Gospel Meeting 28/01/2018

Mark's Gospel ch1 vs1-15

Verses 14-15 give a clear precise message - 

...the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the gospel!

John the Baptist prepared the way for The King, The Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the Kingdom of God like? ...

1) CHARACTER .

Christ is absolute King and ruler over all.

He is righteous through and through.

He entered Jerusalem humbly, on a donkey, but wins hearts by His great love and devotion.

What a wonderful eternity it will be for all those who will be with Him!  To be ruled by Him is a great blessing.

The Gospel is the best news to all mankind ever!

Normally, citizens die for a king, but Christ The King dies for His subjects!

At Calvary's Cross Jesus Christ showed the extent of His love for us all, being crucified as the sacrifice for our sins so that we can be forgiven. This sacrifice was fully accepted as He was God's sinless Son, and He arose from the grave three days later, triumphant over sin, death and Hell.

2) MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS.

Genuine repentance is essential!

"Godly sorrow brings repentance to salvation and leaves no regret, but wordly sorrow brings death”
 – 2^nd Corinthians ch7 vs10.

These are different sorrows…

People may grieve sorrowfully over many things, based on wordly considerations.

The rich man of Luke’s Gospel ch16, in Hell, was sorrowful but without any mention of repentance… Judas Iscariot was remorseful, regretful, but it was wordly sorrow.

Having Godly sorrow for our sins brings us to God, having sorrow before Him.

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight…”–   Psalm ch51 vs1 -4.

We have all disgraced Holy God with our sins against Him, but our Godly sorrow produces repentance unto salvation.

The death and resurrection of God’s beloved Son, Jesus Christ, has removed our offence - for those who will personally receive Him as Lord and Saviour of their hearts and lives.

In the parable of “the prodigal son”, he was in his lowest condition before he finally came to his senses. It is so today, that many people need to be brought to this point before God touches their lives and they truly repent of their sins and turn from them.

“And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him: and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again: he was lost, and is found…”
 – Luke’s Gospel ch15 vs21 – 24.

Our loving Heavenly Father is always happy to receive us through accepting His Son as our Saviour, in repentance and faith!

“… joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth…”

-   Luke’s Gospel ch15 vs7.

Repentance is sincere – putting God firmly in the centre of our lives.

It involves a radical change of mind and heart – a real turnaround in our daily lives, surrendering them to The Lord Jesus Christ.

One profession of faith and no change in our ongoing life is not repentance!

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth them shall have mercy”
 – Proverbs ch28 vs13.

A loathing of our sin is always a good sign.

3) FAITH

The Gospel is about a person – the Son of God –  having faith in Him and His great work of redemption at Calvary.

This was the power and promise foretold around 6,000 years ago!

There are different types of faith…

temporary faith – as in the parable of the sower ( Matthew’s Gospel ch13).

dead faith – without obedience and without works following.

real, saving faith – steadfast, going on for Him and His work.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. – Psalm ch139 vs23 – 24.

Dear friend, the Kingdom of God is indeed at hand. If you have not yet done so, please repent and believe the gospel, while there is yet still time!

Come to Christ tonight, in genuine repentance and faith, accepting Him as your own Lord and Saviour for now and eternity.