Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

sinners may require clarification in terms of whatman is, where he came from, what is wrong withhim, and the urgency of his being saved. "Repentand believe" in their Biblical sense involve rejectingof all false hopes, sorrow and turning from sin,turning to Christ and resting in Him alone, and theyielded life.An outline of these truths involved in the gospelmessage would look like this(altering the order a bit):GodSinnersHis BeingCreaturesCreatorFallen Into SinClaimsGod's Law BrokenLoveHopeless ConditionJusticePunishmentEtc.His Son. . . Jesus ChristDeityIncarnationCrucifixionResurrectionExaltationRepent and BelieveRejecting False HopesSorrow For SinTurning to ChristResting in ChristYielded LifeLord Only SaviorOnly MediatorAtoning SubstituteEternal Life-GiverKingly ReignA quick review of each point above will convincethe reader, I think, that there are no non-BIBLE QUIZAaron held his peace we read, what was the occasion?Balaam's ass spoke to him, was there a conversation?Casiphia can you connect with the Nethinims?Do you know who were described "tall as the Anakims"?Enoch walked with God, we're told, can you nameanother?Find out from Scriptures who was Rebecca's brother?Gold was used for many things, was it used forshields?Hills we read were made to sing, what are we toldof fields?In Jericho's destruction who did the ram's hornblow?King Josiah was how old when he began to reign?8essentials. A sinner in coming to Christ must havesome understanding of the whole gospel's truth.This is not to say that there must be a sophisticatedunderstanding. This is not to say that the gospelis for intellectuals alone. On the contrary, the verysimplest human mind, taught of God, will graspthese truths. Again, this is not to say that each factwill require the same amount of time in patientexplanation, for the experience and learning of eachperson will bear heavily on what is actually explained.Philip's dealing with the eunuch (Acts 8)would take into account the Scriptural knowledge hehad previously. When Paul told the Philippian jailer,"Beheve on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shaltbe saved and thy house," he then went ahead and"spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to allhis house," undoubtedly explaining carefully to thispagan Gentile these truths.But this is God's gospel. This is the message thatsaves, as God applies it to the hearts of sinners.Certainly it must be presented in words that sinnersof all ages and backgrounds and cultures can understand.The "quickie, instant" gospel that is beingurged upon Christians from so many quarters todaymay meet the needs and be used of God to bringmany to Christ whose background has preparedthem for it. But in our God-rejecting and Bibleignorantculture, surely the great need is for Christiansto equip themselves with a thorough understandingand grasp of the whole message, and beready to expose sinners near them to it. "So faithcomes from hearing, and hearing by the word ofChrist."Jordan's waters were divided how oft do you know?Look and see what John did say the world could notcontain.Mary of whom Paul did write, where would you sayshe stayed?Now "blessed is he that readeth" where is thispromise made?On his head were many crowns, who only knowshis name?Prove from the Truth that Jacob was given asurname.Quote what was written o'er the cross according toLuke.Recall how some at meal times of vinegar partook.State how it was when ten thousand words werecompared to five.Tell how Ahab's sons were killed and none was keptalive.Upon Mount Gerizim please say what event tookCOVENANTER WITNESS