The Don’t-Tell Aspect of the Gospel
Rod Smith
December 15, 2006
It’s that part of the salvation message which (generally speaking) has been put into the “don’t tell” basket. The chances of hearing about the wrath of God at the local Christian assembly are as unlikely as July snow in LA .
Mostly, what is heard now is tasty as ice cream, sublime as a strawberry milkshake, and sweet as sugar in your coffee. That’s the candy-coated church message in Australia - and most likely in the US also. “Let’s not upset anyone” is the catchcry for our politically-correct society.
On the Sunday morning menu is the love of Jesus, joy, peace, God has a wonderful plan for your life. All feel-good, all true, but it’s only half of the full salvation message. For dessert, some preachers say that following Jesus will make you rich. It’s a good way to fill churches.
The audience – read congregation – is not being granted any favours with that kind of presentation. What a shock folks will get when they eventually find Jesus is not as charitable as they’d been told, and that God is a God of wrath and justice as well as love.
Some of Jesus’ statements make unpleasant reading, but Bible truth does not change. Neither does human nature, still the same after 2100 years.
In John 3:36 – in the New Testament - Jesus says: “He that believes on the Son [Himself] has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.”
So it’s clear that God will deal severely with those who scoff at, reject, ignore, or do not believe, what Jesus did for them on the cross.
Those “negatives” are missing from many tracts handed out today. Also, the whole truth is not being told in church before the invitation comes to “open your heart to Jesus.” Thank God for those who do highlight the warning of John 3:36. When people do not hear it, they surely think the Saviour can be waved away like a waiter at a party, with no consequence.
Many do not know there is a lake of fire waiting. They are not told. Again, the following verse is rarely preached - and if anything will upset anyone, it’s this. In Revelation 20:15, at the end of the Bible, we find: “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” This is a scripture which many pastors and ministers are careful to avoid. Yet it is Bible truth.
Church leaders: it’s time to think deeply about what you are saying to the people. The unpalatable has to be presented along with the gospel goodies. Trial and tribulation for believers is in the New Testament also (Acts 14:22) and Christians must be taught to expect those trials.
Having heard the whole truth, a wise person will put their trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, despite the aforesaid prediction of trial and tribulation. He shed His blood and endured great agony to save your soul. He wasn’t fooling on that cross. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7) Jesus has accomplished it for everyone, but is waiting for each of us individually to respond.
How can a person be defeated who rises from the dead? There are Bible witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 10:39-41). He is supernatural. Dear reader, now you’ve heard the bad news as well as the good. Can you play Russian roulette with your eternal destiny? Jesus has your future in His hands. Turn to Him today in repentance, trust and faith. Faith will be rewarded, have no doubt.
Mostly, what is heard now is tasty as ice cream, sublime as a strawberry milkshake, and sweet as sugar in your coffee. That’s the candy-coated church message in Australia - and most likely in the US also. “Let’s not upset anyone” is the catchcry for our politically-correct society.
On the Sunday morning menu is the love of Jesus, joy, peace, God has a wonderful plan for your life. All feel-good, all true, but it’s only half of the full salvation message. For dessert, some preachers say that following Jesus will make you rich. It’s a good way to fill churches.
The audience – read congregation – is not being granted any favours with that kind of presentation. What a shock folks will get when they eventually find Jesus is not as charitable as they’d been told, and that God is a God of wrath and justice as well as love.
Some of Jesus’ statements make unpleasant reading, but Bible truth does not change. Neither does human nature, still the same after 2100 years.
In John 3:36 – in the New Testament - Jesus says: “He that believes on the Son [Himself] has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.”
So it’s clear that God will deal severely with those who scoff at, reject, ignore, or do not believe, what Jesus did for them on the cross.
Those “negatives” are missing from many tracts handed out today. Also, the whole truth is not being told in church before the invitation comes to “open your heart to Jesus.” Thank God for those who do highlight the warning of John 3:36. When people do not hear it, they surely think the Saviour can be waved away like a waiter at a party, with no consequence.
Many do not know there is a lake of fire waiting. They are not told. Again, the following verse is rarely preached - and if anything will upset anyone, it’s this. In Revelation 20:15, at the end of the Bible, we find: “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” This is a scripture which many pastors and ministers are careful to avoid. Yet it is Bible truth.
Church leaders: it’s time to think deeply about what you are saying to the people. The unpalatable has to be presented along with the gospel goodies. Trial and tribulation for believers is in the New Testament also (Acts 14:22) and Christians must be taught to expect those trials.
Having heard the whole truth, a wise person will put their trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, despite the aforesaid prediction of trial and tribulation. He shed His blood and endured great agony to save your soul. He wasn’t fooling on that cross. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7) Jesus has accomplished it for everyone, but is waiting for each of us individually to respond.
How can a person be defeated who rises from the dead? There are Bible witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 10:39-41). He is supernatural. Dear reader, now you’ve heard the bad news as well as the good. Can you play Russian roulette with your eternal destiny? Jesus has your future in His hands. Turn to Him today in repentance, trust and faith. Faith will be rewarded, have no doubt.
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