Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

 

Dear Rev. Graham: There’s sure a lot of religious lingo that is hard to understand including sin, sanctification, and salvation. What does “Gospel of crisis” mean? I thought the Gospel was a message from God. – G.C.

 

Dear G.C.: Christianity is centered on the Gospel that brings conviction, confession, and change. But an unbelieving world sees Christianity as a Gospel of crisis because it boldly proclaims that the world’s days are numbered. Every cemetery testifies to this. The Bible teaches that life is only a vapor that appears for a moment and then vanishes. This is why God calls out to people and nations of the world to get right with Him.

It’s possible through sin to harden our hearts against God so long that we lose all desire for God. The Scripture says, “God also gave them up” (Romans 1:24, KJV). This is the crisis that the Gospel answers. We have all fallen short of God’s plan, but God’s love, mercy, and grace have provided a way out of the crisis of eternal death and separation from God. His sacrifice on the cross and His love for mankind made a way for our redemption. Don’t delay settling things with Christ today; don’t wait and let sin’s deceitfulness harden your heart.

The Gospel shows people their wounds and bestows on them love. It shows them their bondage and supplies the hammer to knock away their chains. It shows them their nakedness and provides them the garments of purity. It shows them their poverty and pours into their lives the wealth of Heaven. It shows them their sins and points them to the Savior. People don’t like to hear that they are sinners – we are all sinners. But God saves the lost soul who repents and turns to Him. They leave their sins behind and begin a new life.

————

(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)