GOSPEL NUGGET # 105

Ro 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Paul describes himself as a "wretched" man. The only thing that is good in a saved sinner is the grace of God. Viewed apart from the grace of God, we are wretched. We are powerless against sin in our lives.

Paul realized that deliverance from sin's power could only come from a person. Notice his question: "WHO will deliver me from this body of death?"

NOT WHAT BUT WHO

He asked the right question. Not programs and procedures but a person (Christ Jesus) can deliver us from sin's power.

NOT WHERE BUT WHO

Many people believe that if only they could get away from the depressing and distressing and irritating situation they are in (in school, in the family, at work, in the office etc.) then they could somehow experience a victorious life over sin. They are yearning for a change of location and situation. For them the question is: "Wretched man that I am! WHERE, WHERE can I find deliverance?"

And so that's why many people decided to live in monasteries. For them deliverance from sin's power is found someWHERE not in someONE (Jesus)."

What you need is not a SYSTEM, nor a new SITUATION and SCENERY but the SAVIOR!

Ro 7:25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Come to Christ in faith and He will deliver you from sin's power.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 104

Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Notice the last part, it does not say: "OUT from the riches of His grace." Rather, it says: "ACCORDING to the riches of His grace."

Learn the difference:

OUT FROM THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE

Imagine a mile-wide and a mile-deep ocean. Inside it are the riches of God's grace. And God reached down a handful and gave it to you. God, as it were, gave you something OUT from the riches of His grace.

ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE

Imagine an ocean bigger than the Pacific Ocean. Its depth reaches down to infinity---it is bottomless. Inside are the riches of God's infinite grace.

And instead of God reaching down a handful, He poured all of it and is still pouring all of it and will forever pour it all endlessly upon you. That's what it is to be blessed ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE! Redemption and forgiveness of sins are only the first-fruits of God's infinite blessings. It will take forever and ever for you to be immersed in it all!

And this grace is available in Christ. Come to Christ in repentance and faith and you will be blessed ACCORDING to the riches of God's grace.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 103

Genesis 3 Side By Side With The Experience Of The Lord Jesus Christ 

When man fell into sin, it resulted in guilt, shame, sorrow, pain, hardships, suffering and eventually death upon man. But another Man came on the scene and He took all of it and bore them all on the cross of Calvary for us.

1. Man fell into sin by a tree. This Other Man died on a tree because of sin (see Gal. 3:13).
2. Man became guilty. This Other Man took the guilt and was punished for it.
3. Man was exposed to shame. This Other Man was stripped naked when He hung on the cross.
4. Man experienced sorrow because of sin. This Other Man became the Man of Sorrows (see Isa. 53:3).
5. Man became susceptible to pain. This Other Man shivered in pain when He was scourged and crucified.
6. Man is riddled with hardships as a result of sin. This Other Man came down from glory. Became a servant, was persecuted throughout His life and was made to experience all the hardships that a hardened criminal deserves.
7. Man's life is punctuated with suffering because of sin. This Other Man's life suffered because of our sin.
8. Man was cursed with thorns when he sinned (see Gen. 3:18). This Other Man was crowned with thorns when He became sin for us.
9. Man was cursed: "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread..." This Other Man's sweat became like drops of blood as He was about to take on the punishment for all our sins (see Luke 22:44).
10. Man was cursed with labor and toil when he fell into sin. This Other Man labored and toiled on the cross of Calvary. 
11. Man was cursed with death---separation from God when he fell into sin. This Other Man died and was forsaken by God because of you and me.

This Other Man had no sin. He did not sin. He was not under obligation to carry all these burdens upon Himself. He did it all for you.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 102

Ge 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

We have here the first good news of a coming Deliverer or Savior. A struggle will take place between Satan and those who belong to him and Eve's coming seed which refers primarily to Christ. It will end in Satan's fatal defeat.

Four Things In Relation To Salvation

1. God ordained that salvation should come through a Savior. Not through the sinner's achievement.

2. This Savior would come as a Man. He will be a seed of the woman. Christ was a descendant of Eve.

3. This Savior would suffer at the hands of Satan: "you shall bruise His heel." Satan through unbelieving men was able to crucify and put Christ to death (with Christ allowing Himself to be crucified of course).

4. Satan will only be able to inflict a temporary and non-fatal bruise against the Savior. He will only be able to bruise His "heel" as it were. Christ died but He did not die forever to remain in the grave. He rose again. And through His death and resurrection anyone who is united to Him in faith will share in His triumph against Satan. In Christ's death, he is forever severed from Satan's deadly grip in his life and in Christ's resurrection, he becomes a new creation unto God.

Christ gave Satan a fatal blow (He bruised Satan's head as it were) freeing the saved sinner forever away from his stranglehold.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 101

Joh 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My (Jesus') day, and he saw it and was glad."

Heb. 11:26 (Moses) esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

2Ti 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures (Old Testament), which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

How were sinners in the Old Testament saved?

They were saved in the same way people in the New Testament are saved---faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. For example, Abraham and Moses were illumined by God about the coming Christ. As a result, Abraham rejoiced and Moses forsook the earthly privileges he could have enjoyed in Egypt.

The Old Testament Scriptures are enough to teach a sinner about Christ, enabling him to have wisdom as to how a sinner can be saved---and it is by faith in Christ.

They all looked forward in faith to the coming Christ. And they were saved on credit as it were. God saved them on the sure guarantee that Christ would come and pay for all their sins.

Old Testament sinners were saved by faith looking forward to Calvary. While New Testament sinners are saved by faith looking back to Calvary.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 100

Simply Explaining The Gospel Simply

1. We are all sinners---spiritual criminals before God, subject to the just judgment of God.

2. Every sin is a heinous crime ultimately against God. And since that is the case, just like any criminal who has committed a heinous crime, we can never do anything to deliver ourselves from God's judgment.

3. Christ died for our crimes. And God demonstrated His acceptance of it by raising Him from the dead.

4. Now Christ is offering His free salvation to all, especially to those who realize and own that they are sinners, lost, undone and totally unable to save themselves, who turn to Christ and trust in Him.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 99

Ex 26:31 "You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen.

In the tabernacle there stood a veil standing between the Holy Place (Area) and the Most Holy Place (Area) where God's presence was. It was a picture of Christ. That is made very clear by the writer of the book of Hebrews. Notice the last part of verse 20:

Heb 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

It was a picture of Christ's flesh or body broken. Before one can enter the Holiest or the Most Holy Place where God's presence was, he must go through that veil. No one can come to God except through Christ's death on the Cross. His death opened the way for sinners to come to God.

The Veil's Characteristics

1. It had a blue color. Blue is the color of the sky. It symbolizes Christ's heavenly origin.

2. It had a purple color. Purple is the color of kings' royal robes. It symbolizes Christ as King.

3. It had a scarlet color. It had a bright red color. It is a picture of Christ's sacrifice when He shed His blood on the cross.

4. It was made of fine linen. Fine linen in the Bible is a symbol of righteousness. "...arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (Rev. 19:8) The fine linen of the veil symbolized Christ's impeccable character. He was sinless.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 98

Exodus 25-30

These chapters describe the Tabernacle of the Old Testament days. It is a place where God and sinful man meet. The Tabernacle and everything in it is a picture of Christ.

1. It is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ's Incarnation. God came down and lived with sinful men and women in the OT days. He tabernacled with man. He camped with them as it were. He lived among them.

Just as the Lord Jesus Christ "became flesh and dwelt (literally "tabernacled" in the Greek) among us." (see John 1:14)

2. Its bronze altar is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ's Substitutionary death. As you enter its gate, you will first see a bronze altar. It is there where the animals were killed and sacrificed. The animal sacrifices point toward the coming ultimate and real sacrifice for sin.

3. Its bronze laver is a picture of the Lord Jesus as Cleanser. As you move forward, you will see a bronze laver with water in it. It is there where the priests wash their hands and feet before offering a sacrifice.

4. Its table of showbread is a picture of Christ as the Bread from heaven. As you enter the Holy Place of the tabernacle, on the right side, you will see a table of showbread. It is a table containing twelve loaves of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. It is called "show"bread because they were constantly exhibited before God. It symbolized God's constant awareness and provision for their need.

5. Its golden lampstand is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Light. On the left side, you will see a golden lampstand with seven branches. It illuminated the Holy Place.

6. Its altar of incense is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ as Intercessor. Incense is a symbol of prayer.

7. Its mercy seat is a picture of Christ as our Propitiation. As you enter the Most Holy Place, you will see supernatural light illuminating the place. It is the Shekinah glory of God. In front of you is the Ark of the Covenant. Its golden lid is called the Mercy Seat. It is the place where the High Priest sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice. And it is there where God is satisfied or propitiated against man's sins.


You can view the Tabernacle as Heaven and Earth. The Golden Altar where the sacrifice was made speaks of Calvary where Jesus died and made His sacrifice for sin. The Most Holy Place speaks of the third heaven where God dwells. Christ died here on earth and rose again from the dead. And He ascended to heaven to offer Himself to God as a Propitiation for man's sins.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 97

Ge 22:2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

Ge 22:6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.

1. Isaac was Abraham's unique son. "Your only" means unique, one of a kind son. Ishmael was of course Abraham's son but Isaac was unique. He was promised by God to Abraham. The Lord Jesus is God's unique Son. God has many adopted sons but He only has one unique Son.

2. Isaac was Abraham's beloved son. If you look up a concordance, the first citations of love in the OT and in the NT is the love of a father towards his son. Genesis 22:2 in the OT and Matthew 3:17: ""This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

3. Isaac was to be offered as a burnt offering. There are many types of offering in the OT and one of them was the burnt offering. It was an offering that expressed ones devotion, dedication and consecration to God. It was an offering that was to be burnt whole. Nothing was to be kept back---Abraham wholeheartedly offered and gave his son.

This is a picture of God the Father who willingly and wholeheartedly gave His Son for us sinners.

4. Issac submitted to his father. We notice that there is no record that Isaac resisted Abraham, there was no struggle. Isaac himself willingly submitted and wholeheartedly consecrated himself to his father's will.

This is a picture of God the Son's willingness to submit Himself to the Father's will: "Not My will, but Your will be done."

5. Isaac was to be offered in the land or region of Moriah. He carried the wood that was to be used to sacrifice him. Hundreds of years later, another beloved Son carried a wooden Cross on the way to the very same region where Isaac was offered.

But what Abraham was not able to do (because he was prevented), God the Father did, He consummated it, He gave up His Son to death. Not for friends but for enemies.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 96

Ge 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

Ge 3:21 Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

Fallen man needs a covering. He is spiritually naked and he has nothing on except sin, guilt and shame.The covering he made for himself will not do. His best efforts can only produce "leaves" that will dry up and wither.

It is God alone who can take away his sin and guilt and cover his shame. And it can only come through the shedding of the blood of an innocent sacrifice. In covering them with tunics of skin, an animal had to die for them.

The sacrifice of the innocent animal was of course a picture of the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) who shed His blood on the cross of Calvary.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 95

Joh 5:39 "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

The message of the Bible in two words---Jesus Christ. The Bible is a Him book. It's all about Him!

The Old Testament prophesies: "He is coming!"
The Gospels declare: "He has come! He died for our sins and rose again!"
The Book of Acts commands: "Go tell everybody about Him!"
The Epistles explain: "This is who He is, what He did and what you should do."
The Book of Revelation anticipates: "And He will come again!!!"

GOSPEL NUGGET # 94

Zec 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.

Zec 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

Zec 3:4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes."

Though these verses refer to God's future blessing to Israel as a nation (Joshua is made to represent Israel), it is a picture of a saved sinner and Christ as his Advocate in the New Testament. "Angel of the Lord" oftentimes refer to the pre-incarnate Christ in the OT. Reading the OT, you will notice that more than once, Old Testament saints refer to the "Angel of the Lord" as LORD (Yahweh). Yahweh is one God in three persons. Christ is also Yahweh.

Anyone with an eye for Christ and His salvation in the Bible cannot fail to notice a picture of Christ and His salvation here, especially His being the saved sinner's Advocate.

We can imagine it to have happened this way:

Satan our accuser before God: "Look at this despicable sinner! Look how vile he is, dressed in filthy garments. His sins cannot be numbered. His righteousnesses are filthy rags! Condemn him!"

The Lord Jesus, the saved sinner's Advocate before God: "It is true that he is sinner. He is dressed in rags. It is true that he is worthy of condemnation. But I have died for him, I shed my precious blood for all his sins. And he has placed all his trust in Me."

And God says: ""Take away the filthy garments from him."

And to him God says: "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes all because of My Son."

GOSPEL NUGGET # 93

Ge 15:2 But Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"

Ge 15:5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

* A Helpless Realization: "Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless" * A Hopeful Revelation: "Look toward heaven. So shall your descendants be."
* A Happy Reception: "he believed (trusted) in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness."

What is this but an exact parallel of a saved sinner!

A saved sinner is someone who first realizes his helpless condition. Then God will reveal to him a hopeful revelation of the Gospel. And the sinner receives it with the happy reception of faith. 

* A Helpless Realization: His eyes are opened to his helpless condition
* A Hopeful Revelation: Christ died for his salvation.
* A Happy Reception: He believed (trusted) in the Lord resulting in his justification.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 92

Ge 6:13 And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

14 "Make yourself an ark...

 Noah's ark is a striking picture of Christ and His salvation. God was about to judge the world with a Flood, but God in wrath remembered mercy (see the principle Hab. 3:2). There are at least six striking similarities we notice about Noah's ark and the salvation of Christ:

1. It was an exclusive Ark. It was the only instrument of salvation.

In the same way, there is no salvation found in anyone else except in the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12. 

 2. It was a judged Ark. It took the waters of judgment.  

In the same way, the Lord Jesus took our punishment on the cross of Calvary. 

 3. It was a free Ark. Anyone could step into the ark for free.

In the same way, the Lord Jesus Christ's salvation is a gift, meaning, it is free.

4. It was a sufficient Ark. It was sufficient for the salvation of anyone.

In the same way, the Lord Jesus completely satisfied the justice and wrath of God against our sins. God is totally satisfied with the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation that He raised Him from the dead.  

 5. It was an appropriated Ark. One must enter the ark to be saved. And indeed those who entered it were delivered.

In the same way, the death of the Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for all but only those who trust in it are the ones who are actually saved. Just as Noah and company used the ark to benefit from it so only those who use the cross-work of the Lord Jesus Christ, by faith in it are the ones who will actually be saved. 

 6. It was a destined Ark. It was an ark en route to a new world. When the waters subsided, they stepped out to a new world.

In the same way, the Lord Jesus' salvation offers a new life to anyone who will trust in Him.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 91

RO 7:18 ...I know that nothing good dwells in me...

Ro 7:24 O wretched man that I am!...

Lu 18:13 "....'God, be merciful to me the sinner!'"

We are not prepared to side with God against ourselves in self-judgment and seek His mercy until we have seen ourselves as to who we are in God's sight---that apart from His grace, we are no good and wretched sinners.

It is only the man who has realized his no-good and wretched condition before God that realizes his need of the mercy and grace of God in Christ Jesus. When God saves a man, He reveals two things to him---what he is before God and what Christ is to him.

You will never truly be needing the grace of God in Christ Jesus if you have not seen yourself as a no-good and wretched sinner that you are.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 90

Nu 21:9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

Sin has a penalty---death. But God has His remedy. When the Israelites sinned against God, God, in His justice, sent fiery serpents and many died and were dying. But God in His grace and mercy, also prescribed a remedy for them; Moses was instructed to set upon pole a bronze serpent. Anyone who would look at it will live.

There are five characteristics to this remedy:

1. It was a divine remedy. It was the result of God's initiative.

2. It was an exclusive remedy. There was no other remedy.

3. It was a free remedy. All one had to do was look at the remedy trusting in God's promise that anyone who would look at it would be healed and lived.

4. It was an instant remedy. The very moment one looks at the remedy, there was immediate healing.

5. It was an appropriated remedy. It was a sufficient remedy for everyone but no one gets healed and lives if he or she will not direct his or her gaze at the bronze serpent.

The remedy was of course a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. We all have sinned and are therefore under the just judgment of God. But God has a remedy. He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. There is no other Savior. The salvation He offers is free for all. But only those who trusts in Him experience immediate and instant spiritual healing.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 89

Ex 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.

From one side to the other. From enslavement to emancipation. From bondage in Egypt to freedom with God. From being slaves of Pharaoh to being servants of God. It was all made possible because God parted the sea and they safely crossed and came to the other side.

The sea was a picture of Christ, who became our way to God. Pharaoh and Egypt were a picture of bondage to sin and Satan in the world. We are all slaves of sin, living in the world subject to Satan. But through Christ's death and resurrection, a sinner is made to pass from slavery to sin to being a bond-servant of God.

The Lord told Paul his mission: "...I now send you to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me --Jesus." (see Acts 16:17-18)

The moment a sinner trusts in Christ Jesus, he is then united to Christ that Christ's death became his death and His resurrection became his resurrection unto newness of life. Positionally, he has died to the slavery of sin and is now resurrected to serve God.

He steps down into His death on one side and comes out to His resurrection on the other.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 88

The Lord Jesus Christ---The Divine Zealot

In the New Testament, there were people who were called Zealots. In fact, one of the Lord's disciples was a Zealot (see Luke 6:15).

A Zealot 1) was one who was jealous for the deliverance and freedom of Israel from foreign domination. 2) His consuming desire was that Israel should be rightfully reigned over by God and none other. 3) He was even willing to give his life for this cause.

Applying all these to the Lord Jesus Christ---He was just like that. He was a Zealot, so to speak. He zealously desires our salvation from sin, that we should be freed from its bondage and be under His benevolent sway. He was so into this cause that He even gave His life for it.

My friend, come to Him for salvation. Trust in Him and what He did on the cross. He zealously desires your salvation.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 87

"Sinners"

It is so hard to find sinners these days in the biblical sense. They are like gold. They're not easily found. What I mean is this:

A sinner in the Bible is 1) a spiritual criminal, 2) spiritually dead, subject to the just judgment of God 3) who can never do anything---powerless to save himself from the penalty, power and presence of sin. I tell you, not many realize this about themselves. Self-righteous pride is the order of the day.

Almost all people in the place where I am from admit that they are sinners. However, many will not admit that they are spiritual criminals---they are sinners alright but not to the extent that they view themselves as spiritual criminals (bad people).

All the more hard to find are people who admit that they are not only spiritual criminals but that they are spiritually dead people, under the just judgment of God. The hardest of all to find are people who admit all of the above and even confess that they are acutely and keenly aware that they are helpless to save themselves from sin. Somebody said: "I hope I can find sinners (in the biblical sense) because I have a good news to tell them. That Christ died for them and that He alone can save them from sin." 

All of us are sinners in the biblical sense. It's just that many do not realize it because of pride. They resist the conviction and the humbling of the Holy Spirit in their lives. And so, they don't find the Gospel as good news indeed.

Believe me, if you are wrong about yourself, you'll be wrong about the Savior and His salvation.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 86

Are You A Genuine Christian?

To help you answer the question, here are some searching and pointed questions:

 1. Have you changed your attitude towards God that you now take Him seriously? You took Him lightly before but now your heart's attitude is different. You now take Him seriously. You are now God-conscious all the time. And everything is now referenced to Him.

 2. Have you changed your attitude about sin? That is, from loving and and finding pleasure in sin, do you now hate and despise it? It is no real and genuine repentance if you just changed your behavior. God wants the heart first, because He knows if He gets the heart, He gets the whole man, the behavior follows.

 3. Have you seen yourself a sinner--hopeless and helpless in yourself to save yourself? It is one thing to intellectually know sin, it is another to experientially know who you are in the eyes of God as a sinner.

4. Have you placed your trust in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross of Calvary alone for salvation? Have you now seen and realized the preciousness of His death on the cross? Do you find Him now as your only hope of salvation?

 If you can answer "Yes" to these questions then, blessed be God, you are the real one!

GOSPEL NUGGET # 85

Ro 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

All of us are sinners, *SPIRITUAL CRIMINALS* in God's eyes. If we can get that lodged in our cranium sooner, the better. It would then be easy to accept and realize that we can never save ourselves.

Our benevolent deeds, our reformation and whatever else we can do, can never do it. For the crimes we committed in the past are never erased by the good deeds we do in the present. Living a good life is never the payment for a heinous crime. And, mind you, every single sin we did was a heinous crime against God.

People are not saved and go to heaven because they do good. They go to heaven because they are pardoned. And that pardon can only come when we put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died in our place because of our crimes.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 84

1Jo 1:7 ...the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

An old man lay in his bed dying. He was paralyzed from the neck down. Thank God, for the first time in his life he became convicted of his sin.

So he called up his grandson and asked him to read the Bible for him. It so happened that the young boy opened the Bible in this portion of God's Word and read this verse: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

He could not believe what he heard. He asked the young boy: "What was it again?"

The young boy said: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

He still could not believe what he heard so he asked: "Are you sure it is there?"

The young boy said: "Yes, it is here. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

He closed his eyes and said: "That will do. That is enough." He continued: "Sonny, I have committed so many sins in my life. I could not recall back the time and reverse the whole thing. I am an old man. I am dying. I could not do mighty deeds and great exploits for God. It is too late.

I rest my hope for the forgiveness of my sins on the truth of that verse. When I reach the other side I will say to God: "Lord I am a sinner, all I did was sin against You. I don't deserve to enter heaven. But the blood of Jesus Christ Your Son cleanses me from all sin and I am resting all my hope on what He did."

GOSPEL NUGGET # 83

Ga 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree")

A young lad was walking leisurely in a park, unaware of the heist in a bank that took place across the road. Two men suddenly emerged out of the bank and opened fire at the police cars positioned nearby.

A volley of gunfire ensued, and bullets pierced the air mad. People scrambled to the nearest shelter they could find. The young lad swiftly darted behind a large tree. As the spray of bullets filled the air, a stray bullet addressed "to whom it may concern" lodged itself at the tree just at the height of his head.

Shaking and trembling, he clung to the tree for dear life until the hostilities had ceased. Then he stepped out and surveyed the tree. He saw the bullet hole and realized that if not for the tree, he would have been dead. With deep gratitude, he pulled out his pocket knife and carved on that tree: "God bless this tree. If not for this tree I would have died. This tree took the bullet that should have been for me."

My friend, there is nothing we can do that can stop the curse and the wrath of God from hitting us. But Jesus took it all on Him on Calvary's cross. Are you, by faith, hiding behind the tree of Calvary, behind the Man who took it all for you?

GOSPEL NUGGET # 82

Kissing The Door Of Heaven And Then Going To Hell
(Missing Heaven By 18 Inches!)

Mr 14:45 As soon as He had come, immediately he (Judas) went up to Him and said to Him, "Rabbi, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.

The Lord Jesus is the door of salvation, the door of heaven. He said: "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved." And so, when Judas kissed Jesus, he kissed the door of heaven. He was that close to heaven!

There are many people like that today. They profess the Lord Jesus with their lips. But they don't take Him seriously in their hearts. They call Him "Savior" but they don't trust in Him for salvation.

As they say, "they missed heaven by 18 inches." They have head knowledge about the Lord Jesus, that He died for sinners and rose again. But they don't trust Him in their hearts alone for salvation. Medical experts say that the distance between the head and the heart is 18 inches. Heaven was just a ruler and 6 inches away....and they missed it!

GOSPEL NUGGET # 81

Jesus' "Cross My Heart Hope To Die" Promise  

Joh 6:47 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

Joh 6:47 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

* An Assured Promise: "Most assuredly..."

* An Authoritative Pronouncement: "...I say to you..."

* An Agreeable Prerequisite: "...he who believes (trusts) in Me..."

* An Available Possession: "...has everlasting life."

"Has" simply means "You can get it now". You can possess eternal life now.

He "crossed" Himself by allowing Himself to be crucified and died to back this promise up. You can trust in it.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 80

"In Christ"

This is one of the most important terms in the New Testament. Christ is like a storehouse of God's blessings. All God's spiritual blessings are placed in this Storehouse. The key therefore for any sinner is to be IN CHRIST. In Christ, he is blessed. Out of Christ, he is cursed.

Here are some samples:

Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are IN CHRIST JESUS

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places IN CHRIST

And essentially important of all, redemption and forgiveness of sins are found IN CHRIST:

Eph 1:7 *IN HIM* we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins...

Salvation is not found in you (what you do and who you are). It is found IN CHRIST! The moment a sinner trusts in Christ, he is united by the Holy Spirit to Christ and therefore he partakes of God's blessings.

Christ died for all. But not all partake of God's blessings. Because only those who believe or trust in Christ will be IN CHRIST.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 79

Ga 2:16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law...

No man can be justified (declared righteous by God) by keeping the Ten Commandments. A sinner is justified by faith in Christ<--- This idea is repeated twice in this verse to emphasize and reinforce that very point.

It's like God saying: "I really, really want you to get this. And so I am repeating it."

Stop relying in your imperfect obedience to God's commandments. Rely on the perfect sacrifice of Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross for your salvation. His work, not your performance is the basis of salvation.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 78

Ps 69:4 Those who hate me without a cause Are more than the hairs of my head; They are mighty who would destroy me, Being my enemies wrongfully; Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it

This is nothing less than a picture of the experience of Christ when He was persecuted, made to suffer and then put to death on the cross. Notice:

"Those who hate me without a cause..."

The Jews hated Christ without reasonable cause. Even Pilate the governor could not find anything against Christ that He should be put to death but they all clamored to have him crucified (see Mat 27:23). Even Judas confessed that he "betrayed innocent blood" (see Mat. 27:4)

"Those who hate me without a cause Are more than the hairs of my head..."

"...the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus." (Matt. 27:20) There were so many that hated Him. Practically, it was the entire nation that hated Him. From its religious leaders down to the common Jew.

"They are mighty who would destroy me, Being my enemies wrongfully"

Mighty people, people in high positions sought to kill Him. Men like Herod, the chief priests and the elders conspired to kill Him. They could not find anything against Him, so they brought in false witnesses (see Mat. 26:59-60). He was their Friend and King but they went against Him. They were His enemies wrongfully.

"Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it"

He did not owe anything. He did not make any moral debt against God. He did no sin. But still He died and paid for it...for you and me. 

GOSPEL NUGGET # 77

Ro 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound...

Any devout Jew would be bowled over by this statement. It is simply shocking to him: "The Law entered that the offense might abound!"

"THE offense" here simply refers to the one offense of Adam (see verses 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the same chapter).

We naturally think that other people are bad and that we are not. We are different. We are good people. The Law entered so that it might become obvious to us that we are sinners. God commanded Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But he violated it. That was THE offense that caused man to fall into sin's slavery. And ever since that time, every single person in Adam's line, is born a sinner---sinners by birth and sinners by nature, slaves of sin.

How do you make someone realize that he is a slave of something? You give him a law that forbids it. And so God gave the law. The result? Did man perfectly obey it? Not one! Every single person born into this world is found to be an offender against the law. He just can't stop sinning!

Like father (Adam) like son. What was true of Adam our father, is true of us his children. We are found to be little Adams. We are exact replicas, we are offenders against God's will. The offense of the father is now multiplied in his sons and daughters making it very obvious that we are no better than daddy!

The Law can't save us. On the contrary, it only highlights our depravity. We need the Savior!

GOSPEL NUGGET # 76

Clothing Styles 

* Man In Guilt

Ge 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

* Man Under Grace

 Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness...

* Man In Glory

 Re 19:7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

How can a guilty sinner be clothed with the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness? By faith in Christ who has become a sin offering for sinners that sinners might become the righteousness of God in Him (see 2 Cor. 5:21)

GOSPEL NUGGET # 75

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame (sweet feelings and impressions) but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand—all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand!”

---Edward Mote (from the Hymn My Hope Is Built)

Faith is not looking within (our feelings and impressions and our own thoughts). It is not looking without (circumstances). It is looking at Christ.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 74

Eze 7:8 Now upon you I will soon pour out My fury, And spend My anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, And I will repay you for all your abominations.

9 'My eye will not spare, Nor will I have pity; I will repay you according to your ways, And your abominations will be in your midst. Then you shall know that I am the LORD who strikes.

God is a God of love. But He is also a God of wrath. His wrath is the result of His love outraged and provoked by sin. His love is a holy kind of love. A love that does not rejoice in iniquity.

Somebody might say: "You are scaring me with these verses!"

YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT! Repentance is taking God seriously, including His wrath. The problem with us today is that we do not take His wrath seriously that we do not do something radical about it.

Repentance begins here BUT IT DOES NOT END HERE. Ultimately, it matures into taking God seriously because He is God nothing more, nothing less and nothing else. Even without the threat of hell, genuine repentance will take God seriously. It will develop into hating and departing from sin because God is a Holy God. It will result in reverential fear towards God because God is God.

The Christian life is not the absence of fear, it is a life fearing the right things and the right person.

But you don't have to experience God's just and holy wrath. Somebody took all God's wrath for us sinners. He took it all and so now you are answerable to Him. If you will not change your attitude about Him, if you will not trust Him as your Savior, He who took God's wrath for you, will be the same person who will unleash His own wrath against you.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 73

2Th 2:14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How does God call a sinner? He calls him by the gospel. The Gospel is the good news that Christ died for the sins of sinners and that He rose again from the dead. Every single time you, as an unrepentant sinner, hear this good news of a message, God is calling you. If you have repented already, then God is reminding you of His love.

Tagged behind the Gospel is the Gospel command to "Believe or trust on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (see Acts 16:31).

You know, there will come a time in a man's life when he will hear the gospel for the last time. Hearing the Gospel is a privilege that God extends to sinners. It is no light and slight thing to hear the Gospel. He has called you through T.V., radio, literature, Facebook etc. but He will not call forever.

This could be the last time that you will hear of the Gospel call. Harden not your hearts.

Have you heeded the call?

GOSPEL NUGGET # 72

Ac 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Again this verse is used to prove that water baptism is essential to salvation. Despite 150 other verses that clearly teach that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. If you read the apostle Peter's other sermons in the book of Acts, you will notice that it is repentance or faith in Christ that is emphasized, no mention of water baptism.

In the very next chapter, Peter spoke:

Ac 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Again, in chapter 10:43, Peter again spoke:

Ac 10:43 "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

In Peter's own book, he wrote this:

1Pe 1:9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

If water baptism is essential to salvation, then he carelessly failed to mention it 3 different times!!! So it is clear that it is repentance or faith alone in Christ alone that Peter is emphasizing. Look at Acts 2:38 this way:

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, (and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ) for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

These guys must repent---change their attitude about Christ. They rejected Christ, they crucified Him, they took Him as an imposter but now they must change their attitude towards Him, God has raised Him from the dead, clearly He is the Savior and the Messiah of Israel, they must now trust in Him for salvation. After that, they must be baptized in His name.

The order: Trust in Christ first for salvation and forgiveness of sins and then be baptized in His name. Peter himself said this (after Cornelius and company trusted in Christ as manifested in their receiving of the Holy Spirit):

Ac 10:47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

GOSPEL NUGGET # 71

Mr 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Some use this verse to teach that water baptism is part of the equation of salvation. They say "believing in Christ + water baptism= salvation."

But at least *150* times in the Bible salvation is conditioned on faith. Anyone who trusts or places his faith in Christ will be saved. All one has to do with this verse is to continue reading the remainder of the verse to see the emphasis. Is it faith plus baptism or faith alone?

Notice: "He who *BELIEVES* and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not *BELIEVE* will be condemned."

Clearly, the emphasis is on believing or faith. An unbaptized believer is foreign to the New Testament. During the apostolic times, every single sinner who trusts in the Savior was immediately baptized. That was their custom. And that is why water baptism is closely tied with believing in the New Testament.

If water baptism is essential to salvation, then not a few will be disqualified. For what about the invalid who is confined to his bed who is not able to go under the water? What about those in prison, in solitary confinement, who got saved by reading by themselves the New Testament and found salvation by faith in Christ? What about those who have repented and trusted in Christ who are about to be executed?

Salvation is by faith alone so that anyone can be given opportunity to be saved. And anyone who truly trusts in Christ for salvation submits himself to the waters of baptism. Not to be saved, but because he is saved by faith alone in Christ alone.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 70

HEB 10:12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time...

Christ made a once for all time sacrifice for sins. On the cross, He made an eternally sufficient atonement for the sins of sinners. In other words, Christ died for past, present and future sins. His death on the cross was not only necessary for man's salvation. It was also enough for all time.

"This was the idea that came to me when I first came to know the salvation of Christ. I was driving my car and I was convicted of my sin. I was so downcast because I was so painfully aware of my helplessness and hopelessness in myself to be righteous in the eyes of God. In my own strength and efforts, I tried to be perfectly righteous in God's eyes, but I just could not. I was helpless and unable to do it.

Then an idea came to me out from the Bible (this verse) that Christ died for my sins PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

I thought, if Christ, died for my sins past, present and future then that means in God's eyes all my sins are atoned. And if all my sins are atoned, then in God's eyes I am now perfectly righteous not because of my own efforts but simply because of what Christ did on the cross! Positionally, He could not see any sin in me.

Isaiah wrote "...My righteous Servant shall justify (declare righteous) many, For He shall bear their iniquities." (Isaiah 53:11)

True in myself, in my own condition at the moment, I am not perfectly righteous. But positionally, in God's eyes, I am because of what Christ did once for all time."

---A man in Christ