The Gospel, quite frankly, is simple.
All of us are sinners. All of us deserve, and were destined for, hell. We are unable to do anything about this of our own power.
Jesus Christ, son of God and member of the Trinity, came to earth, and died a sinless death on the cross to pay the punishment for the sins of all of us. He was buried and rose again the third day.
This substitutionary atonement for sins enables each of us to choose to repent of our sins and to put our faith in Him for salvation. In so doing, we can be "born again," as Nicodemus learned in John 3.
This week's hymn also reminds us of the story of Nicodemus and our need to be "born again." The Gospel is simple enough for a child to understand. Have you been born again?
Ye Must Be Born Again
A ruler once came to Jesus by night
To ask Him the way of salvation and light;
The Master made answer in words true and plain,
“Ye must be born again.”
Refrain
“Ye must be born again,
Ye must be born again,
I verily, verily, say unto thee,
Ye must be born again.”
Ye children of men, attend to the Word,
So solemnly uttered by Jesus the Lord;
And let not this message to you be in vain,
“Ye must be born again.”
Refrain
O ye who would enter that glorious rest,
And sing with the ransomed the song of the blest,
The life everlasting if ye would obtain,
“Ye must be born again.”
Refrain
A dear one in Heaven thy heart yearns to see,
At the beautiful gate may be watching for thee,
Then list to the note of this solemn refrain,
“Ye must be born again.”
Refrain
2 comments:
Thanks for your clear explanation of the gospel of grace, and for your quotation of William Sleeper's gospel song. Your site caught my eye this morning because today is the 105th anniversary of Sleeper's death. He also gave us the invitation hymn, "Jesus, I Come."
Back again, one year later. I see that I'm the only one who's left a comment. I do hope, however, that you've had many visitors, even if they didn't post a comment.
And if you’ll excuse a brief “commercial:” With the arrival of fall, we begin to think of the Christmas season up ahead. If you do not have a good book on the subject of our Christmas carols, I encourage you to take a look at mine, Discovering the Songs of Christmas. In it, I discuss the history and meaning of 63 carols and Christmas hymns. The book is available through Amazon, or directly from Jebaire Publishing. (Might make a great gift too!)
Post a Comment