5R Gospel

~ Respond – Recognize – Repent – Receive – Rely ~

Respond (to God’s effectual call)  ~  “Jesus therefore answered and said to them, ‘Do not murmur among yourselves.  No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.  It is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught by God.”  Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me’” (John 6:43-45). 

Recognize (that you are a sinner)  ~  “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.  They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.’ … For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10-12, 23). 

Repent (turn around, away from your sin)  ~  “So they went out and preached that people should repent” (Mark 6:12).  “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38).  “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:19-20). 

Receive (God’s mercy, grace, salvation, and eternal life from the Person of Jesus Christ)  ~  “There salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).  “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.  For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’” (Romans 10:9-13).   “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:22-25). 

Rely (on God’s Word – read it, trust it,  and obey it)   ~  “How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed according to Your Word.  With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!  Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:9-11).  Our example, Jesus Christ, could say, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world.  They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your Word” (John 17:6).  “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:16-17). 

Respond (your decision)  ~  Now that you have considered the facts and you know what is required, how will you respond?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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