RADIO MESSAGE
Is there any real hope for real
sinners? I know that men and women who think of themselves as good moral people
have no problem in this matter. They think they are okay. They look upon their
good works, their religious devotion, and their moral integrity with much
approval. In their proud self-righteousness they presume that God owes them
something and that he will accept them. They are highly offended when they are
told by a plain spoken preacher that they are sinners and that their supposed
righteous deeds are filthy rags, abominable in the sight of God. I am not
speaking to you of good people".
I am speaking to you men and women who know
yourselves to be guilty sinners before a holy God. You have no good deeds to
boast of. Your life is as vile as your heart. You are an outcast of society.
Both your family and friends avoid your company. You are so abominably evil
that you can hardly endure living with yourself. You know that you are guilty
before a holy God. You know that if you had your just reward from him, you
would be in hell. Is there any real hope for real sinners like you and me?
I know that we have no hope in ourselves. We have
all tried religious decisions and moral reformation. But these things cannot
atone for our sins. These things cannot silence our guilty consciences.
Preachers tell us to join the church, or start living right, or start serving
the Lord. You may have tried it all. But the fact remains that you cannot do
anything that God will accept. You may have joined the church and become
religious, but your conscience still torments you. You have no peace with God.
Is there any real hope for real sinners?
Yes, blessed be God, there is real hope for real
sinners like us! That Hope is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He came to
this earth to be the Friend of sinners. He came to be the sinner's Substitute
before God. As the Substitute for sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ lived in this
world accomplishing a perfect righteousness, the only righteousness which God
will accept. Then he willingly laid down his life in the place of sinners at
Calvary. As the Substitute for guilty sinners the Son of God took our sins upon
himself, and in his death he paid the penalty due unto us. Now it is promised
that all who believe on him shall be saved and have everlasting life. "He
that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36). That
includes both you and me. If we, as guilty sinners, believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ as our only Savior, our only Righteousness, and our only Pardon for sin,
we shall be saved!
Jesus Christ is the only One who gives real hope
to real sinners. I trust him. Most gladly do I trust Christ. I have no
righteousness but his righteousness. I have no cleansing from sin but his
blood. I have no pardon but his pardon. I have no acceptance before God but
Christ. I have nothing to plead before God but this, Jesus Christ lived and
died for me. Though I am a real sinner like you, I have a REAL HOPE BEFORE
GOD. My Hope is Jesus Christ the Lord. And HE GIVES HE REAL PEACE BEFORE
GOD. Will you trust Christ alone? THERE IS REAL HOPE FOR REAL SINNERS IN
CHRIST. Amen.