E.A. Johnston passionately declares that understanding and embracing five essential gospel truths is crucial for salvation and spiritual transformation.
In this powerful sermon, E.A. Johnston outlines five essential gospel truths that every person must hear to understand their need for salvation. He addresses humanity's sinful condition, the impossibility of self-salvation, the certainty of divine judgment, the necessity of repentance, and the transformative power of being born again. Johnston calls listeners to respond in faith and repentance, emphasizing the life-changing nature of the gospel message.
Full Transcript
The modern gospel of our day should be called the great omission because it's void of all its teeth and power as its great doctrines fall silent in our churches today. But if you want to be safe friend there are five truths you must hear as you get under the sound of the gospel of the son of God and I'm going to list these five truths for you now. Truth number one, you are ruined by sin and you are under a curse.
Every mother's son enters this world with the poison in his blood from Adam's fall. We are born in a ruined condition with a bent toward sin. In Job 15 16 we see man's utter depravity.
How much more abominable and filthy is man which drank at the iniquity like water and God told Adam in Genesis, curse it is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shall thou eat of it all the days of thy life. You must know about your ruined condition friend and your natural estate and if you remain unchanged in your natural condition you will surely go to hell. Truth number two, you cannot save yourself.
Salvation is in the hands of God and not man. We read in Ephesians 2 8 and 9 for by grace ye are saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast.
If you are saved friend it's because God gave you saving faith. In John's gospel in chapter 6 and verse 65 Jesus exclaims therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given unto him of my father. Remember friend you cannot save yourself.
God is sovereign in salvation. Truth number three, every person will be held up against the strictness and severity of the unbending law of God. The sentencing of the law must be carried out upon all guilty lawbreakers.
Sin is the transgression of the law and God requires perfection to get into his holy heaven for he declares that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. At a future judgment for all mankind every person will be held up against the strict law of God and all will fail that test because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There at that judgment friend your sin will find you out and your mouth will be stopped for he will by no means clear the guilty.
This leads us to truth number four you must repent. In Acts 17 30 we read God commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Jesus's first sermon was on repentance and his disciples preached the doctrine of repentance and Jesus warned in Luke 13 5 except you repent ye shall all likewise perish.
Listen friend your rebellion must be crushed and you must throw down your shotgun of rebellion at his nail-pierced feet and get your sins washed in his blood. Lastly truth number five you must be born again. You must experience the supernatural act of regeneration upon your heart whereby God works grace upon the heart of stone and makes it a heart of flesh receptive to the things of God.
When Jesus was here in his earthly ministry as he passed through towns and villages all who encountered him experienced change. Regeneration is a changed life all for the glory of God. Jesus told Nicodemus that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee ye must be born again. Listen friend salvation means you are born from above. It is my prayer that if God's spirit has brought conviction to your heart you will exercise repentance toward God and faith in his son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Come to Christ friend in repentance and faith confessing you are a sinner and own him as your savior and lord. You must be washed in the blood and born from above. Let us pray.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Humanity is ruined by sin and under a curse
- Man's depravity illustrated in Job and Genesis
- The natural condition leads to spiritual death
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II
- Self-salvation is impossible
- Salvation is a gift from God by grace through faith
- God’s sovereignty in salvation emphasized
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III
- All will be judged by God’s perfect law
- Sin is transgression and no one can meet God’s standard
- Judgment will reveal all sin and guilt
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IV
- Repentance is commanded by God
- Jesus and the apostles preached repentance
- True repentance involves surrender and cleansing by Christ’s blood
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V
- Being born again is essential for salvation
- Regeneration is a supernatural heart change
- New birth leads to a transformed life for God’s glory
Key Quotes
“The modern gospel of our day should be called the great omission because it's void of all its teeth and power.” — E.A. Johnston
“You are ruined by sin and you are under a curse.” — E.A. Johnston
“You must be born again. Salvation means you are born from above.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Recognize your sinful condition and your need for God’s grace.
- Do not rely on your own efforts for salvation but trust in Jesus Christ alone.
- Respond to God’s call by repenting of sin and seeking new life through being born again.
