Tonight, we are going to begin a series of messages designed to help us become better witnesses for Christ. I know that I need to improve my witness for Christ, and you probably do too. One reason we do not witness is because we do not know what to say.

The night the Philippian Jailer got saved, he asked (Acts 16:30)  … Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31)  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Paul’s answer was more thorough than it may first appear. He spake unto him the word of the Lord (32). They explained the Gospel message.

That is where we will begin for if we do not understand the Gospel message, we will not be effective witnesses for the Lord.

Transition

This evening, I want to identify seven key ingredients of the Gospel message that we must be sure to include in our witness.

God loves us, but He is also holy.

  1. God wants all people to have eternal life with Him.
    John 3:16  —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.
  2. However, God is holy and cannot overlook sin.
    Romans 1:18 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
  3. Every person will give account to God, his Creator.
    Hebrews 9:27 – And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Every one of us is a sinner

  1. Sin is anything that is less than holy.
    Ecclesiastes 7:20 – For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
    Romans 3:10 – As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
    Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
  2. The Ten Commandments reveal our sin.
    Exodus 20:3 – Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Gods can include sports, work, pleasure, and possessions)
    Exodus 20:7 – Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (One swear word makes you guilty).
    Exodus 20:12 – Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (One act of disobedience makes you guilty).
    Exodus 20:14 – Thou shalt not commit adultery. Matthew 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (One lustful thought makes you guilty).
    Exodus 20:16 – Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Just one lie and you are guilty).

To be just, God must punish sinners

  1. If God did not punish sinners, he would be unjust.
  2. Sin’s punishment is eternal separation from God in hell.
    Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    2 Thessalonians 1:8 – In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

We cannot fix our sin problem

  1. Being good can prevent sin but not erase sin.
    Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
    Titus 3:5 – Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
  2. Being religious does not assure us of heaven.
    Matthew 7:21-23 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (They did not deal with their iniquity, sin).

Christ died and rose again to pay for our sins.

  1. Christ, God the Son, became a sinless man so He could pay for our sins.
    Romans 5:8-9 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9)  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
    2 Corinthians 5:21 – For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
  2. Christ’s death and resurrection paid our complete debt and purchased our eternal life.
    1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
    Romans 4:25 – Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
  3. Only Jesus, the eternal God, could pay the eternal debt of the entire human race.

We must repent and be converted

Luke 13:3 – I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Acts 3:19 – Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

  1. Repentance is a change of mind about our sin and the way to heaven.
    1. A repentant sinner will without hesitation admit that he is a guilty rotten sinner heading for hell.
    2. A repentant sinner will clearly admit that he cannot do anything to save himself.
      ²  No individual will cast himself upon Christ in a saving way unless he first is convinced that he is a lost sinner with no hope apart from Christ. David Cloud
  2. Conversion is turning to God alone for forgiveness and eternal life.
    1. While repentance is turning from self-righteous thoughts, conversion is turning to God alone for help.
    2. Conversion is the result of believing and receiving Christ.

We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ask Him to save us.

  1. Believe that Jesus, being God, died for our sins and rose again to cleanse us and give us eternal life.
    John 20:31 – But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
    Romans 10:9 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
    Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
  2. Believe on Jesus by placing our trust in Him alone to save us from hell
    Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Conclusion

To be an effective witness for the Lord, you need to include these seven key ingredients of the Gospel message in your witness. Download the notes. Study over them. Think through them. Repeat them. Memorize them. Quiz each other on them. Then put them into your witness for the Lord.

Song: Give Me a Passion for Souls – 306

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Witnessing: The Message

24 May 2015 pm – Acts 16:30-31 – Witnessing2015 – Scott Childs