The Fundamentals - 1910: Vol.12

Doctrines to Be Emphasized in Evangelism 17 46; Mark 9:43, 48; Luke 12:5; 16:22-31; John 5:28, 29; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Heb. 10:28, 29; 2 Peter 3:5-12; Rev. 19:20; 20:14, 15; 21:8, etc.) The preacher who ignores these three awful and inexorable truths preaches an emasculated gospel, be he never so faith­ ful in proclaiming other truth. He who preaches the love of God to the exclusion of God’s justice and wrath proclaims but idle- sentiment. No one will ever truly desire salvation unless he first realizes that there is something to be saved from. “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house” (Heb. 11 :7 ) ; all of which symbolizes the sin­ ner’s condition, need, motive and hope. In no way can the love of God be so clearly, beautifully and convincingly set forth as in the fact that God makes plain to the sinner his condition and peril, and then shows him the way of escape, having, in His great mercy, Himself provided it at infinite cost. Now, at this point the Gospel comes in as indeed good news, showing God’s love for the sinner. The supreme motive for the atoning work of our Lord was His infinite love for us. The supreme object had in view was to save us from eternal ruin. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3 :16). Our Lord, while among men, had far more to say about the doom of the finally impenitent than about love and heaven. Is it not wise and safe to follow His ex­ ample who said, “The word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.” How can any minister rea­ sonably expect to have evangelistic success if he fails to imi­ tate the Master in this particular? “When T say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand” (Ezek. 33:8).

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