Tell it Like it Is
The
Wednesday Word:
Tell
it Like it Is
by
D.G. Miles McKee
The
famous Irish scholar and wit, John Pentland Mahaffy, was once asked
if he was a Christian. He replied, “Yes, but not offensively
so.”
Unfortunately, there are many professing believers who line up with his point of view. They don’t take their stand for the truth of the Word. They have let the world’s standards dictate what is right and wrong. They keep silent about the real Jesus.
You see, there is an inate offence in the Christ of the Bible (Romans 9:33; Galatians 5:11; 1 Peter 2:7-8). When we tell of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and the fact that there is no salvation outside of Him, people get offended. That’s just the way it is.
Let’s get this straight. The Gospel is not the instruction manual of what we must do to be saved. No indeed! The Gospel is the story of that which has already been done to save us. The Gospel is not about a set of demands placed on us. Rather it is about the demands placed upon the Lord Christ. Proud, self-righteous ‘List-Men’ are offended by this, but poor despised, degraded ‘publicans and sinners’ seldom are.
The power of God is in the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16). To faithfully declare this Gospel, we, therefore, must avoid offering a formula of works for salvation. That means we must be careful about using expressions such as “Ask Jesus into your heart” or “Give your life to Christ.” These expressions must be left out of our vocabulary if we are to powerfully present the Gospel!
I know, I know----Ask Jesus into your heart (i.e., to be saved), is one of the most common sentences in modern Evangelical circles. However, it is sheer un-biblical humanism. It puts man in control of his salvation. It asks man for a contribution. It tells him to ‘do’ something rather than receive that which has already been ‘done.’
Salvation, however, is not a decision originating in man; it is from start to finish the work of God. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!
Furthermore, the terminology, “ask Jesus into your heart” although a well-meaning phrase is backwards and deceptive. The spiritually dead and ungodly person is made acceptable to God only “in Christ,” and not because they prayed to ask Jesus into their hearts. It is a sovereign working of the Holy Spirit that places a person into Christ!
Do you know anyone who is being made hungry for God? Then tell them about the Christ who shed His blood.
Urge them to believe!
Tell them that Christ’s blood cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:7).
Urge them to believe!
Let them know that His blood justifies (acquits) (Romans 5:9).
Urge them to believe!
Share the good news that the blood brings us near to God (Ephesians 2:13).
Urge them to believe!
Tell them that through Christ’s blood there is redemption, even the forgiveness of sin (Ephesians 1:7).
Urge them to believe!
Let them know that the blood of Christ purges the conscience (Hebrews 9:14).
Urge them to believe!
Make it clear to them that only Christ’s blood makes peace between God and man (Colossians 1:20).
Urge them to believe!
Make it known that the blood gives, "boldness to enter into the holiest" (Hebrews 10:19).
Urge them to believe!
There is no deeper work of God than the Christ event. Regardless of who it offends, shout it from the rooftops!
There is no more profound revelation of truth, power, majesty and light than Christ Jesus Himself…may we live to declare Him!
He is our Gospel! Let the nations know about Him!
Why should we be silent about the message that gives us a Saviour who has so identified with us that He has purchased us with His own blood?
We have a Shepherd who has given His life for His sheep. He has risen from the dead to bring us safely home to glory. Urge your friends to look unto Jesus alone for their salvation.
Tell it like it is!
And that’s the Gospel Truth!
Unfortunately, there are many professing believers who line up with his point of view. They don’t take their stand for the truth of the Word. They have let the world’s standards dictate what is right and wrong. They keep silent about the real Jesus.
You see, there is an inate offence in the Christ of the Bible (Romans 9:33; Galatians 5:11; 1 Peter 2:7-8). When we tell of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and the fact that there is no salvation outside of Him, people get offended. That’s just the way it is.
Let’s get this straight. The Gospel is not the instruction manual of what we must do to be saved. No indeed! The Gospel is the story of that which has already been done to save us. The Gospel is not about a set of demands placed on us. Rather it is about the demands placed upon the Lord Christ. Proud, self-righteous ‘List-Men’ are offended by this, but poor despised, degraded ‘publicans and sinners’ seldom are.
The power of God is in the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16). To faithfully declare this Gospel, we, therefore, must avoid offering a formula of works for salvation. That means we must be careful about using expressions such as “Ask Jesus into your heart” or “Give your life to Christ.” These expressions must be left out of our vocabulary if we are to powerfully present the Gospel!
I know, I know----Ask Jesus into your heart (i.e., to be saved), is one of the most common sentences in modern Evangelical circles. However, it is sheer un-biblical humanism. It puts man in control of his salvation. It asks man for a contribution. It tells him to ‘do’ something rather than receive that which has already been ‘done.’
Salvation, however, is not a decision originating in man; it is from start to finish the work of God. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!
Furthermore, the terminology, “ask Jesus into your heart” although a well-meaning phrase is backwards and deceptive. The spiritually dead and ungodly person is made acceptable to God only “in Christ,” and not because they prayed to ask Jesus into their hearts. It is a sovereign working of the Holy Spirit that places a person into Christ!
Do you know anyone who is being made hungry for God? Then tell them about the Christ who shed His blood.
Urge them to believe!
Tell them that Christ’s blood cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:7).
Urge them to believe!
Let them know that His blood justifies (acquits) (Romans 5:9).
Urge them to believe!
Share the good news that the blood brings us near to God (Ephesians 2:13).
Urge them to believe!
Tell them that through Christ’s blood there is redemption, even the forgiveness of sin (Ephesians 1:7).
Urge them to believe!
Let them know that the blood of Christ purges the conscience (Hebrews 9:14).
Urge them to believe!
Make it clear to them that only Christ’s blood makes peace between God and man (Colossians 1:20).
Urge them to believe!
Make it known that the blood gives, "boldness to enter into the holiest" (Hebrews 10:19).
Urge them to believe!
There is no deeper work of God than the Christ event. Regardless of who it offends, shout it from the rooftops!
There is no more profound revelation of truth, power, majesty and light than Christ Jesus Himself…may we live to declare Him!
He is our Gospel! Let the nations know about Him!
Why should we be silent about the message that gives us a Saviour who has so identified with us that He has purchased us with His own blood?
We have a Shepherd who has given His life for His sheep. He has risen from the dead to bring us safely home to glory. Urge your friends to look unto Jesus alone for their salvation.
Tell it like it is!
And that’s the Gospel Truth!
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