When a Christian speaks about God to others, people will know about His character, and this brings fear and reverence in them. As the Bible says, faith comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). The word of God must be spoken so that other people may know who God is. As the verse in Jonah 1:9 says, God is the creator of all things. As creator of all things, He owns everything. This is the reason why He has full control of the seas, weather, and all other events in this world. This truth should create fear in the hearts of people especially those who have no Christ in their lives. Because the absence of Christ in one's life means that s/he is under God's wrath. Everyone is sinful before God because of the sin of the first man and woman. This has corrupted the natural character of man. According to Romans 3:23, everyone has sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6:23 indicates that the wages of sin is death. This death is not only in terms of physical sense but also in spiritual terms. But the spiritual death is not similar with the physical where there is separation of the soul and physical bodies. Spiritual death is the eternal torment in the lakes of fire. Revelation 20:11-15 explain this second death, and show the kind people who will experience this kind of death.
Thus if we try to dissect this truth, it simply indicates that anyone who is sinful will pay the wages of sin, which is death, which is both physical and spiritual.
The condition of man appears at first hopeless because everyone is sinner as the bible says. Nobody is holy. Therefore, everyone is bound to experience the second death, which is the lake of fire. But because of God's mighty love (John 3:16), He sent His only begotten Son to die as payment for the wage of sin. In effect, His Son became a substitute for us who are supposedly the one who will pay the wages of sin. Because the wages of sin had already been paid by His Son (Jesus Christ), anyone therefore who has the Son will no longer pay the wages of sin because the Son had already paid it for him/her.
This is what Christians, who have received this gift from God, ought to speak to other people. This is the good news that everyone should know and understand. Though different from what God has called for Jonah, the principle is the same. God forgives sinners. In Jonah's time, the forgiveness is direct. In our time, the forgiveness is mediated by His Son, Jesus Christ. As Jesus claimed in John 14:6, there is no other way to be with the Father except through Him.
Though there will be two things that might happen when each Christian speaks about this, the seed of salvation might be planted in the hearts of their listeners. The two things will be either the person will accept the message or reject it. Nevertheless, each Christian ought to speak that others may know God and His gift of salvation.
Useful Links
An Introduction to Lordship Salvation by John MacArthur
The Importance of Knowing Our Sin by John Piper
Repentance, Forgiveness, and the Gift of the Spirit by John Piper
Thus if we try to dissect this truth, it simply indicates that anyone who is sinful will pay the wages of sin, which is death, which is both physical and spiritual.
The condition of man appears at first hopeless because everyone is sinner as the bible says. Nobody is holy. Therefore, everyone is bound to experience the second death, which is the lake of fire. But because of God's mighty love (John 3:16), He sent His only begotten Son to die as payment for the wage of sin. In effect, His Son became a substitute for us who are supposedly the one who will pay the wages of sin. Because the wages of sin had already been paid by His Son (Jesus Christ), anyone therefore who has the Son will no longer pay the wages of sin because the Son had already paid it for him/her.
This is what Christians, who have received this gift from God, ought to speak to other people. This is the good news that everyone should know and understand. Though different from what God has called for Jonah, the principle is the same. God forgives sinners. In Jonah's time, the forgiveness is direct. In our time, the forgiveness is mediated by His Son, Jesus Christ. As Jesus claimed in John 14:6, there is no other way to be with the Father except through Him.
Though there will be two things that might happen when each Christian speaks about this, the seed of salvation might be planted in the hearts of their listeners. The two things will be either the person will accept the message or reject it. Nevertheless, each Christian ought to speak that others may know God and His gift of salvation.
Useful Links
An Introduction to Lordship Salvation by John MacArthur
The Importance of Knowing Our Sin by John Piper
Repentance, Forgiveness, and the Gift of the Spirit by John Piper
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