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QUESTION 89:
Why is it that the preaching of the gospel is not producing results like it used to?

ANSWER:
There is much confusion about the gospel today.Never was there a time when more false gospels are being preached, they are now. There is the "health and wealth gospel," which promises you health and wealth if you believe. There's the "get or give me gospel." What's in it for me?"

Here Paul explains the true gospel: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scripture; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures;" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. The first part has to do with "death and sin," the last part with resurrection and life forevermore. It all adds up to the fact that there must be deep conviction of our sins before the gospel can become the power of God unto salvation, Romans 1:16. Sadly to say, there is a lack of preaching on sin today which we most desperately need. This is the underlying cause of the ineffectiveness of the gospel; NO conviction, NO conversion.

When God made man it was "in His image and likeness" (Genesis 1:26-27). Man alone was made in that image. He was God's representative on earth. He was made in God's likeness (resemblance). God's likeness was absolute holiness and righteousness. When man sinned he lost this likeness completely, and he marred the image in which he was created. This is the essence of sin. The gospel is to supply man's needs. If man never knew his needs, than the gospel will have no appeal to him. Sin must be preached and called by name: adultery, fornication, blasphemy, drunkenness, dishonesty, theft, etc., etc. (Read Matthew 15:19).

May the Lord convict you and show you His salvation.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen