A Gospel Invitation — E.A. Johnston

The Immortal Soul and Eternal Destiny

That all men have an immortal soul That is separate from the body is clearly seen in Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and verse 7 Which describes a day where death comes to all men. No man can escape death. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it.

The body goes into the ground to decay? The soul goes into eternity either into heaven To enjoy God forever in eternal bliss or the soul goes into hell To be forever damned in misery and in torments. Whether you believe in hell or not does not alter its existence.

And whether you believe in God or not does not alter his existence either friend. There are laws set in the universe and if you break these laws You will suffer the consequences. The law of gravity Exists whether you believe it or not.

But go walk over a cliff and you will soon be a believer as it plunges you down to your destruction. The fact that fire burns is a law and a reality Even if you don't believe it. But place your hand into a burning fire and you will soon feel the consequences of your actions.

Conscience and Universal Sin

That all men Have a conscience is a reality proclaimed in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 in verse 2 which states. Commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. Every man knows The difference between right and wrong and every man knows himself to be a sinner against God.

This was proved to the missionary Paris Reed head who went to Africa to witness to the natives. And he soon learned that the natives knew themselves to be sinners without ever hearing the gospel before their conscience within Condemned them when they murdered and fornicated and sacrificed idols.

God's Justice and the Necessity of Judgment

That if a man's own conscience Condemns him then that man must be aware that God must condemn him if he is a just judge. One cannot presume that God will forgive them because God is good. For his goodness might prevent his forgiving them.

Oh, would it be wise? For God to pardon a whole world of guilty sinners who had broken his law without Justice being carried out. If the law is broken in the land. Should not justice be carried out the guilty charged and punished for their crime.

Should not the sentencing of the law be carried out against all those who? transgress it. If God then is truly good and he hates all sin. We cannot infer from that that any sinners could be forgiven. But on the contrary we must infer that Impenitent sinners could not be forgiven.

Condemnation Under God's Holy Law

God requires perfection to get to his heaven. Yet all men stand guilty before him as lawbreakers through sin. Therefore men are condemned because of sin they stand Presently under the condemnation of a holy God and a righteous judge.

Who cannot lie and betray his own character of purity. And who is one who must? punish sin. All men have sinned for in Romans. We read. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Don't be deceived friend into believing.

God is so good that he won't be just that because of his goodness he will overlook your sin of transgressions against his law. The law of God is strict and severe. It's very strictness and severity Exists whether you believe it or not.

It is his measuring line of all mankind his litmus test to every soul. That one day is fast approaching of a common judgment. Where the righteous judge will sit on his throne of judgment and books will be opened.

Lies will be reviewed. Cases will be presented. Evidence will be examined in that heavenly courtroom scene Where God's Almighty Majesty is such that even the earth and sky flee from his presence. Every person will be examined and they will be held up against the strictness and Severity of God's holy law.

And if you stand there friend in your own merits You will fail that test. The only way you can pass that test is to stand there in the merits of another One who has never sinned. The Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ the Sinless Substitute

I know I am a sinner and I need a substitute for sin in the person of Jesus Christ. And so do you friend? So do you? Christ the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. The slain Lamb of God who was crucified for sin.

God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. That whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. But God is a just judge who won't condemn the righteous with the wicked.

Abraham's Appeal to the Just Judge

When Abraham Learned of the common destruction of Sodom He pleaded with the Almighty not to destroy the righteous along with the wicked. Because Abraham knew that God was a just judge who would do right.

In Genesis 1825 we see this very thing That be far from thee To do after this manner To slay the righteous with the wicked and that the righteous should be as the wicked. That be far from thee. Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?

The Holman Christian standard Bible Translation hits the nail right on the head in this passage as it reads. You could not possibly do such a thing To kill the righteous with the wicked. Treating the righteous and the wicked alike.

You could not possibly do that. Oh won't the judge of all the earth do what is just and that's exactly What God will do friend for he is a righteous and just judge who will do what is right? And if his strict laws broken by sin, then he has no choice But to carry out the sentencing of the law upon all guilty lawbreakers.

Repentance and Faith in Christ Alone

He will and no wise clear the guilty. Are you guilty before God friend? Does your conscience condemn you. Have you ever told a lie. Have you ever stolen. Have you ever committed fornication? Have you lusted after your friend's wife?

Have you coveted what others have. Have you committed adultery? Have you murdered in your heart? Does not your conscience condemn you and show you that you are condemned by God? Your only refuge is in the shelter of Jesus Christ.

You must flee to him and exercise repentance toward God and faith in Christ and get under his blood. There's only one way to heaven friend. Good people don't go to heaven only Forgiven people get to go there.

You must get under the blood. There's only one way to escape the penalty of sin required by the judge and That is to believe on his son. Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life. No, man cometh unto the father but by me.

Jesus Christ as the Way, Truth, and Life

Here Jesus answers the three deepest questions of the human heart. How can I be saved? Jesus says I am the way. How can I be sure? Jesus says I am the truth. How can I be satisfied? Jesus says I am the life and in John 6 35 Jesus declared I am the bread of life.

He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. Listen friend, but the gospel is for the hungry the weary. The thirsty are you hungry for God? Are you weary of your sins?

Christ's Invitation to the Hungry and Weary

Are you thirsty for Christ? He invites poor sinners to come to him and believe on him. And he has a pure gospel promise to all who come and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Come to Christ friend and throw down your weapons of rebellion.

Admit your guilt and deserve punishment for sin. Christ loved you enough that he hung naked on a public cross for your wretched sins. He paid the price with his own blood. To reconcile you back to God and he is the pearl of great price.

The Free Offer of Forgiveness

Worth selling off for and losing off for to gain him. Listen. There is no sinner too big to be forgiven. There is pardon for sin in the person of Jesus Christ and he invites you to come through these pleas of the gospel and the spirit and the bride say come and Let him that heareth say come and let him that is a thirst calm and Whosoever will but let him take the water of life freely.

Let us pray.