he lived under Jewish law, and was not subject to the new covenant of Christ (which came into effect after Jesus’ death, Hebrews 9:15-17). He received the forgiveness of sin in the same way that others did under the public ministry of Christ. He was not subject to the commands of Pentecost, because he lived before the establishment of the church on that day. 

None of us are in the position of deciding the eternal fate of others. We are all in the hands of a just and loving God. By the gracious sacrifice of Christ, God set in motion the means of our salvation. It is up to us to respond to His love in obedience. He has warned that the day is coming “when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thes. 1:7-8).  

Now is the time to obey Christ and live for Him. As long as there is life, there is hope to obey God, but many who plan to repent on their death beds will never have the opportunity.

—Bob Prichard

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Today is the day of Salvation 

Today is the day of Salvation

Tomorrow may be too late.

There’s danger and death in delaying

Accept God’s saving Grace:

His life on the cross He has given,

O come while yet you may.

He’s earnestly pleading,

O make no delay;

Tomorrow may be too late.

Today is the day of Salvation

Tomorrow may be too late.

The judgment day, brother is coming,

Prepare ye for that day.

His pardon and mercy He offers,

Obey while yet you may,

He’ll save you from sin and

bring sweet peace within.

Tomorrow may be too late.

FACTS EVERY PERSON NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT JESUS
27 AUGUST 06

A great number of people who consider themselves to be Christians, to be honest, are not really sure just what they believe or why they want to serve Jesus. To follow Jesus is a serious undertaking. To make a decision to be His disciple requires that one know some things about Him (Jn. 6:44, 45). Every person needs to know at least four things about Jesus.

Jesus made us—He is Creator.
John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (Jn. 1:1-3). John 1:14 identifies “the Word” as Jesus, the only begotten of the Father. Colossians 1:16,17 declares, “For by him [Jesus] were all things created...all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” No amount of evolutionary teaching can change the truth that God’s Son created all things.

Jesus died and rose again for us—He is Saviour.
Jesus did not come just to make the world a better place or to simply raise the standard of He came to save people from sin and the horrible punishment of hell! “...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Jn. 4:14). Thanks be to God “that Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor. 15:3), and “...we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7). Just as Jesus predicted, after He was buried “...he arose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:4). What does His resurrection have to do with us? He “...was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Rm. 4:25). Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Mk. 16:19).

He has authority over us—He is King.
After the resurrection, Jesus told His apostles, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” (Mt. 28:18, 20). Jesus has all authority. He is the head of His church (Eph. 1:22, 23), so in all things the church is to be in subjection to Him (Eph. 5:24). To put it another way, Jesus is now King over His kingdom, which is simply another designation for His church (Col. 1:13).

He will determine our destiny
He is judge. Jesus said, “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (Jn. 5:22). Paul added, “...we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10) because He “was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick [living] and dead” (Acts 10:42). What a thought: the One that created us, died for us, rose from the dead for us, and rules over us, will one day judge us! A wise man wrote in a book, “...with all thy getting get understanding” (Prov. 4:7). To which we might add, “with all thy understanding, understand Jesus.”

——–Roger Campbell

Jesus is all the world to me 

Jesus is all the world to me,

My life, my joy, my all;

He is my strength from day to day-

Without Him I would fall.

When I am sad to Him I go;

No other one can cheer me so;

When I am sad, He makes me glad:

He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me,

My Friend in trials sore;

I go to Him for blessings,

and He gives them o’er and o’er.

He sends the sunshine and the rain

He sends the harvest’s golden grain;

Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain:

He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me,

And true to Him I’ll be;

O how could I this Friend deny,

When He’s so true to me?

Following Him I know I’m right,

He watches o’er me day and night,

Following Him, by day and night:

He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me,

I want no better friend;

I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when

Life’s fleeting days shall end;

Beautiful life with such a Friend,

Beautiful life that has no end;

Eternal life, eternal joy,

He’s my Friend.