TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 6:17-49
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:21
TODAY IN THE WORD
The stories of Alice in Wonderland can be difficult for a sensible mind to read. The book is filled with nonsense rhymes, silly satire, and surreal situations. When Alice goes down the rabbit hole or through the looking glass, the reader never knows what to expect because the rules are radically different from our reality.

Today's reading, known as the Sermon on the Plain for its resemblance to the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), completely contradicts the values of this world. Look at the list Jesus compiles: poor, hungry, crying, hated, excluded, insulted, and rejected on the good side; rich, happy, well-fed, and esteemed on the bad side. For most of us, those lists are a complete reversal from what we really want in life.

So it might help to look at this passage in reverse and dwell on the final parallel in chapter 6. This passage is about foundations. A life built on the teachings of Christ will survive the storms of life. But the person who seeks the wealth, satisfaction, and approval that this world offers will ultimately be swept away. It's the difference between having a wicked heart or a righteous one, roots in Christ or roots in worldly wisdom. And those who aren't built, filled, and rooted in Christ have no business offering advice to others on how to live (v. 42).

What Christ was demanding of His disciples was a lifestyle overhaul. Personal happiness can't be the goal of a follower of Christ. Someone who grasps after more possessions can't also give generously. Individuals concerned primarily with their own well-being will miss the opportunity to show grace to others. But the people who put their faith in Christ and live according to His teaching will have a reward in heaven worth infinitely more than any earthly accumulation.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you're having trouble embracing the thought of being hated, rejected, and insulted, think of the house with the sandy foundation. The approval of people is as unstable as quicksand. Don't base your security on popular opinion. Instead of living to please those you like, make an attempt today to love those people you don't like. If there is anyone that you are having difficulty accepting, go out of your way to show love to them.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 7:1-17
I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel. - Luke 7:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
When he was just a teenager, Beethoven had an opportunity to display his talent for Mozart, who was very impressed. He said, “The world shall speak of this youth!” There could be no higher compliment than to be praised by the very best.

To impress Jesus with faith is an even higher accomplishment, and that's exactly what the centurion did. First, he impressed Jesus with his humility. A Roman soldier of his rank would never consider himself below a Jew, but the centurion recognized the glory of Jesus. He also understood the powerful authority of Christ, since he believed that Jesus could heal his servant simply by saying the word. Jesus had been engaged in ministry for more than a year among a people who were expecting the Messiah, but in all that experience He had never witnessed such faith. Jesus then proved that the centurion's faith was well-placed.

The second miracle in this passage bears testimony to Jesus' incredible compassion as well as His power. The drama of the scene is intense. Picture Jesus, followed by a large crowd, approaching a small town where a funeral procession was underway. The two masses of people converged, but Jesus noticed one woman in particular. A widow who had just lost her only son was wailing loudly. Jesus was moved, and before He acted with a miracle, He comforted the woman. He wasn't rebuking her for crying, He was showing her the end of her sorrow.

The “coffin” mentioned here wasn't the box we're familiar with but rather a type of stretcher. So when Jesus healed the man, it was in plain view of the crowd, and they instantly recognized the miracle as an act of God. Again, Jesus' purpose was not to glorify Himself, but His Father. And the miracle was no secret—the entire surrounding region was made aware that this man was much more than a prophet; He was delivering the Word and doing the work of God. Surely they wondered if He were more than just a man.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The centurion felt unworthy to be present with Jesus, but he also felt confident that Christ could heal his servant. That's a rare combination of understanding, and since it was heartily commended by Jesus, we would do well to imitate it. Resist the natural tendency to familiarize Jesus in your mind, which can cause us to think too much of ourselves and too little of what Christ can do. Humble your heart today, and then confidently glorify His name!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 7:18-50
The Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. - Isaiah 61:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jesus had a way of unveiling the true identities of everyone He met. He pointed out the faithfulness in those whom the world despised, but He exposed the wickedness hidden within the outwardly righteous. In Luke 7, Jesus lets us know who's who in the kingdom.

First of all, Jesus clarified His own identity by pointing the disciples of John the Baptist to the prophet Isaiah and comparing the fruit of His work to the ministry expected of the Messiah (Isa. 61:1). If John had been waiting for a sign to verify that the Christ had come, Jesus gave him ample evidence to ease his worries.

Then Jesus removed any doubt about the identity of John the Baptist with Scripture (v. 27) and with the compliment to beat all compliments (v. 28). But this was more than just an opinion about one man. Jesus' acceptance of John marked a line that divided His audience into two distinct, widely separated groups. On one side stood the rejected, sinful crowd (that even included tax collectors). These were the people who accepted John's message of repentance, and Jesus revealed them to be right.

On the other side of the dividing line stood the religious elite who rejected John, rejected Jesus, and dismissed the idea that they had anything to repent of. They viewed themselves as the leaders of God's cause, but Jesus exposed the reality—no one was following them (v. 32).

The event at Simon the Pharisee's home illustrated the dividing line perfectly. Simon actually doubted that Jesus was a prophet because He didn't recognize the woman for who she was. But Jesus saw something that the so-called religious leaders were unable to detect: true, selfless faith and commendable service to the King of kings.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus noted the difference between His ministry and John the Baptist's. Jesus feasted among those who accepted Him while John had been largely separated from society. God's service isn't a cookie-cutter plan. Don't dismiss other churches, ministries, or people because they don't fit your mold. Instead, be willing to try different worship styles and ministry settings. It will broaden your spiritual experience and deepen your understanding of God. He uses many personalities and ministries to accomplish His plan.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Peter 3:8-9
God our Savior... wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. - 1 Timothy 2:3-4
TODAY IN THE WORD
When the subject turns to sin and salvation, how often have you heard someone say, Well, I just can't believe God would send anyone to hell's too loving for that's an old argument that contains just enough truth to make it attractive. It's true that God is loving. But Jesus did say that hell was prepared for the devil, his angels, and some people (Matt. 25:41).salvation. The fact is that humankind is under the judgment of God, lost in sin, and in desperate need of forgiveness and new life from God.paid for our sins by His death on the Cross, canceling God's judgment and purchasing heaven for those who will put their faith in Him. Jesus then rose from the dead as Godguarantee that these blessings will come to pass.who are lost in sin and need Christ. reasons: first, because of our need to grasp this teaching for our own salvation; and second, because God has entrusted each believer with the ministry of announcing His good news to others. As Paul writes, we are Godambassadors of the gospel (2 Cor. 5:20). answering two popular arguments against the need for evangelism. If you havenencountered them yet, you probably will! re looking at today is part of a teaching called universalismthe idea that, in the end, God will save everyone because He is so good and hell is so horrible. As we said above, this teaching has a certain appeal, but it is false nonetheless.argue for universalism ignore the fact that while God is perfectly loving, He is also perfectly just. In fact, the verse just before today's reading (v. 7), says God has marked ungodly men for destruction. In light of evangelism, these are important characteristics of God's nature to consider.If you are not in the habit of making notes as you study the Bible, this month would be a good time to start.want to jot down expressions and Bible verses that clarify the subject for you. Then, you can go over your notes and put together a gospel presentation that is, we hope, solidly biblical yet also tailor-made for you. So why not keep a pen and paper handy this month?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 10:1-9
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. - John 10:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
What's wrong with this picture? At Thanksgiving, a group of people gathers for a potluck dinner. Representing major world religions from the Judeo-Christian tradition to Eastern mysticism, the participants hold hands, thank God for the abundance of the season, and then each one names someone who has gone before. The person describing the holiday ritual calls this very moving.is it the fact that people from different religious traditions have face-to-face interaction. The problem is the implication that everyone in the room is in reality praying to the same deity and that each of those who have gone before has somehow arrived in the presence of this same all-encompassing god.Christian evangelism. This is the belief that all religious roads lead to God, meaning that the main thing is that one be sincere in his or her beliefs.public square that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, and you are asking to be labeled intolerant, which is the unpardonable sin in our culture that perceives itself as ultra-tolerant.change the truth of Scripture. One of the keys of evangelism is that salvation is found in no one else but in Jesus (Acts 4:10-12). Then what about these other ways that seem so right, especially when people of other religious faiths affirm these beliefs?All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers (John 10:. How intolerant! But how true.deities are in for a surprise. The Savior will not allow it. He has done the world the eternal favor of telling the absolute truth concerning Himself and concerning sin. Don't let anyone sidetrack you with the sincerity argument. Those who refuse to receive Christ will be sincerely lost (see Prov. 14:12).If you have ever felt pressured to tone down the gospel among your family and friends, you are not alone. It's a temptation for every believer.fanatical. But since the gospel cuts a straight line to the truth, we must do the same. And we can be accurate without being offensive. If someone reacts, it should be to our message, not our manner. Today, ask God for the wisdom to present Christ truthfully and winsomely.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 5:12-14
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. - 1 Corinthians 15:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
On November 18, 1978, the world was shocked as people heard news of the mass suicide of more than 900 people in a place called Jones-towna community located in Guyana, South America. cult was centered not on God, but on Dad, a title he adopted early in his ministry. demanded total allegiance and obedience of his flock.Everyone has to die, he said on that fateful day of November 18. If you love me as I love you, we must all die or be destroyed from the outside. He then ordered the cultists to begin carrying out White Night, a ritualistic mass suicide that the cult had been practicing for months. The cult members then all drank from a vat of cyanide-laced soft drink. actions brought on the deaths of more than 900 people, so too would the sinful actions of the first man, Adam, bring spiritual death to all humanity. However, it's useless for people to argue that their sin is not their fault because Adam's actions forced them into it. People sin because they are sinners, not just because Adam sinned first.We're talking about key truths of evangelism. The word evangel means good news. But the gospel must be bad news before it can be good news. And the bad news is this: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).Adam's sin. The Bible is crystal clear that sin did in fact enter the human race through one (Rom. 5:12). And death followed as the God-ordained penalty for sin.Adam's sin, but for our ownbecause all sinned.representative head of the race when he sinned. Second, Adam's descendants are held accountable individually for their sins, not for his.not predate God's eternal standards of right and wrong. Sin has always been wrong.Sometimes, when you share the truth about sin with a lost person, you may get this objection: But what about those who have never heard, or babies, or people who are mentally impaired?sin. Here is one way to deal with this objection: We can trust God to be just with those people. But what about your sin? You may want to write down this objection and the way to handle it as part of your evangelism notes. Well be providing you with more ideas to add to your list as the month goes on.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 1:18-32
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. - 1 John 3:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
In dealing with children, we often try to soften some issues, realizing that the full reality of a situation would be too much for them to grasp. So, we tell them that their aunt went to see Jesus, or that the murderer hurt his victims because he was bad.them to bear. In today's society, we often see this happening with adults. The difference is that they are able to handle the whole truth. Yet, our society pins euphemisms on sin so choices, follow their sexual preferences, engage in alternate lifestyles, or simply decide to be true to who they really are.because God has already identified sin for what it is: lawlessness or wrongdoing (1 John 5:17), the violation of His holy and perfect standards. Simply changing the name to something more palatable does nothing to divert His condemnation against sin.improve on Paul's list of offenses that deserve God's judgment (Rom. 1:28-32).ll find examples of each category in today's text, some of them in abundance.makes people uncomfortable about what theyre doing when there's someone around who keeps reminding them of the truth.of salvation. Our calling is not to berate lost people, but to tell them the truth in love with the goal of pointing them to the cure for sin. We don't do unbelievers any favor when we let them hide behind euphemisms and excuses.Today's lesson brings a needed reminder that the temptation to rename and excuse sin is not limited to unbelievers.re not harboring pet sins on which we have slapped new labels. Thankfully, we don't have to be perfect to share the gospel. But if we are not authentic in our daily lives, others will spot the inconsistency. If the Holy Spirit reveals a blind spot today, bring it to the Cross and leave it there.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 5:4-6
Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. - Habakkuk 1:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
In spite of objections from some parents who thought the measure too severe, one Texas school district has adopted a policy toward rules infractions called zero tolerance. For example, a student who violates the district's policy on drugs or weapons will receive the strongest punishment possibleno mere warnings or leniency the first time a student steps over the line.zero tolerance has a biblical ring to it. God hates sinalways has, always will. Sin cannot survive in His presence, and neither can sinners who refuse to accept God's remedy for sin.The arrogant cannot even stand in His presence, let alone live there. And God moves in judgment against liars, violent people, and deceivers (v. 6).all have sinned part of the gospel is passed over lightly. Unbelievers are urged to accept Christ because He will bring new meaning to life, or bring the fulfillment or the peace of heart that people seek.are unfulfilled or restless. They are sinners under the penalty of God's eternal wrath, and they will be lost forever unless they repent and believe His Word.appreciate in a new way what Christ has done for us.momentarily as the Son of God took our sins upon Himself on the Cross. your life is hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3), ought to be a great source of joy for you today. When God looks at you, He no longer sees your sin. He sees Christ's perfect righteousness!The reason God abhors sin is that it is completely contrary to His nature.when confronted with the gospel: the comparison game. I'm not perfect, but II'm not all that bad. I haven't killed anyone or anything like that.other people, but God. A person has to be as perfect as God to earn heavenand no one can attain that. You may want to add this objection to your notes, as well as today's verses that speak of God's attitude toward sin.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 3:9-20
There is no one righteous, not even one. - Romans 3:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
A news story out of southern Florida serves as a good illustration of the pervasive nature of human sin. It seems that a woman who had reported for her first day of work at a local police station was being trained in her new responsibilities. The instructor, showing the woman how to use the department's computer, suggested that she type in her own name so she could see the program in action. When she did so, the computer revealed that she was wanted on an outstanding warrant. The hapless new employee was arrested on the spot.want to admit it or not. God has a record of offenses against the human race, and no one is exempt. Paul settled the issue by declaring that Jews and Gentiles alike stand under God's judgment as sinners.themselves as God does, they will not see the hopelessness of their situationsand the total futility of trusting anyone or anything but Christ for salvation.of confession and forgiveness. But as unpleasant as sin is to discuss, its presence in a person's life is far more unpleasant.Can you imagine people standing before God's judgment of them and having verses 10-18 of today's text read as an indictment against them? What defense could they offer?every mouth [will] be silenced (v. 19).acquitting people of sin. Paul points out the main function of the law in verse 20 when he says that the law makes us conscious of sin. In itself, the law has no power to save.convince them by our clever reasoning or arguments. Conviction of sin is the Holy Spiritwork. All we have to do is be faithful in presenting the truth, relying on His power to bring the gospel home to a needy heart.Jesus said that the person who has been forgiven much loves much (Luke 7:47).for every offense we have committed against Him, and He has done so freely, not grudgingly. Whether you are a new Christian or a longtime believer in Christ, add praise to your worship today by thanking the Lord for your salvation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 32:1-5
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him. - Psalm 32:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
An interesting survey of American adults, reported in USA Today, asked people what they felt most guilty about. The top response was nothing in particular, given by thirty-four percent of the respondents. Next was having and/or spending too much money at fifteen percent, followed by taking poor care of their health and not spending enough time with friends and family, each at twelve percent.since a lot of people will admit to being anything else before they will admit to being sinners. But it's a safe guess that a good portion of the free-floating, nothing in particulartype of guilt that people feel can be traced to some manifestation of sin.feel good culture. But despite a generation of efforts by pop psychologists and other cultural gurus to erase guilt from the American psyche, it persists. And for good reason. Much like pain, guilt is a gift that God gives to drive us to Himself.re talking about. It's doubtful if there is a person on earth who has not at some point in life felt the stab of conviction and guilt over sin.was recalling the oppressive guilt he felt during the year or so that he tried to cover up his sin with Bathsheba. David cleared his conscience and found relief for his guilt only after he said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord (v. 5).This is not the false guilt or psychological angst that therapists and counselors spend so much time trying to lift from people's shoulders.deal with their guilt by pointing them to the God who is ready to forgive.Perhaps today's study has touched a situation in your own life where, for whatever reason, your conscience is not clear.unbelievers an opportunity to misunderstand the Christian faith. If God has brought something to your attention that needs to be resolved, make an effort to resolve it this weekend. And, you can be sure that God will forgive the guilt of [your] sin (v. 5).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 59:1-8
Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him. - Isaiah 55:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Judging by a recent Gallup Poll, people are staying away from church in alarming numbers. In 1996, only 38 percent of adults surveyed said they attended church in any given week. This was the lowest percentage since 1940, and the second lowest total ever since church attendance has been measured.staying home each Sunday. But assuming that many casual church attenders in America are not actually Christians, we offer one reason that so many people feel comfortable staying away from church. It's because they feel so uncomfortable drawing near to a holy God.news of sin that makes the good news of salvation truly wonderful. One of sin's effects is that it separates people from God. We might put it this way: until a person deals with sin, God really has nothing more to say.impact on them and why it is so easy for them to stay away.expressing this thought: if you don't feel close to God any more, guess who moved. Although the songwriter was speaking to believers, there is a kernel of truth here for evangelism.lost His power or His willingness to save. On the contrary, the arm of the Lord (v. 1) can still reach to anyone, and His ear is still open to the prayer of repentance and confession.the one to whom unbelievers must be reconciled. But that leads to the best news of all. Through the cross of Christ, God has taken the initiative to reconcile the world to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). That's an announcement worth making to anyone who will listen!For many Christians, the first step in reaching out to an unsaved friend or family member is an invitation to church.your invitation in prayer. Rather than just meeting at church, offer to give the person a ridethis may give you a chance to start a spiritual discussion. Introduce your guest to believers with whom that person can identify. And afterward, follow up by asking, is there anything you didn't understand, or a question I can help you with? Why not make that invitation today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 20:11-15
The Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. - Nahum 1:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1837, Colonel Zachary Taylor went to Florida to quell a Seminole Indian uprising. One evening, the future president was at a table with members of his officers staff when an over-confident young officer walked into the establishment. He was fresh from West Point, there to report for duty under Taylor's command. Not realizing that the roughly-dressed older man was his commander, the young officer approached Taylor confidently, calling him Old Codger and announcing he was there to take care of the Indian problem. Taylor did not reveal himself, but later the horrified officer found himself facing the Old Codger in a colonel's uniform.the universe! How many times have you heard casual or joking references to the Man upstairs, the old Man, or some other name that portrays God as a harmless, benignly forgetful deity? How many unbelievers cling to the foolish hope that somehow their sins will slip past the bar of God's judgment and they will sneak into a corner of heaven?His great white throne of judgment puts the issue in proper perspective. This is the God from whom the earth and sky fled (v. 11). On that day, all of creation will know what the Bible teaches from beginning to end: God always judges sin.low-key evangelism, but it's a necessary part of the bad news of sin. Failing to warn unbelievers to flee from God's wrath is not doing them a favor.break our hearts more than to think of people facing God in judgment and hearing the awful word that their names are not found in the Book of Life.regard to judgment (John 16:.Therefore, if our evangelism is to be truly biblical, we must tell the whole story, trusting the Spirit to bring the truth home to the lost. We mentioned on Wednesday that one reason to keep a clear conscience is to avoid giving unbelievers a reason to devalue the faith we proclaim.Christian friends: by the way you speak about our great God and Savior. Even though the world may have a low view of God, you can witness to His majesty and holiness by your attitude of reverence. Ask God to help you to be more aware of your words this week.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 6:15-23
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23
TODAY IN THE WORD
As he neared his death, American writer William Saroyan called in to the Associated Press to offer this unusual observation: Everybody has got to die, but I have always believed that an exception would be made in my case. Now what?Associated Press would be able to answer him. He was feeling the enormity of the reality that in Adam all die (1 Cor. 15:22). This is the final point we want to make as we consider the first key truth for evangelism, what we have named the bad news of sin.inescapable. The Bible declares this truth again and again.physical life. In the Bible, death is separation: separation of the soul from the body and separation of the soul from God. It is this latter death, what the Bible calls eternal death or the second death, that Paul had in mind when he urged the Romans not to allow sin to rule over them.sin bring no real benefit at all. A life spent in slavery to sin leads to death (v. 16). Then Paul adds the clinching statement in verse 23, that sin pays a grim wage.appointment every person has to keep (Heb. 9:27). We know that death was not a part of God's original plan. It was an intruder, an enemy, that came in on the heels of Adam's sin.ate of the forbidden tree, he would surely die (Gen. 2:17). But in Jesus Christ, God has made victory over death available to all who believe in Him. This is the good news of the gospel, the key truth of evangelism that we will consider, starting with tomorrow.Everyone wants to know how to defeat death. This is true even of people who are not particularly interested in religion.If so, youll want to be ready with Scriptures that teach God's promise of victory over death for those who receive Christ. Two of the best passages are 1 Cor. 15:20-27 and 51-57. We suggest you read over these texts, then add them to your notes.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 1:3-6
He chose us...before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. - Ephesians 1:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
It took the Democratic party forty-nine ballots to come up with a Presidential candidate for the election of 1852. They chose a true dark horse, a senator from New Hampshire named Franklin Pierce. When told of his nomination, Pierce replied, You are looking at the most surprised man that ever lived! Pierce must have been even more surprised when he won the election.caught by surprise all the time by unexpected happenings, or by the actions of others that catch us off guard.thrown off course by the actions of His creatures. It is impossible for anything to escape the attention of the God who can say, I make known the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:10).world. The plan of salvation was not thrown together in the councils of eternity after Adam plunged the human race into sin. On the contrary, Jesus is the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world (Rev. 13:.accomplished fact before the world was ever created. Christians today have differing views of the doctrine known as election. Many disagree on the extent to which God takes the initiative in salvation apart from human choice.salvation is a divine work. We bring nothing to the table but our sin.in eternity past. The reality of God's eternal provision for sin caused Paul to break out in praise and rejoicing. In His mercy, God has overlooked no detail in providing us with every spiritual blessing in Christ (v. 3). He chose us in love as an act of His perfect will. spiritual ruin, God has provided a way of escape from judgment through the sacrifice of His Son.Aren't you glad you are not responsible to save anyone? That's something only the power of God can accomplish.our own words or the cleverness of our arguments. It also highlights the role that prayer plays in evangelism. We need to be praying that God will do His supernatural work of salvation in people's hearts. Are you praying for the unsaved people whom you want to win to Christ?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures... he was buried...he was raised on the third day. - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author Gertrude Stein was known for the simplicity of her writing style. She liked to repeat basic words, believing that the mere repetition communicated the feelings the words were intended to convey. Perhaps the most famous example of Ms. Stein's style is her statement, A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.would not pass as the definition of a rose on a botany exam. Sometimes, definitions are necessary to help us clarify the facts.the truths of the gospel really mean. Whatever else we may say concerning sin, the need for repentance, and the promise of eternal life, several truths are of first importance (v. 3) in communicating the gospel.according to the Scriptures (v. 4). The Old Testament witnessed to these facts concerning GodHoly (Ps. 16:10), and Jesus Himself spoke of His resurrection (John 2:19-22).explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead (Acts 17:1-3).good news to tell. No amount of human repentance for sin would carry any weight if Jesus had not died in our place, bearing our sins in His body (1 Pet. 2:24).from the grave, God the Father verified His Son's claims of being the Savior of the world. The only reason we have hope of eternal life is that Christ was raised (1 Cor. 15:19-20).people meaning or purpose in life, or relief from guilt or sadness. Although these are important, the true hope we have to offer people is anchored in the death and resurrection of Christ.In our eagerness to see people born again, we can be tempted to go beyond the gospel and start promising people things that may or may not happen to them if they receive Christ.the Lord, his or her marriage will be salvaged, business will pick up, or other problems will disappear. The gospel does promise, however, incredible blessings of pardon and eternal life. Make sure you are not offering what only God can promise.