The Promise of the Gospel Part 2

2)   Those who will call upon the Name of the Lord Must understand that they are inherently sinful

Sin is inherent in us. It is part of us from conception. We were all brought forth into the world as sinners and therefore, are by nature sinners (Psa. 51:5). Sin has corrupted our nature such that whatever 'good' thing we do does not and can never measure up to God’s requirement of righteousness. Sin came into the world through one man, Adam, and it spread to all men without exception in the same way death did (Rom. 5:12). If you want to prove that the infant you think to be innocent is actually a sinner, then give him just a little time to grow and you will be shocked. R.C. Sproul summarizes our corrupt nature in this most profound statement: “We are not sinners, because we sin. We sin because we are sinners.” It means that the abominable deeds we do are a testimony that we have a nature that has been inherently corrupted by sin ever since Adam and Eve fell (Psa.14:1-3). The one who commits abortion does so as a proof that she is a sinner. It means that the act of abortion is not what makes her a sinner. Rather, she does so because in the first place she is inherently a sinner. The wicked thoughts you harbor in your heart and mind is a testimony of our corrupt nature. It is no wonder the heart is described as deceitful and desperately wicked above all things, and that only the Lord―who searches the heart and tests the mind―knows its condition (Jer. 17:9-10). The detestable words you speak is a testimony of your innate sinful nature.   

The implications of your innately sinful nature

i.              You cannot do anything to earn God’s saving grace

The first implication of the fact that you are inherently sinful is that you cannot do anything to earn God’s saving grace. This is because there’s nothing that can flow out of you to please God; whether prayer or deeds. First, because of your corrupt nature, not even the prayer you present before God can earn you God’s saving grace (Prov. 15:8,29;28:9; John 9:31;Isa. 1:15). Secondly, there is no amount of deeds―that you consider to be righteous―you can present before God to earn His saving grace (Isa. 64:6-7).

ii.             Your salvation must come from outside of you.

Secondly, salvation is a work that is alien to you, the sinner. It must come from someone whose nature is not inherently sinful like you and whose prayer is a fragrance before God, the Man Jesus Christ, in whom God was well pleased (Matt. 3:17).  It is only Christ who knew no sin in all His life on earth even unto the cross (2 Cor. 5:21). We will come to this in depth later.  

iii.           If ever you will be saved, you must realize that do not deserve it.

Thirdly, nobody who has ever been saved in the history of redemption ever deserved it. They did not work for it. They only opened their [empty] hands to receive it freely from God as a gift (Rom. 3:24;Eph. 2:8). Again, we will look at this later in details.

The Promise of the Gospel Part 1

The promise of the gospel is that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom. 10:13). But before you call on that name there are a number of things you ought to know.

1)   Those will call upon the Name of the Lord Must Recognize the Seriousness of their Sins

The enormity and immensity of sin can best be understood from the point of view of the offended, not the offender. Sin is a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4) and this means that only God―who is the lawgiver―understands the gravity of sin. You may belittle the sin you have committed―say, insulting your neighbor or lying―but it is not so with God. His standard of righteousness is beyond ours and He will by no means lower it. He doesn’t think the way we do; neither are His ways ours. According to the righteous standard of the thrice holy God, when you say to your neighbor “you fool,” you are not just sinning against him but against God Himself who gave the law proscribing such things. Therefore, hell of fire is the place God made for both the one who calls his neighbor “you fool” as well as him who commits murder or lies alike (Matt. 5:22; Rev. 21:8). This means that every sin committed is serious in the eyes of God; whether in thought, speech or deeds. Human beings cannot fully grasp the extent and seriousness of sin before the eyes of a holy God. It is no wonder David asks this sobering question, “Who can understand his errors?” (Psa. 19:12). By committing sin, you are trampling on God’s commandment which is holy, just, and good (Rom. 7:12). Think of a woman who has been laboring all morning to mop her white-tiled floor only for you to walk in with muddy shoes. How do you think she would react? By doing so, you are despising her all-morning effort and trashing it. You also imply by your action that you spurn her white-tiled floor that cost her money to put up. So, it is with us when we transgress God’s commandments. By despising God’s holy law, you become His enemy. You prove that you are a rebel like the first human race, Adam and Eve, who wanted to be like God (Gen. 3:5). They showed that they didn’t want God’s leadership and authority. Therefore, because the human race has sinned, all are under God’s holy wrath; condemned for eternal punishment (Rom. 3:23; Eph2:3). This wrath eternally remains on those who have not believed in Christ Jesus, who is the only hope for salvation (John 3:36).