Hearing and Believing

Mastery over your Bibles to Romans chapter 10 we are looking at verses 14 through 21 of Romans 10 called a message hearing and believing I would dealing with the subject of evangelism, and as I say that word. I thought that word conjures up for too many people fanaticism, emotionalism, brainwashing, psychological manipulation, intolerance. There are people who say why can't you just leave people to come to their own beliefs and their own conclusions on their beliefs.

Why do you try to force your views on other people, keep your religious opinions to yourself. You ever been told that I have and so evangelism is regarded with skepticism by many people in a pluralistic society. You have your beliefs.

I have mine. I want gentry don't treat on yours don't you intrude on mine is on talk to me about these things, but authentic followers of Jesus agree that we should evangelize as were going to see, but we often lack the motivation only, and sometimes we lack the boldness as I was standing there singing that wonderful him. Jesus saves. I think just after my baptism as going to high school in Scotland. I thought I should really evangelize and it was a very large public school. Very few Christians and I decided to wait a little badge a little pin which simply said, Jesus saves. It was it was red with silver letters and I just put it on my woodwind blazer and tie and elicited some comments from my fellow students but also from some of the teachers. Not all of them, if not most of them were not impressed by such an open declaration that Jesus said something that was the best way to vandalize but there was a beginning of a boy who was who felt how important was that people knew about Jesus Christ was been your experience fellow believers with in your experience of telling others about the gospel.

Do you tell others about the Gospels.

I think many of us are afraid that will be asked questions that we can't answer and sometimes we see opportunities that come by have certainly had that many, many times after a situation I thought John.

You should be quicker to speak a word about Jesus Christ and then we feel guilty.

Don't wait, that we should be doing more. Whatever the reason, I'm sure there are many, many of us would say that we are not the most effective communicators of the good news of the gospel, but that is not the very heart of our mission and exhibit at the very heart of the great commission of Jesus Christ in our passage today, we have a classic passage on the evangelism in these verses.

Some of our questions are going to be asked directly or indirectly, what is biblical evangelism.

Why evangelize what everyone responds what extremes are to be abided. It is essential. First and foremost that we got the gospel right there is great confusion even in the modern church in the contemporary church is the what is the gospel, and that's one of the main reasons I chose to preach through the book of Romans that we truly understand the gospel not just some self-motivation, not just God helps those who help themselves, not some way to look on Jesus as a kind of psychological crutch, but truly to understand the gospel in Romans as Paul's superb exposition of the good news of Jesus Christ last week.

As we look to the end of chapter 9 in the first verses of Romans 10 we saw that there are two basic ways that people always have of salvation that is there, works righteousness, as Paul would say that is a kind of do-it-yourself my own words, obeying the law, self effort, religion do this and I hope that God will accept me. That of course is totally wrong. As Paul is saying and then there is God's way way that requires great humility the way of faith righteousness that we are saved, not by what we do, but by as we were singing because Jesus saves and Jesus has done it all and there's nothing I can do to merit favor with God, but rather that I've simply to receive the gift of God in Jesus Christ by the larger context of the verses were looking at is that Paul is explaining why Israel is presently rejected by God that gives him great sorrow that his own people are largely speaking rejecting the gospel, rejecting the Messiah or they have had many opportunities to accept the Messiah and therefore Paul is going to Dallas here, there, they have only themselves to blame their culpable before God for the rejection of the righteousness of God. Because if you try to work out your own salvation.

We saw this last week. You are ignoring Christ and furthermore, as Paul says, you're also ignoring Scriptures Old Testament and New Testament that we saw in chapter 10 verse 13 that the Bible declares that everyone some translations say, whosoever whoever everyone, Jew or Gentile. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Wonderful everyone that this salvation. This promise in Jesus saves is accessible to all who believe the gospel is for all that God's love revealed in Jesus embraces the whole world and so I have to ask you if you believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you personally young man older person have you personally called on the name of the Lord, don't tell me you're lying on your charge of your background or your baptism. These will not save you wonderful, although they are have you personally called on the name of the Lord. Think of the wonderful promise that policy because the Old Testament tells us in Romans 10 verse 13 that everyone think of this. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. What a glorious promise that I if I call on the name of the Lord will be saved if you, whoever you are, whatever your situation of you today call on the name of the Lord you will be saved and down through the centuries millions. Yes, millions of people. Millions of little Boys and Girls Club and older people and seniors have called on the name of the Lord and soul received as a gift God's salvation, but this raises the question doesn't, then why have so few Jews then come to saving faith. When Paul and the apostles as we know from the book of acts when they preach the gospel. There were many Gentiles who receive salvation but so few Jews. Why is that Paul is explaining that in Romans 910 and 11 and here is another question.

If you're saying there is such a thing as eternal salvation. What is the process by which people believe in call on the name of the Lord does it work with the vital subject of evangelism. So let's stand and read these verses shall be from Romans 10 verses 14 through 21 Romans 1014 through 21 bring them with me. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed and how were they to believe in him of whom they've never heart and how are they to hear without someone preaching and how are they to preach unless they are sent. As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news, but they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what he aside from us, so faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. What I asked how the nonparent.

Indeed they have for their voice has gone out to all the earth and the words to the ends of the world. But I ask did Israel not understand.

First, Moses says I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation with a foolish nation.

I will make you angry, then Isaiah is so bold as to say I have been found by those who did not seek me, I have shown myself to those who did not ask of me, but of Israel.

He says all day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people event. Please be seated. Well here is first the first point Paul is making. In verses 14 and 15 and is an obvious one, but one which is tremendous application for us that the gospel must be preached in order for people to hear and believe. Verses 14 and 15 but how are they to call. He said in verse 13 everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Does that work answer.

How are they to call on him and who live not believed and how were they to believe in him of whom the never heart and how are they to hear without someone preaching that we saw last week that the gospel begins and ends with Christ would back to verses nine and 10 of Romans key verses there is a gospel if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

The other people don't like this would save the salvation of the grizzled fashion. The bank is archaic of a biblical word. I think it is good enough for the apostle Paul Jennifer us rights of other churches that don't like it, and they wanted to change it. Verse 10 for with the heart one believes in this justified and with the mouth one confesses and is saved once evangelism evangelism is the communication of the good news regarding Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit with the view to winning converts that's evangelism. And here in these two interesting verses. Verses 14 and 15, Paul gives that this gives us a description of how people may be brought to call on the name of the Lord, by the way, did you notice it was a beautiful activity. Verse 15 how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news is a beautiful thing that we do a look 14 sharing the love of Christ and the gospel of Christ is a beautiful activity God says is beautiful and right. Paul here is quoting from Isaiah 52 of when they when they those who had been in the captivity of Babel and the returning to Zion. What tremendous good news about this is a greater news is number.

This is not just from some temporary at captivity Albany for 17 years in Babylon. This is a deliverance from the power of sin and death and the devil himself, how much greater desire good news that we declare to the world is a beautiful thing when you tell someone about Christ.

It's a beautiful thing. Sunday school teachers. When you open the Scriptures until children about Jesus Christ so very beautiful thing when in your office in your bank in your hospital in your school you have the opportunity to tell someone that Jesus saves the world may think it's it's a terrible thing is an intolerant thing, but to God. It is beautiful not notice the fall or did you catch the four rhetorical questions that Paul is asking in verses 14 and 15. How were they to call in him and whom is not not believe. Good question. I would later believe in him of whom have never had second question, how were they to hear without someone preaching and how were they to preach unless they are sent four rhetorical questions now that are in these verses. I think five steps in evangelism, which begin and end with God you see a faint pink evangelism is always Christ centered on God centered and I'm going to take these five steps and I'm going to do them in reverse order. First of all when we consider the gospel that is first of all, the end of verse 15 that is the sending there is this and this is what begins.

Authentic followers of Jesus are commissioned by the risen Christ underweight, go and make disciples of all nations. That's part of the mission of Calvary church but more than Calvary church is the commission and mission of every believer that we are told to go and make disciples that we are to go and communicate the gospel. We are witnesses that was said in acts 182. The hourly disciples as they work are awaiting the arrival of the spirit of where Jesus told them that you're going to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth. We have had this experience of salvation and we who have experience that I sent out by God by Christ to tell others because this is God's message about your idea or mine. Paul begins Romans to remember. He tells us that the gospel how does he describe it. He says, is the gospel of God concerning his son Jesus Christ not man's invention, not your idea or mine not something devised by our forefathers a Calvary church know this is a message from God himself. This is the only way of salvation, and it comes from God and it is centered on Jesus Christ and this Christ who saves us not sends us to tell others about Jesus. First there is the sending secondly there is the preaching. How are they to preach unless their answers unless they are sent. First were sent now would like to communicate it is not just a matter of reaching people. I hear people say about the reaching of other people. They may be reaching a lot of people, but the goal is not just to reach people. The goal is to preach the word is to tell them about Jesus Christ we are to communicate northern ideas and opinions, we are ambassadors of Christ we are to sow the seed of the word of God. I love that parable in Mark four of sowing the seeds.

Wherever we go. Yes, there will be opposition. Jesus told us that in that parable that the devil is there, so does the word is communicated. He comes in he tries to snatch it away. If you notice that your sense in these pews and the Holy Spirit are spoken to you about the time you're right in the parking lot you're more concerned with the game on a couple coffee or lunch or something else quickly. The devil comes and takes away the seed that is planted against the opposition. That's why when Paul is writing to young Timothy in second Timothy chapter 4, at the end of chapter 3 Second Amendment three tells us that all Scripture is inspired by God and then he says to young Timothy. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is the judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom preach the word, that is the logos a world of Dallas theological Center is one of the reasons I chose to go to Dallas theological seminary because their focus on what the word preach the word be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching not notice this for the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching is that true yes is to avid people sitting these pews were here sitting and told me pastor too much doctrine.

Your doctrine divides people just have a smell of Jesus and for all police on you dislike that syrupy studios's spirituality. My only one doesn't like it. You think, who is this Jesus. What do you mean, what does it mean to love Jesus and why is the New Testament in the Old Testament, full of doctrine that this is not just some sentimental message to make you feel good about yourself. And Paul is saying to timidly listen to me that the time is coming when they will not endure what sound teaching sound doctrine, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. That is, Timothy.

Be very careful because the congregation are going to shape the message from the pulpit that often was done.

Give us what we want. I want to leave feeling good about myself. Well, maybe you need to feel bad about yourself. Because unless you feel bad about yourself. You love understand the wonder of the grace of God and the magnificence of our Savior. The Christian message is not about you trying to live a comfortable, happy life is about salvation. It's about the gospel. Paul is saying here so well that those who are sent out to preach the gospel, not every believer every authentic follower of Jesus Christ is the tell others about Christ, but that is a special role for preaching Paul says woe is me. If I preach not the gospel in first Corinthians 9 that God in his grace and his purposes uses preaching yes. The foolishness of preaching to call people to call upon the name of the Lord your preaching is very mysterious was on them asked me how was it to preach when we tell you is very hard and it is a weighty weighty burden. Would you like to come up here and have the responsibility of presenting the gospel and of teaching the word again the foolishness of preaching and the vast vast times when we preach were sowing seed and we have very little idea as to whether or not this falling on good ground when I was when I accepted the call to come here almost 30 years ago exactly a fellow passenger mind happen to be English but he said to me, Johnny said the once you when you go to Charlotte to be like John Wesley, as it would remain a set of John Wesley that he went to a certain English time and he writes in his journal. I offered them Christ is not great preacher does is to offer them Christ bye-bye May summer, church is all about Christ is what Paul is saying is in the Richard Baxter the 17th century preacher said I preached I was never sure to preach again and is a dying man to dying man what a responsibility, the people are going into eternity, and many have never had the good news of the gospel. We are surrounded by thousands and thousands in the city and you would be surprised how few of them could really articulate the Christian gospel. So there is ascending there is a preaching third, that there is a hearing verse 14. How are they to hear without someone preaching people are sense the gospel is communicated and people here. They must hear the gospel. Many have never had of the authentic Jesus to many in our cultural Christianity.

Jesus is a moral teacher is a man who shows love. He gives us some platitudes for living. He inspires us is a kind of freedom. Worker and Jesse may be a prophet but that's not the gospel. The gospel is that Jesus is God incarnate, and that he came to learn that we don't just celebrate this at Christmas but every day of the year and that he died for our sins, was buried, and rose again and through the communication then of the gospel people here about Christ you find as you try to share Christ. People are very happy to talk about God, I come across very few hard atheists.

There are people there agnostic, but most people in our culture here in North Carolina, South Carolina, most people would say we believe in God's but what about Jesus Christ, who is caught. The gospel is centered on Jesus Christ. They must hear about Christ. Paul's own people knew about God." They believed in God they believed in his holiness and his justice even is greatly believed all of that but they were rejecting Christ, the sending the preaching the hearing and then the believing in understanding how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed to the contents of the gospel must be understood and accepted, and the keyword. I think from Romans nine verse 30 through verse 17 of chapter 10 is this word faith or believe same word in Greek, with two words in English faith and believe in Greek is the same benign four phases precipitously therapist for stills over his in your Bible faith means. Believe what you see, believe it means faith.

Paul talks all over and over again about the necessity of having faith in Jesus Christ about believing in Jesus Christ is what the people need to hear not just about Jesus, but they must believe in him.

They must understand this and then finally, of course, that is our calling on the name of the Lord, there must be from the hearing to the understanding neither neither must be a personal trust in Jesus Christ his only those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved, not just understanding the gospel, not just saying I believe in the doctrine, whether personal trust, a personal reliance on Christ and Christ alone. My only salvation is found in Christ 100% is all of Christ is accomplished through the all through his glorious direct burial and resurrection that these five steps think we have them here Christ sends my wonderful we proclaim to you proclaim people here, people believe people call in the name of the Lord as biblical evangelism, sending, proclaiming, hearing, believing and calling on the name of the Lord wonderful because we believe the way that unless people call on the name of the Lord they will not be saved one a high privilege, beautiful privilege, beautiful feet member part of the armor of God in Ephesians 6 is having those shoes that are ready to do what to communicate the gospel beautiful is it. Why should we do this we commanded to do it but do you believe that every person is heading for eternity hundred years from nine not one of us will be here but we have the good news for all people without people calling on the name of the Lord. There is no salvation without Christ, people are under the wrath of God.

Remember let's hope all perhaps surprisingly, to our user-friendly way of religion how he presents the gospel how he begins the gospel. Romans one verse 18 for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, that is, people without Christ, under the wrath of God. Why is that Paul is all this because of sin have rebelled with a Jew or Gentile, that under the rock of God for all of eternity.

People will either be in heaven or hell no, we believe that the Bible clearly teaches it.

We have the privilege the responsibility of telling others the good news. And this is our mission at Calvary is in the to be and make authentic followers of Jesus Christ and the huge amount of our resources at Calvary go into evangelism is why I encourage you to give generously, is for the spread of the gospel. We support almost 100 missionaries going to the remote parts of the world in many cases, we regularly have go to was a go trip where Kyle remembers understanding the gospel having a desire to communicate the gospel often partner with our own missionaries and other agencies for the spread of the gospel. We recently started a live streaming of the Sunday morning services that people anywhere in the world of the other commute computer and can get on the web can hear the gospel we've expanded the radio ministry. Why so the people can hear the gospel again call on the name of the Lord, and I have a burden and the trust you have. Make sure that the gospel is always communicated accurately, biblically, clearly, in the power of the spirit from this pulpit, there is no place for some political agenda. Some social justice agenda. This pulpit is built for the communication of the gospel. Why, because the most important thing the people needs you really think were the Transamerica by political process that we read in Scripture. The only thing is going to change the hearts of men and women, boys and girls is the gospel is Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes so that must be communicated in their lives, not just from this pulpit but from your life and your family and your street where you work to tell others about Jesus you doing you doing that throughout this community.

Just think of all of all of us here and there are thousands of other believers in other churches gospel preaching churches in the city.

Imagine if every true believer in Jesus Christ in this city in this state took seriously what Paul is saying.

Can you imagine the revival that will sweep a country, but we are so lethargic were so comfortable were happy to play church. May God give us an increasing number of open doors and remember that the power is not in your presentation.

I believe strongly in apologetics.

I believe strongly in doctrine.

I believe strongly in and thinking of persuasive ways of communicating the gospel but always remember this. The power, the power of God is in the word of God is in the gospel.

Paul was a brilliant speaker. Brilliant intellect best apologists ever. But he reminds us that it is the power of God unto salvation and it is revealed in the gospel so I have to ask you I'm challenging myself with telling others about Jesus and his Pickering says that evangelism must be done for lost people are as per the offices into the Zanesville Farmer fishing in a tub of water in his backyard was chided by his neighbor meant there ain't no fish in the top why you're wasting your time like that yet came the reply. I know that ain't no fishing here but is just so powerful contingents. Yeah, they can renege on the backyard fish in the top and then surmounting any fish today when we do the lost people were the last people you got them right in the family engine.

You can the bank store to your government to class at school and business to travel casual acquaintances who don't know Christ using John a are you suggesting that we go around and grab people exit are you saving on nothing that'll. Although that would be much better than doing absolutely nothing. Not nothing that I know saying that you're standing up time. As Charlotte with a billboard with a text. Although I respect people who do that no I'm saying that you accept responsibility for where God has placed you all of us have a sphere of influence to people we know God has placed you there. Many of you prayed for the right house.

She would bio up to date.

Many of you have prayed for the right employment situation. I am praying for countless hundreds of people for employment and God's answer to these placed you in a certain place to shine for Christ by Paul in verses 16 through 21 is saying Israel heard the gospel. Israel understood the gospel but Israel rejected the gospel. Verses 1617.

They had the gospel preached to them, but rejected the gospel. Verse 16 but they have not all obeyed the gospel of heard people understood that have debated for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what he is heard from us. Verse 17 so faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ all Israel did not rent did not accept the gospel easy to obey the gospel is to believe the gospel. Paul is stocked in the in chapter 1 verse five about the obedience of faith they should have believed in their 17 is a wonderful verse to us for evangelism before there is a believing there is a hearing and there's an understanding people are to believe people say well I wish I could believe I just another faded just on the love fadeout. I like my faith to be different than what the answer to this faith comes with the text. Faith comes from hearing and healing through the word of Christ know faith is not a blind leap in the dark is not something irrational does not mean emotionalism or mysticism. It comes from the word of Christ. This is God's means of communication means of communicating the gospel of faith faith that saves is received from someone else, no church, no sacrament, no ritual can save you was going to save you faith in Christ together. Faith. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. This is the reason I preach the Bible, says John Alicia told more stories I can tell stories more sometimes doesn't actually happen. I mean, but Dragon tell stories as I than a Savior. Stories of their place. But what is at the very center of what we believe at Calvary church is not some motivational hype which can stir you up for the moment and by Monday morning. Be gone, and certainly when tragedy comes into your life will be absolutely useless know was going to give stability was going to bring salvation was going to bring spiritual growth.

The word of God. You want your faith to be different. I want my faith to be deep and I want my faith to be strong and growing. It comes to the word of Christ is reading this week.

In the book of acts, and I want to give you the references in the interest of time, but is very interesting know as a pastor. We we agreed in here with other passersby. Church growth and church growth techniques and what we should be doing to grow the church and all of this is very interesting. In the book of acts when you read about the church growing and what it says the word of God multiplied the word of God increased and when I got when the apostles preached the preaching the word of God, the preaching the gospel.

What was the reason why did these early apostles. Such a small group of them turn the world upside. Doug Weldon seen the risen Christ. They prayed book of acts is full of the church on his knees and they preached the word of God. That's it.

That's what we need is in the this is not difficult to understand the don't need some new philosophy drifting over from California or anywhere else, and the people from California but are New York City or Scotland or anywhere else, we open our Bibles and say no in the in the book of acts. How did the church grow the prayed and open the Bibles for sex ed in acts two and 3000 souls are saved with the first thing it says that they continued steadfastly and what the apostles doctrine apostles teaching first thing is the word of God.

Now Israel heard and understood the gospel. Verse 18 when I ask Paul's a good teacher. He likes to ask questions verse 18. But I ask verse 19. But I ask chapter 11 verse one. I ask you. I asked heavenly notecards. Indeed they have problem is that they didn't hear the gospel for here's the proof. Paul quotes from Psalm 19 verse four their voice is gone.

I do all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world, but as good Israel not understand you. Maybe they had been understand. First, Moses says I will make you jealous of those who another nation with a foolish nation. I will make you angry, then Isaiah is the boldest essay I've been found by those who did not secretly have shown myself to those who did not ask of me, Paul is establishing that the Old Testament not only predicted Israel's disobedience but that others Gentiles would embrace God's salvation, and it is something wonderful. I think you quotes from Psalm 19 verse four and he draws a parallel between the universality of general revelation and the universality of the gospel general revelation, everyone sees the glory of God and creation with this message, the gospel has come to all of Israel. The problem is that they didn't hear it. The problem is that they didn't understand that and if the Jews if the Gentiles are the gospel, the Jews, much more, because the gospel came first to the Jew. No Israel. Paul is saying you don't have the excuse of saying you didn't hear the gospel. It is gone out verse 18 is gone out to all the is gone to the ends of the art undermines them. Moses spoke of Israel's jealousy over another nation, a foolish nation, big glass with Isaiah in verse 20 limited speaks of God's grace, extending to Gentiles. Paul's Gentile mission. Paul is primarily an apostle to the Gentiles. It had Old Testament warrant. So if Israel heard the gospel and of Israel understood the gospel. They have no excuse for not believing the gospel and notice the sad words of verse 21, but of Israel. He says this all day long.

I held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people in in rebellious disobedience. Israel has rejected the gospel. The problem wasn't in hearing the problem is not an understanding the problem was not that people did not preach the gospel to them know their problem was they simply did not believe they were stubborn and they rejected it. They had many opportunities. Paul is saying, but you have rejected these opportunities and so you're capable before God that does not mean that God is finished with Israel is going to deal with that in Chapter 11 as will see next week. No, Israel is a rebellious this region. People in here in verse 21 he quotes from Isaiah 65 verse two to see the picture of God stretches his hands to his, with Israel stubbornly rejects the offer of salvation, following alone in Jesus the Messiah picture of God holding her sentence along to thing you could hold out your parents. Even the for this person and try when you go home hello, could you help us holding hands, not very long. Your arms will soon get tired. What a picture of God's patience was actually trying it. Thank you. As difficult as picture of God's patience with Israel. Paul is saying that God is on the we read in his love was Paul during in chapters 9, 10, 11, he's giving a brilliant defense of the gospel defense of the gospel against any charge that God has dealt with Israel unjustly know God longs and still longs for the salvation of Israel all day long. And God longs for your salvation.

Someone here says to me have heard this several times. Well, I'd like to believe, but I may not be one of the elect. I like to believe, but nothing God has chosen me, we listen to the word of Christ is listen to these verses as I read them picture of our Savior.

With these arms are expressed come unto me all you who labor first Timothy two verse four God our Savior, who desires just some people to be saved who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth of great God, we have second Peter second Peter chapter 3 verse nine the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some kind slowly slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance on say that was the gospel. I'm telling you on the authority of Scripture. The dog is standing as it were, with his arms open and our Savior is standing in sync coming to me and that anyone, whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved, don't you worry about election. Don't you worry about these things, God is a God of tremendous love. Your responsibility is to call upon the name of the Lord and the Lord wants every single person to be saved, as is God's way of saving people evangelism.

This message comes to everyone were commanded to go with the gospel to everyone and God commands you and me who are followers of Christ.

To do this. Many of us are lethargic. Many of us are fatalistic. Many of us have lost our passion for the lost may account returns with all of these opportunities. These open doors that we have at Calvary met me every single one of us with deeper desire to tell others about Jesus. No one at salesman looking for a quick sale were not manipulating people to sign a card or put up a hand or something like that.

No, we present the authentic Christ. The message is still the God so loved the world, the world that's you and me. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever there it is again. Whosoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life.

The gospel is to you to Gentile whoever you are called upon the name of the Lord on Sunday, April 14, 1912 the Titanic on its first voyage struck an iceberg and sank lives at 1500 people died, including a man called John Harper four years after the sinking of the Titanic, a young man grows in a meeting in Hamilton, Canada inside.

I'm a survivor of the Titanic when I was drifting alone on the spar that awful night the tide brought Mr. John Hartford of Glasco. Also on that piece of wood piece of right near me. John Harper was a Scottish preacher preacher in Glasco and he was on the Titanic and he was going to preach the great Moody Church in Chicago church that is been faithful to the gospel.

Up to this day.

Some of you have visited them. John Harper was on the Titanic to go to Moody church. She was never going to reach it, and John Harper, the preacher picture in the t�te-�-t�te in the Atlantic, the cold says to this man they never met before man. He said that you saved. No I said I'm not he replied, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and I shall be saved.

Some wonderful, some simple messages in the drowning of time to see clean up your act change in life.

The waves bore him away.

But strange to say, brought him back a little later week exhausted and froze the said are you saved now know I said I cannot honestly say that I am he said again, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved and shortly after he went down into his watery grave and there alone in the night with 2 miles of water under me. I believed I was rescued by liner to pay the I'm John Harper's last: what a great story is of the simplicity of the gospel today. If you believe the Lord Jesus Christ will be say. Don't wait till your dying. You may never have the opportunity for a wonderful encouragement to us. Is there another preacher, another John Harper. God knows that but you can communicate effectively much better than I can to people who know your to work with you and tell them the same message that Jesus saves, and I encourage her plead with you to get involved.

I retreated Calvary to pray to invite and to serve not just in this campus, but wherever you go to tell them that Jesus saves father become humbling or to thank you for the gospel. We feel so adequate, inadequate and communicating it. But the very treasurer of the gospel you have obtained it for the saving of souls. Help us to be bold witnesses of Christ of grace and truth and some here who have not yet placed their faith in Christ, perhaps a little girl, an older man may be calling on the name of the Lord even though, and so be safe.

We ask it in Christ's name