Man's Repentance Toward God — E.A. Johnston

Doctrines of the Gospel and Spiritual Awakening

We are in a series of doctrinal messages friends on the great doctrines of the gospel doctrines that God has been pleased in former times to bless with spiritual awakenings and holy ghost Revival. Oh that we could what could dust off these old doctrines today friends and preach them again with power.

Repentance as Essential to Salvation

In our preceding two messages. We looked at man's rune through sin and man's redemption in Christ. Today, we will look at a much-forgotten doctrine and that is the doctrine of repentance. I fear the watered-down gospel of our day that has omitted repentance as a Necessary part of salvation has damned its millions.

Jesus' Warning and the Preacher's Duty

Jesus said Except you repent You shall all likewise perish and that means you Brother preacher if you don't believe you need to repent to be saved. We must preach the full Counsel of God and inform man of his duty of repentance and a common judgment that awaits all mankind.

Warning Sinners Without Seeking Popularity

I'm gonna be honest with you friends I know a good number of preachers who preach to be accepted by their hearers. Their self-esteem is tied to the reception by their hearers. So they preach to be accepted in men and that's a dangerous thing friends because my Bible declares in Ezekiel When I say unto the wicked thou shalt surely die and thou givest him not warning.

Nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life. The same wicked man shall die in his iniquity. But his blood will I require it thine hand. Well, let me tell you friends there are some preachers out there with some bloody hands.

R.G. Lee's Failure to Preach the Gospel

I want to share a story with you about the famous Southern Baptist preacher RG Lee. There was a member in dr. Lee's congregation an attorney who had to be out of town on business. Frequently, but no matter where this lawyer went.

He made sure to catch a train back to Memphis on Saturday night. So he could listen to RG Lee preach on Sunday morning. He just loved to hear that man preach. Well, this lawyer got cancer and he was in the hospital dying and he called for his pastor to come to his bedside.

Dr. Lee entered the hospital room whose window overlooked the Mississippi River. The lawyer told RG Lee I want you to know how much I've enjoyed you preaching through the years and I never missed a Sunday if I could help it.

Preaching the Cross and the Blood

I lie here now and I'm dying. With only a few weeks left to live and I want to reprimand you sir for Never telling me how to be saved. You never preached the cross to where I could see it. You never put the blood out there to where I could reach it.

I'm a dying and I will dine my sins and I Chastise you sir for your lack of preaching the true gospel. Well RG Lee left that man's hospital room With his head down Feeling berated and guilty as charged.

He was now dark outside as he made his way down the banks of the Mississippi River. There he got down on his knees in the mud. Getting his white suit pants dirty in the process and while he dipped his hands in the muddy River He reflected on what he thought about what that dying man had told him and as he knelt there Right there and then he promised God from that point forward.

He would preach the cross and the blood and he changed his message that night. And in three weeks time there was a move of grace in his church that shook three blocks of downtown Memphis with revival.

Repentance Toward God and Faith in Christ

Do you want to see God move in your ministry friend? Then change your message to be the full counsel of God and Warn men and women and boys and girls that unless they repent They will surely die in their sins and be sent to a devil's hell.

Acts 20 21 Tells you how to be saved in order to go to heaven. You must exercise repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. The very first sermon Jesus preached was on repentance. The last word to his churches in Revelation was to repent.

The Cost of Popularity in Ministry

I Know why pastors don't preach up man's duty of repentance today. It's because They feel that in order to be a success in ministry they need to grow a big church and the only way to do that quickly is to preach soothing and Entertaining messages that make people feel good about themselves.

But if a man of God were to warn sinners of their great danger of being sent to hell When they die and that is their final destiny if they do not repent. Then you're gonna risk upsetting a lot of folks you're gonna upset people in your congregation.

I guess we have to ask ourselves is a big church and acceptance and popularity. More important than the souls of men. I think there's a good man in our pulpits today. Who'd be better off if they did what old RG Lee did and go visit their local river and dip their bloody hands In that water for a sound washing and then make a vow to the Almighty that from that point on Come hell or high water.

Preaching Sin, Hell, and Repentance

They're gonna preach up the cross. They're gonna preach that sin is black and hell is hot and they're gonna put the blood out there. So man can reach it and warn men of their duty of repentance. I really believe if more pulpits today Started to preach the doctrine of repentance.

We just might see a move of grace in this land Once more that would shake this country from coast to coast in a mighty revival friend if you've never Exercised repentance toward God yourself and faith in Jesus Christ.

The Final Call to Repentance

You better settle it with God today friend. For if you die in your sins, you will make your bed and hell tonight. Let us pray.