The True Gospel Includes God's Wrath

                            "If we do not preach about sin and God's judgment on it,
                             we cannot present Christ as Savior from sin and the wrath
                             of God.
                             And if we are silent about these things, and preach a Christ
                             who saves only from self and the sorrows of this world,
                             we are not preaching the Christ of the Bible.
                             Such preaching may soothe some. but it will help nobody;
                             for a Christ who is not seen and sought as a Savior from
                             sin will not be found to save from self or from anything else."
                                                                                            J.I. Packer


                                                                     **********


          "Things go better with Jesus," is NOT the Gospel.
     That's a popular way to evangelize today, but it's not biblical.

         The wrath of God the Father against sin, is a central part of the Gospel,
     and should not be ignored.  God holds sinners responsible for their sin.


                                                 "The wrath of God is being revealed
                                                  from heaven against all the godlessness
                                                  and wickedness of men who suppress the
                                                  truth by their wickedness, since what may
                                                  be known about God is plain to them,
                                                  because God has made it plain to them.

                                                  For since the creation of the world God's
                                                  invisible qualities -- His eternal power
                                                  and divine nature -- have been clearly seen,
                                                  being understood from what has been made,
                                                  so that men are without excuse."
                                                                                      Romans 1:18-20


                                                "But because of your stubbornness and
                                                 your unrepentant heart, you are storing
                                                 up wrath against yourself for the day
                                                 of God's wrath, when His righteous
                                                 judgment will be revealed.
                                                 God will give to each person according
                                                 to what he has done.
                           
                                                 To those who by persistence in doing good
                                                 seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will
                                                 give eternal life.
                                                 But for those who are self-seeking and who
                                                 reject the truth and follow evil, there will be
                                                 wrath and anger."
                                                                                         Romans 2:5-8


             According to the Gospel, Jesus will save those who trust in Him.


                                                "Since we have now been justified by His
                                                 blood, how much more shall we be saved
                                                 from God's wrath through Him."
                                                                                          Romans 5:9


             The Gospel teaches us that Jesus is the only way to salvation.


                                                 "Salvation is found in no one else,
                                                  for there is no other name under
                                                  heaven given to men by which
                                                  we must be saved."
                                                                                          Acts 4:12


                                                             **********

          In this age of "Health, wealth, prosperity, and name it claim it" theology,
     we need to remember what the REAL Gospel is -- that Jesus died for sinners,
     to make righteous those who repent and believe in Him.


                                              "For our sake He made Him to be sin
                                               who knew no sin, so that in Him we
                                               might become the righteousness of God."
                                                                                    2 Corinthians 5:21


          The Gospel offends unbelievers, who call us fools for believing it, but only
     through the Word of God will a person find salvation.


                                               "For the message of the cross is foolishness
                                                to those who are perishing, but to us who
                                                are being saved, it is the power of God."
                                                                                       1 Corinthians 1:18


                                               "[Jesus said], 'Whoever believes in me,
                                                 as the Scripture has said, streams of
                                                 living water will flow from within him."
                                                                                       John 7:38


                                                          **********

          Many will turn away from the proper preaching of the word and seek
     entertainment, even at church.  They don't want to hear the Gospel, but
     only about things that interest them and make them feel good.  They
     want "happy talk," which is what too many evangelists today are glad
     to give to them.


                                               
                                                "For the time will come when men will
                                                 not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead,
                                                 to suit their own desires, they will gather
                                                 around them a great number of teachers
                                                 to say what their itching ears want to hear.
                                                 They will turn their ears away from the truth
                                                 and turn aside to myths."
                                                                                       2 Timothy 4:3-4


               Those who know the truth are to continue to share it with those who don't.

                                                
                                                "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
                                                 who will judge the living and the dead,
                                                 and in view of His appearing and His
                                                 kingdom, I give you this charge:
                                                 Preach the Word; be prepared in season,
                                                 and out of season; correct, rebuke, and
                                                 encourage -- with great patience and
                                                 careful instruction."
                                                                                       2 Timothy 4:1-2