Why We Preach the Gospel to You
Midday finds us trekking along narrow trails through eight foot high razor grass in sweltering humidity. Along the way a hapless snake loses his head by a swift machete blow. A narrow clearing of sorts emerges just ahead sporting some 10 or so palm frond thatched huts.
We enter upon a village where a white man has never visited, where a Bible has never been opened. 3 ancient women with skin like blackened elephants squat with expressionless stares: those observant eyes seemingly oblivious to the stinging curling smoke dancing around their motionless forms. We greet through an interpreter.
This is not the place for pulpits, choirs, or clever arguments. No, this calls for a practical apologetic. “In your religion, do you know for certain that your sins are forgiven?” We pause for their thoughtful and trembling replies. A troubled “No” is muttered through leathery lips. “Has your religion given you freedom from fear of death?” “No” again.
“Does your religion provide you power over evil spirits?” That “No” is desperate this time. It is then that we gently yet bluntly suggest, “Then perhaps you have the wrong religion.” Silence now and more silence. At last the eldest of the trio ventures forth in a faltering cracked cry: “What then must we do to be saved?”
A glad gospel follows, simple and pointed from John 5:24: “Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life and will not come into judgment, but has already passed from death into life.”
Jesus is pure, holy, and undefiled by sin. Yet God made Him who knew no sin to be made sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. – 2 Corinthians 5:21
The Lord Jesus Christ hung on the cursed cross as if a wicked sinner, but completely without any sin at all. The Holy One of God. God the Father’s, beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. By the stripes, thorns, and nails of Christ we can be healed of our sins, our sinfulness.
We here also as workers together with Christ also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. “For He says: ‘In an accepted time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you” — 2 Corinthians 6:2. Please understand, right now is your time to believe; See this clearly, now is the day of salvation.
O Nigerians, We are speaking to you openly, our heart is wide open to you. You are not hindered from believing by us, but you are hindered by your own affections: traditions, idols, fears, desires for other things, prosperity, self, pride. These things and things like them are keeping you under the sway of the evil one and unless you are freed from His grasp, you will never be saved.
Lk.13:5: “Unless you repent, you likewise will perish.” Acts 4:12: “There is salvation in no One else.” Christ Jesus the Lord: Call upon Him.
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And then “the people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a Light dawned” –Mt.4:16. These 3 beautiful souls will be there to welcome you into heaven.
That’s why we do it.
What about you in the towns and cities? We ask you the same questions. “In your religion, do you know for certain that your sins are forgiven?” We pause for your thoughtful reply. A troubled “No” was muttered through their lips. “Has your religion given you freedom from fear of death?” They had to say, “No” again. Do you fear death?
“Does your religion provide you power over evil spirits?” Their “No” was desperate then. What about you? Why in your church gatherings do you cast them out week after week? Why do you fear them? You fear them because your religion has not given you power over them.
They are not bound. Satan yet prowls about as a roaring lion. Your imagined fire from heaven has not arrested his power and grip on your life. In reality, you have not yet known the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is then that we gently yet bluntly suggest, “Then perhaps you have the wrong religion.” Silence now and more silence. At last the eldest of the three women ventured forth in a faltering cracked cry: “What then must we do to be saved?” What must you do to be saved?
Those women, through the preaching of the simple true gospel message from Christ Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, were led to repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and God.
They feared and served a false god, an idol. Do you have an idol in your heart? Are you serving someone or something other then the meek and lowly Jesus? Are you serving your own selfish desires? Then you have another Jesus, another gospel, and another spirit. You do not know the Lord God, you are still in your sins.
We come to you preaching the Christ of the Word of God. Nothing more and nothing less. 1 John 5:20,21: “We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know Him who is True, and we are in Him who is True, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the True God and eternal life. Guard yourselves from idols.”
It is our greatest desire that you also will come to know the Lord of glory, to love and obey Him here, and to praise Him forever and ever: to join with untold millions, including those three women, to serve and honor Christ Jesus the Lord unendingly.
“There are some who trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed”– Gal.1:7,8.
God has reconciled you to Himself through Jesus Christ. He has given us the work of reconciliation, that we would preach His Word about this. This is the message: that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them. When we speak to you about these things it is as if we are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were pleading with you, through us, to be reconciled to Him. We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
God has told us what makes Him angry with us. Angry enough to send us to hell. And we deserve it. He is the judge and will judge each of us for our sins. We will be found guilty. We are guilty.
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