The Gospel

A Gospel Plea to the Unregenerate by Scott Bushey
puritan

In our age and culture, where does the idea of a ‘Heaven’ after death come from? If you refer to various blogs and posts on Facebook it would seem as if everyone believes in a Heaven. Just look at how many times you have seen a mention of a death. Generally the responses are things like: “I know you are up there in Heaven with the angels” or “He is in a better place”. If our understanding of eternity is based on our understanding that when men die they automatically go to heaven, what does this say about where this doctrine originates? If it is from the bible, then the bible says that not all who die go to heaven and that there is a Hell as well. It would be silly to believe all men go to heaven-consider Hitler! The scripture is clear that there is only one way to enter in. Do you believe that God uses a legal system of good vs bad, i.e. If your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, you deserve heaven in lieu of hell? Thats not gonna work! Why did Christ die then? if Christ had to be perfect and die in our places then why would you be led to believe it has anything to do with you? It can’t be your good deeds + Christ’s sacrifice= Heaven.

scale   +   cross  =  Heaven?

Well, you might say, ‘I believe in Christ and what He accomplished in His sacrifice’. Do you? What are the characteristics of a believer, biblically speaking? Is that all it takes, belief? Well, yes, thats all it takes; however, scriptures states that the demons ‘believe’ and they are not going to heaven. Faith is a gift of God; it is instrumental. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.The question to be answered is Christ Lord in your life? Do you serve Him? Do you worship Him? Is He your all? You may reply, Well, yes He is!’ Do you attend church and Worship? The scriptures warn us about not gathering together. Do you partake of the supper? The scriptures tell us that the Lord’s supper is the Word made real and tangible-when was the last time you partook? Do you love the saints of Christ and yearn to be with them? Do you speak of Christ daily, proving that He is your all? Do you feel grieved over sins that you commit daily? Do you confess your sins? These are the things that bear witness; God’s Spirit bearing witness with our own that we are really children of God. Faith is the gas that enables these things to occur; If you lack these things, it is quite possible that you remain in your sin and have no faith-at least the faith God’s word speaks of. Men can have faith in many things. This kind of faith is not spiritual faith-there is a difference and until you are born again, you cannot even understand this concept I present as you have nothing to compare it to other than what your Earthly mind reveals and God’s word tells us that our minds and hearts are deceitful.

You see, there’s this problem in your life……you are sinning without even knowing it (never mind the one’s you know of). I know, you’re not a bad person; you do plenty of good things; you help people, you give alms, you cry and forgive-yet, this virus remains. This is a problem. God looks upon you and see’s nothing more than this virus. There is but one inoculation. I would not suggest you pray a sinner’s prayer-many have done that and found themselves unchanged. I would not suggest going to church week after week; although this is a better place to be than in the yard cutting the grass or at the beach entertaining yourself. I would only suggest that you pray that God hears your request. That He would make you love Him dearly; that He would make you hate the things He hates. That He would give you love for His Holy bible. Love for His people.

That He would give you a spiritual assurance of reconciliation to Him because this virus has separated you from Him; The cross of Christ has bridged the gap for God’s elect. The blood that was spilt from Christ is the transfusion; the inoculation. I know, you are young-you want to have fun. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet forfeits his soul? Without Christ is without the inoculation. Pray incessantly! Seek and you will find. Pursue Him relentlessly. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back–whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ….for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”