“There is power in this Gospel message. Most people just don't know how to present it... The clarity of the Gospel is what makes it easy for them to believe.” —Pastor Yankee Arnold, a quote from the excellent MP3 sermon titled, “WHY GRACE CAN SAVE THE WORST MAN!”
I am appalled by what I read in most so-called “Gospel” tracts these days.
It is nauseating! I have read tracts which don't even mention the elements
of the Gospel. There's no mention of the cross upon which Christ died for
our sins. There is no mention of His burial. Nor is there any mention of His
physical resurrection.
The Jehovah's Witness' religious cult teaches that Jesus raised up only in spirit, but not bodily. Yet, we are taught in 1st Corinthians 15:5-6 that Jesus “was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.” Jesus Christ was seen after He rose from the dead by at least several hundred witnesses. Thus, it is very important that we teach Christ's bodily resurrection!
So, the first thing that we ought to include in every Gospel tract are the three elements of the Gospel:
- Christ DIED on the cross for our sins.
- Christ was BURIED in a grave.
- Christ bodily RESURRECTED the third day.
Christ's “DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION” should always be mentioned in any Gospel tract. The Holy Bible plainly defines “the Gospel” for us, so there is no reason to guess, wonder or speculate: 1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
The “CROSS” upon which Christ DIED, should always be mentioned in any Gospel tract. The apostle Paul refers to preaching “the Gospel” as “the preaching of the cross” in 1st Corinthians 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” It wasn't sufficient for Christ to die by the sword, or by poisoning, or to be tossed into a bag of scorpions (a popular method of execution used by the Romans). No, Christ had to die on a cross, as prophesied in Psalms 22 and Isaiah 53. Crucifixion was the most widely used cruel method of execution by the Romans. We are provided vivid details from Biblical prophecy of Christ's crucifixion; such as, Christ's hands and feet would be pierced (Psalms 22:16), His bones would stare upon Him (Psalms 22:17), soldiers would cast lots for His garments (Psalms 22:18), He would greatly thirst (Psalms 22:15), et cetera. Here are 28 Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled on the day Christ was crucified. Christ couldn't simply die for our sins, He had to die on “the cross,” as had been foretold by the Word of God spoken by the prophets.
What must be included in a Gospel tract? So far we have Christ's DEATH on THE CROSS, His BURIAL and His bodily RESURRECTION. The only thing remaining is the truth that all men are SINNERS. No one ever got saved who didn't admit they are a SINNER. God only saves “THE UNGODLY.” Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Christ saves SINNERS! Luke 5:32, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” If a person is unwilling to acknowledge their guilty of sin in the sight of a holy God, they cannot be saved. Why would a man who is not a sinner need a Savior? Clearly, a man must know what he is being saved from?
Galatians 3:24-26 teaches that God's law (i.e., the Ten Commandments) were given to man as a measuring stick, by which when men compare themselves they fall short of God's glory. Thus, sinful men realize their desperate need for the precious Savior, Jesus Christ! Galatians 3:24-26, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Notice the plain teaching that the ungodly are justified BY FAITH, not by works.
The false prophet who teaches the heresy of “Lordship Salvation” speaks with a forked tongue. With one side of his tongue he teaches the truth that eternal life is a free gift which cannot be earned, but with the other side of his tongue he falsely teaches that God won't save a man unless he is willing to depart from sinful behavior and surrender control of his life to Christ. The latter is works! Surrendering control of one's life to Christ suggests a demand for works.
What if I were to hand you a birthday gift, but require you to surrender your will to me to receive it? That would be preposterous, wouldn't it? It wouldn't be a gift, would it? No, it would not. A gift is free, without any obligations or stipulations. You simply take it, free of charge. We are told repeatedly in the Scriptures that forgiveness of sins and eternal life are “gifts.” Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Notice in Verse 10 that believers are created in Christ Jesus “UNTO” good works, and not “BY” good works.
These are the bare minimum requirements that ought to appear in any Gospel tract. Christ's DEATH on THE CROSS should be mentioned. Also, His BURIAL and bodily RESURRECTION three days later should be mentioned. And the reader must be taught that he or she is a guilty SINNER in God's sight, because they have violated God's Commandments in the Holy Bible. Any person who admits they are a guilty sinner in God's sight, and receives Christ's sacrifice on the cross as full payment for their sins, believing that He was buried and physically resurrected three days later for their justification, is saved immediately and permanently. 1st Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”
Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. God will not save anyone who is trying to be saved, He will only save those who are trusting to be saved. Christ died, that's history; Christ died for me, that's salvation! And of course, you must believe that He was buried and raised up the third day. This is “the Gospel,” which means “Good News,” by which we are saved if we believe. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Do you believe?
I'm not talking about mere intellectual assent to some facts, I'm talking about personally making the Gospel your only hope for forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Remember, you don't have to “ask” Jesus to forgive your sins to save you. He has already promised “TO SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE.” 1st Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Forgiveness of sins is a free gift, that you simply receive THROUGH FAITH to have. It's that simple. The moment that you believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (i.e., the Gospel) you are forgiven and saved. Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Amen! I can determine whether you are saved or not simply by asking you a few questions.
- The first question I would ask you is: “Do you know for sure if you died right now that you would go to Heaven?”
- The second question would depend upon your first answer. If you don't know you're saved, I will ask: “Can I teach you from the Bible how to know for certain that you're saved.” If you say that you are sure you're saved, then I will ask you this question: “Is there anything that you could ever do to forfeit (lose) your salvation?”
- Again, my response would depend upon your answer. If you say that nothing you do could ever jeopardize your salvation, because it is wholly of Jesus Christ that you are saved, and not of yourself, then I would conclude that you are indeed a born again believer. But if you tell me that there is a way to lose your salvation, then I would kindly inform you that you have never been truly born again, because you do not understand the salvation of God, which is by faith alone in Christ without works.
- If you think there is anything you could ever say or do to lose your salvation, then you need to get saved my friend before it is too late. You are still in your sins and have never been born again by the Holy Spirit of God.
These are the basic requirements of a genuine Gospel tract, nothing more. My opinion is to keep a Gospel tract short and sweet. You should quote 1st Corinthians 15:1-4, which defines the Gospel. You should mention Romans 3:10, 3:23 or other Scriptures which teach that all men are sinners in God's sight. Romans 3:23-24, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Ah, but notice Verse 24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” That is so beautiful!!!
Redemption is found only in Christ
Jesus. My heart breaks when I hear interviews of George Harrison of The
Beatles, who boldly said that he wasn't afraid of dying because of his faith
in Hare Krishna (Hinduism), and not Jesus Christ. George is burning in Hell,
who found out in 2001 when he died that there is no salvation in any other
name, than that of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:10-12). Luke 24:25, “Then he said
unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have
spoken.” Only a fool is slow to believe God's Word. The King James Bible
is God's inspired and preserved Words for the English-speaking people today.
BELIEVE IT or be a fool! Life is short, Hell is hot, and eternity is a long
time!!! The choice is yours alone to make.
Beware of Embellished Gospel Tracts
To “embellish” means “to add” to something. Do you know what happens when you embellish the meaning of repentance and the Gospel? Tragically, you mislead the reader and they cannot be saved. Something as seemingly innocent as adding the requirement to “invite Christ to come in and take control of your life” turns a Gospel tract into a deadly religious tract. That is not the Gospel. Where does the Holy Bible teach that a person must “invite Christ into their life,” or “invite Christ to come in and take control of their life,” to be saved? It doesn't!!! Where does the Holy Bible teach that a person must “repent of your sins” or “turn from your sins” to be saved. It doesn't! To embellish the Gospel is a wicked sin. The Bible plainly pronounces a “A CURSE” upon anyone (whether man or angel) who teaches “another Gospel,” which is not another (Galatians 1:6-9). There is only one Gospel.
I cringe every time I pick up a Gospel tract and read everything except THE GOSPEL!!! I see theological garbage about “surrender your life to Christ” to be saved. I see junk like, “Ask Jesus into your heart” to be saved. Some tracts require making “a commitment” to serve God to be saved. None of these are “THE GOSPEL.” Please read, “What Is The Gospel?,” by Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) for an excellent exegesis of what the Gospel really is. The churches have been corrupted by Satan, who has crept all sorts of manmade doctrines into the pews. This is largely because of Satan's onslaught against the churches with corrupted Bible revisions, most of which are a direct consequence of Brooke Westcott's and Fenton Hort's 1881 work titled, “The New Testament In The Original Greek.” This damned writing is wholly based upon the corrupt Alexandrian, Egypt, manuscripts (or the Minority Texts). Our beloved King James Bible was translated from the trustworthy Textus Receptus (or the Majority Texts). Only a wicked pastor would use BOTH of these manuscripts, knowing that they are diametrically opposed one to another, clearly evidencing that they cannot both be God's pure, inspired, infallible, incorruptible, perfect and preserved Words. Someone is lying! I stand for the King James Bible ONLY!
Beware of Gospel tracts which quote from modern revisions of the Bible. Use ONLY the King James Bible!!!!!!!
Beware of any Gospel tract that embellishes the
Gospel, or the meaning of “repent.” The Bible defines “repentance” (Greek:
metanoia) as “a change of mind.” This is a change of mind unto
the Gospel itself, not a turning away from sinful ways. The modern English
dictionary gives the Catholic religious meaning of repentance, but this is
NOT the Biblical meaning. This has caused much confusion in the churches. An
English dictionary will tell you that “repentance” mean something along the
lines of, “to turn from sin; to feel remorse, do penance; to feel sorry for
one's past sins.” This is not the Greek meaning of the word “repent”
in the Bible.
The Object of Repentance is Always to Believe the Gospel
The object of repentance in the Bible is always TO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL (Mark 1:15). This is why we are taught to “BELIEVE” throughout the New Testament, oftentimes without any mention of repenting. This is because we are saved by believing, not by repenting. Albeit, a person could never believe without also repenting. Thus, repentance is an inherent part of believing. If a man didn't change his mind (i.e., think differently), then he would never believe the Gospel. The word “BELIEVE” is mentioned 241 times in the New Testament, whereas the word “REPENT” is mentioned only 60 times. In the Gospel of John, we find the words “believe” and “believed” mentioned 85 times, but the word “repent” is not mentioned even once. That speaks volumes! It simply tells us that the man who believes has also repented.
False prophets like John Piper, Ray Comfort,
Kirk Cameron, John MacArthur, David Cloud, Jack Chick, Billy Graham and
others, separate repentance into an action all its own, requiring people to
turn from their sins first, and then believe second to be saved. That is
heresy! We are saved by believing, period. Repentance is a change of mind
that compels a person to turn to the Savior through faith to be saved. Repentance only means “a change of mind.”
We do not know what that change of mind is, because God deliberately used an all-inclusive word, metanoia, to refer to anything and everything that hinders a man from believing the Gospel to be saved. So, yes, repentance could include changing one's mind toward one's pride, dead works, sins, and the Son of God Himself, so that they are compelled to believe the Gospel. But the word “metanoia” itself only and always means “a change of mind,” nothing else. God intentionally choose that word, as a catch-all concept. You must change your mind about whatever is keeping you from believing. The object of repentance is to BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, because of what He has done to redeem us!
Here are some key observations concerning Biblical repentance concerning salvation:
- “Repentance” in the Bible always means “a change of mind,” nothing more.
- We must not embellish (add to) the meaning of “repent.”
- The object of repentance is always to believe the Gospel to be saved (Mark 1:15, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel”).
- Therefore, whatever the change of mind is, it must be whatever has been hindering a man from believing in the first place.
- Repentance must regard things that keep us from believing, and not turning away from anything as a requirement to be saved.
- We are saved by believing, not by repenting. Repentance accompanies believing. They are inseparable.
Repentance means different things to different men. For the religious man, it means changing his mind from his dead religious works that cannot save him, and turning to the living God from his idols to be saved (Hebrews 6:1). For the non-religious man, repentance means changing his mind concerning his sinful ways that have hindered him from coming to the light to be saved (John 3:20). It doesn't mean that he is turning away from his sinful acts to be saved; but rather, he has judged himself as a needy sinner in the sight of God, and now sees his desperate need for the dear Savior, and so he believes the Gospel to be saved. Of what must a man repent to be saved? He must repent of anything and everything that has been hindering him from coming to the light of the glorious Gospel to be saved. But the object of repentance is ALWAYS, to believe the Gospel. The object of repentance is NEVER to turn away from sinful ways or anything, for that would constitute works.
For an excellent defense of “the simplicity that is in Christ,” please read the book by Michael P. Bowen: “I NEVER KNEW YOU: THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT AND HOW YOU CAN AVOID IT!” Tragically, 95% of what is being taught by pastors today in the churches is not the Gospel. Brother Bowen exposes many of these false teachers in his book. Amen and amen!
Here is one of the best quotes that I've found on repentance, by Dr. Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951):
“Which comes first, repentance or faith? In Scripture we read, 'Repent ye, and believe the gospel.' Yet we find true believers exhorted to 'repent, and do the first works.' So intimately are the two related that you cannot have one without the other. The man who believes God repents; the repentant soul puts his trust in the Lord when the Gospel is revealed to him. Theologians may wrangle over this, but the fact is, no man repents until the Holy Spirit produces repentance in his soul through the truth. No man believes the Gospel and rests in it for his own salvation until he has judged himself as a needy sinner before God. And this is repentance.” (Except Ye Repent, p. 16; emphasis added)
For an excellent Biblical exegesis on the
subject of repentance, from which the preceding quote was taken, please read
Dr. Harry Ironside's awesome book titled, “EXCEPT
YE REPENT.” Here's
a .pdf version
also. I recommend reading this well-written book. Pastor Ironside was
one of few Biblical scholars who understood Biblical repentance and taught
it properly.
Christ's Triumphant Resurrection
Most unsaved heathens believe that a great man named Jesus once lived and died, but they don't believe that Jesus raised up miraculously from the dead three days later. 1st Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” To be valid, the Gospel must include Jesus' bodily resurrection from the dead. Christ died as our sacrificial LAMB (John 1:29), and He raised up as our HIGH PRIEST (Hebrews 4:14-16; Romans 8:34). If Christ died, then we have a sacrifice, but no High Priest. Christ had to rise triumphantly!!! The significance of Jesus' burial is that it officiated His death. No one could come back later and allege that Christ's death was staged, and He didn't really die. The broken and lifeless body of the Lord Jesus taken down from the cross, and embalmed according to Jewish custom, by Nebuchadnezzar and Joseph of Arimathaea. Christ was buried by being wrapped in linen and placed into a new tomb cut into the rock. Jesus was buried and the tomb sealed. He was officially dead.
The wicked Pharisees asked Pilate to seal Christ's tomb and place armed guarded outside to prevent Jesus' disciples from stealing His body and claiming a miracle resurrection. Little did they know that the best thing they could have done was leave the tomb unsealed and unguarded. By taking measures to ensure that Christ's body wasn't stolen, they actually documented and verified the miracle when it happened, removing any doubt whatsoever that Christ did in fact resurrect from the dead and leave the tomb. Bless God, the tomb wasn't opened to let Jesus out, but to let the world see that Christ has risen! Mark 16:4, “And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.” Jesus Christ is risen!!! Muhammad tomb is still occupied. Zoroaster's tomb is still occupied. Buddha's tomb is still occupied. Ah, but Jesus' tomb is empty, for HE IS RISEN!!!
I have cringed while reading umpteen religious
tracts that fail to mention Christ's bodily resurrection. What a waste of
God's money! If you or your church are going to spend money and time to
publish Gospel tracts, then good night in the morning, by all means please
INCLUDE THE GOSPEL!!!
What About the Blood, Virgin Birth, Christ's Sinlessness, Deity, Et Cetera?
Christ's BLOOD had to be shed on the cross. It wasn't “spilt” as some religious tracts claim, implying an accident. Jesus had to bodily ascend into Heaven with that liquid blood and sprinkle it upon the heavenly Mercy Seat, in the Holy Place, in the Tabernacle, in the presence of God the Father (Hebrews 9:12, 22-24; 12:24).
Jesus warned Mary Magdalene not to “touch” Him, lest she contaminate the blood sacrifice. John 20:17, “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” The modern Alexandrian Bible revisions butcher this Scripture, actually telling Mary not to hold onto Jesus, because He must go to the Father. This makes no sense at all. Why would Jesus tell Mary to let Him go, like He is in a hurry and must leave immediately? That is not what the King James Bible says. Jesus warned Mary not to touch Him at all, because He had not yet appeared before the Father. You can see here how the modern Bible revisions are doctrinally corrupt. Please, please, only use the trustworthy KING JAMES BIBLE!!!
It is certainly appropriate to mention THE
BLOOD in a Gospel tract; however, it is not essential. Likewise, it is not
mandatory to mention the virgin birth, Christ's sinless life, vicarious
death or deity to be saved. You don't have to become a theologian to be
saved. I encourage mentioning the “BLOOD” in any Gospel tract, because the
Holy Bible says in Revelation 1:5, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the
kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood.” We are saved by the precious
blood of Jesus (1st Peter 1:18-19). We live the Christian life in the power
of the Lord's blood. The saints overcame Satan, “BY THE BLOOD OF THE
LAMB” (Revelation 12:11). Yet, the Gospel is defined in 1st Corinthians
15:1-5 as Christ's DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION.
The Simplicity That is in Christ
2nd Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” This is such a powerful Scripture. The apostle Paul says that just as the serpent (Satan according to Revelation 20:2) deceived Eve, so also does Satan corrupt people's minds from how simple it is to be saved. Biblically, an admitted sinner is saved simply by BELIEVING THE GOSPEL. Paul wrote to the professed believers at Galatia and said he just wanted to know one thing... How did they become indwelt with the Holy Spirit (i.e., how did they get saved)? Galatians 3:2, “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” I love that... “THE HEARING OF FAITH.” In other words, when you hear the Gospel preached, you simply place your faith in it and are saved.
The apostle Peter preached the Gospel to several thousand people on the Day of Pentecost. This event happened fifty days after Jesus raised up from the dead, hence the term, “Pentecost.” As Peter preached, 3000 people gladly received the Gospel message and were saved. They simply BELIEVED and were saved. Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Those who received Christ were afterwards water baptized to make a public profession of their faith. Baptism is not required for salvation, just as a ring is not required to be married. It is symbolic of a greater inner meaning. Water baptism is a snapshot outwardly of what has happened inwardly—faith in Christ's death, burial and resurrection. The important truth to glean from this is that those 3000 people were saved on Pentecost simply by BELIEVING the Gospel. They were saved by the hearing of faith, that is, placing their faith in the Gospel they heard.
We see this truth beared out again in Hebrews 4:2 concerning Moses preaching the Gospel in the Wilderness. Hebrews 4:2, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them [the Jews wandering in the Wilderness]: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” We are saved by placing our trust in the Gospel. Carefully notice that the Bible doesn't mentioned “make Jesus Lord” in any of these passages. Nor do we read that they were told to “repent of their sins, surrender their life to Christ, nor invite Christ to come in and take control of their life. These are unbiblical teachings which have crept into the churches today, corrupting “the simplicity that is in Christ.”
Please heed my warning friend, for I care for your soul. We are saved by GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, and not by any self-righteousness of our self. Romans 10:3-4, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
God's plan of salvation is very simple—You are a sinner! You are a sinner by nature and by choice. We are all woeful sinners in God's sight. Romans 3:10-11, “There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Repentance is judging one's self as a needy sinner in the sight of a holy God. There is a payment for your sins. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” We all deserve to be punished in the fires of Hell because of our own sins. No one is righteous in God's eyes. James 2:10 says that even if you keep the whole law, yet break just one Commandment, you might as well be guilty of breaking them all, because even one sin is enough to send you to Hell forever. We are all guilty of committing a big crime, even if we've just committed a little crime in our own eyes. Jesus said that a man who lusts is already guilty of committing adultery (Matthew 5:28). God is so perfect and holy that he cannot let even the least sinful person into Heaven. Romans 6:23a, “For the wages of sin is death...” Sinners cannot inherent the Kingdom of God. We all must be born again! We need a Savior!!!
The Good News (i.e., “the Gospel”) is that, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” What an awesome God! Micah 7:18a, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity...” Ladies and gentleman, we have a wondrous God Who loves to pardon iniquity and sins. The Lord has made provision for that forgiveness through the sacrifice of His dear only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. If you'll admit that you are a guilty sinner in God's sight for breaking His Commandments in the Holy Bible, and receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as your sin payment, believing that He has risen from the dead, YOU ARE SAVED!
Simply receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins, believing that He was buried and three days later bodily resurrected from the dead as the Scriptures teach. This is all that is necessary to become a born again believer. This is all God expects of you to become a member of His heavenly family. If you by faith acknowledge your sinnership in God's eyes, and you receive Christ's payment on the cross for your sins, believing that He is the risen Christ, you will be immediately and permanently saved eternally. God will not save anyone who is trying to be saved, He will only save those who are trusting to be saved. Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith.
I love the following statement made by Pastor Yankee Arnold concerning the importance of clarifying the Gospel...
“There is power in this Gospel message. Most people just don't know how to present it... The clarity of the Gospel is what makes it easy for them to believe.” —Pastor Yankee Arnold, a quote from the excellent MP3 sermon titled, “WHY GRACE CAN SAVE THE WORST MAN!”
The sure way to get people saved is to clarify the simplicity that is in Christ. Most so-called Gospel tracts are so embellished and confusing that no one could ever get saved while reading it. When Peter preached the Gospel, 3000 people were saved while he was preaching, because they believed the truth of the Gospel. If Peter had been confusing in his delivery of the truth, no one would have been saved.
Kindly, have you ever watched Evangelist Ray Comfort street preaching? He never gets anybody saved! I've never heard him claim any converts, not a single one! How can he, when he adds turning away from sinful behavior as a requirement to be saved? Who can turn from all there sins? That's right, no one! I've never heard David W. Cloud announce that he led dozens of people to the Lord. I've never heard John MacArthur have a soul-winning rally and lead hundreds of souls to Christ. Neo-evangelicals never build anything, they just steal ministry's from fundamentalists and run them into the ground. Lordship Salvation cannot produce the new birth. Poorly written Gospel tracts cannot produce the new birth. Embellishing the Gospel corrupts the Gospel and cannot produce the new birth. It is critically important that we clarify the Gospel, and not add to it, nor subtract from it, lest people go to Hell in their sins.
In closing, 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 defines “the Gospel” as Christ's death on the cross for our sins, His burial, and His bodily resurrection. When someone says to “trust Jesus,” but fail to mention Christ's death, burial and resurrection, they are teaching a false Gospel. When someone says to “invite Christ into your life,” they are teaching a false Gospel. When someone tells you how to go to Heaven, but they leave out the cross upon which Christ died, they are espousing a satanic plan of salvation (which brings damnation). The cross must be included. A cross-less Gospel is another Gospel!
The Bible often speaks of “believing” to be saved, but does not mention repentance. Likewise, I do not believe it is necessary to exegete the meaning of repentance when we witness to someone. If they realize and admit that they are a sinner in God's eyes, that's all they need to know to be saved. A person is saved by believing, not by repenting. Repentance takes care of itself, being an inherent part of salvation. Certainly repentance and faith are not the same thing. They are inseparable in salvation. Repentance is a work of God in the soul. Again, for an excellent exegesis of the meaning and nature of repentance, please read, “EXCEPT YE REPENT,” by Dr. Harry Ironside (1876-1951). Thank God for such trustworthy writings from the past in these times of woeful doctrinal corruption and apostasy in the churches today!
I beseech you to check your church's tract table. See what your church is passing out to people! You can trust tracts from the Sword of the Lord. Particularly, tracts written by Dr. Curtis Hutson are my favorite. Make sure friend that the literature you are passing out to people is genuinely a “Gospel tract.” This eliminates “Operation Somebody Cares” and Chick Tracts! Beware of Macedonia Gospel Publications International. Remember, you are responsible to God for any literature that you distribute to others! You might hand someone a corrupt tract that falsely leads them to think they're going to Heaven because they prayed a prayer, turned from their sins, asked Jesus into their heart, surrendered their life to follow Jesus, or invited Christ to come in and take control of their life. Yet, none of these are the Gospel. You may do all those things are still not be born again, dying in your sins, and going straight to Hell. You must be born again! The new birth can only happen if you correctly present the Gospel in clarity, so that a person understands they are a needy sinner in God's sight, and that they can only be saved by trusting Christ alone, because He died on the cross for their sins, was buried, and bodily raised up three days later. This is the Gospel by which people are saved if they BELIEVE!
