Dramatic Verbal Presentation

Three years ago I was compelled to begin memorizing the Gospel According to John. When I began I did not know the reason why. Continuously reciting these passages has drawn me closer to my Lord, this is certain, but why was I compelled to memorize this gospel?

Around this same period of time I was compelled to do something else as well. I began preaching the gospel in open-air. I have watched and listened to men who preach in open-air, some do well and some very badly. Some preach the gospel and some simply preach against men and never actually preach the gospel. As I have done this I have always been compelled to use the scriptures in my preaching. I have written a few articles about this. We are not the witnesses of Jesus Christ, His apostles are, and they have left us with their witness in written form.

I see now what I am to do. I am to combine these two compulsions of memorizing the Gospel According to John and preaching in open-air. I have done this in the past in part but not in full. My preaching is always peppered with what I have memorized, but has not been the primary until now. I am to present the gospel of Jesus Christ as given through the written word of His apostle John in dramatic verbal presentation, and can do this because I will be speaking from memory rather than reading aloud.

I know and understand that the sheep hear the voice of Jesus, all that the Father gives Him will come to Him. But in order for them to hear, someone must tell them, and if the Lord gives them ears to listen His sheep will come to Him. The Gospel According to John done in dramatic presentation in open-air affords the opportunity for His sheep to hear. Then after presenting the Gospel, I then have the opportunity to give and explain the command of God to repent and believe in the gospel.

Lord willing I plan to do this on the campus of Tyler Junior College one day every week through the fall semester in the free speech zone at the college. There are a total of 16 weeks in the semester with the first week being August 25-29 and the last week being December 8-12. I plan to spread this presentation out over the 16 weeks of the semester. The gospel according to John has 21 total chapters with 879 total verses. Most weeks I will be proclaiming a single chapter, but some weeks, when there are shorter chapters, I will be proclaiming two chapters. Glory to God!

The Two English Words Repent and Gospel Defined

Jesus began His ministry in Galilee preaching the gospel of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark.1.15).   I would like to take the time today to explain those two words; repent and gospel.  There is so much misunderstanding as to what those two words actually mean.

The word gospel is derived from two Old English words; gõd and spel, translated into English from the Greek word euaggelion; which means good news.  This is the good news concerning Jesus.  He is the Christ, a descendent of David according to the flesh, declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.  He performed many mighty miracles before men, demonstrating that He came from God.  He promised eternal life to everyone who entrust themselves to Him alone by faith.  He was then crucified, dead and buried, and then on the third day He arose from the grave defeating death.  After His resurrection He first appeared to the women, then to two men on the road to Emmaus (a village outside of Jerusalem), then to Peter, and then to His other disciples.  His disciples witnessed His ascension into Heaven and were told by two angles that He would return in the same way in which they saw Him go into Heaven.  Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God the Father as the mediator between God and man, making intercession on behalf of His sheep; which is everyone who comes to God through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Therefore, repent!  The word repent is derived from the Old French word repentir, translated into English from the Greek word metanoeo; which means to change one’s mind.  This is a total change of mind; it is to have a new nature, to think differently.  Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is bon again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3.3).  Change your mind towards the way you that see God, towards the way that you see your sin, towards the way that you see yourself, towards the way that you see your neighbor, and trust in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior.  “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark.1.15)

My thoughts on Robin Williams

I have refrained up to now from saying anything with regards to Robin Williams death. The reason, I don't know him. I've enjoyed several of his parts in movies, he has been a source of laughter at times, and I've always thought his face was pleasant; but I don't know him. Therefore, how am I to cast judgment against him as many of you have. The judgement that I speak of is not in saying that something is right or wrong, we are to make these kinds of judgments, but in condemning someone to hell. In this there is but One Law Giver and Judge.

I know that whoever is trusting in Christ alone all his sins past, present, and future have been paid in full. The Christian does not enter into heaven based on his merit but Christ's alone. The Christian is born again with a new nature but remains in his sinful flesh until glorified. I myself battle depression from time-to-time.

So can a Christian commit suicide? I give the answer that many theologians have given, I don't know. Martin Luther said, "I don't have the opinion that suicides are certainly to be damned. My reason is that they do not wish to kill themselves but are overcome by the power of the devil." Luther goes on, however, to express concern that this statement not be misunderstood or misused in a way that would downplay the danger and seriousness of this sin in the minds of people (Luther's Works, American Edition, Vol. 54, p. 29).

Repent and believe in the gospel

Faith, Where Does it Come From?

Faith, where does it come from? How can a man who does not believe suddenly believe? People don’t have faith then suddenly believe, how and why? If you don’t have something, how can you then have it unless it was given to you? Is faith something that can be earned, why would you then work for what you do not believe? If you then work for it, isn’t it then because you believe that you work? So then where does faith come from if we neither have it nor can work for it?

Faith is of the Lord! Faith is solely a gift from God! Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.” God declares unrighteous men righteous, and does so as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. God displayed Him publicly as a merciful atoning sacrifice for all the believing in Him. So, if you are trusting in Jesus God has declared you righteous, and can do so because Jesus lived righteously and willingly died in place of all the believing in Him.

Therefore, if you believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior you are right with God. You cannot be more right or less right than you are today. There is nothing that you can do to add to or take away from the finished work of the Son of God, Jesus the Christ.



References:
Ephesians 2:8-10
John 6:47-48
Romans 3:21-26

What Is Gospel

Many things are called the gospel, but what really is the gospel? The word gospel is a Middle English word derived from the Old English god spell. It is translated from Greek euaggelion, which means good news. Therefore, the gospel is news, it is a report of events that actually occurred and these reportable events about Jesus are good.

Here is a summary of the good news concerning Jesus. He is the Christ, a descendent of David according to the flesh, declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, He lived a righteous life, He did many mighty miracles, and promised eternal life to everyone who believes in Him. He was crucified, dead and buried; then on the third day arose from the grave. After His resurrection He first appeared to the women, then to two men on the road to Emmaus, then to Peter, and then to the other disciples. His disciples witnessed His ascension into heaven, and were told by angles that He will return in the same way that they saw Him go into heaven.




In Christ alone,
A slave of Jesus Christ

References: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts 1:1-11.