God’s Bridge

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by Mike Ratliff

If we compare much of what is preached or presented as the gospel these days to what the Bible says is the Gospel, and if we are scripturally honest, we will have to say that there is a vast difference between the two. The gospel that most here today has been neutered by the removal of the Law of God as well as His wrath against all unatoned for sin. As a result, the Church is populated by huge numbers of converts, but sadly few regenerate believers.

Not only is the concept that the Gospel is a description of God’s bridge to people not well known or understood, it is also not seen as necessary. Why? The social or seeker sensitive gospel does not talk about sin, repentance, God’s wrath, or Christ’s Lordship. Instead, the emphasis is on getting as many as possible to “decide for Christ.” Is salvation a decision that includes the reward of eternal life for making it?

Let’s look first at God’s purpose for creating Man in the first place. Why did God create Man? The Bible tells us that God created Man to honor, serve, and fellowship with Him.

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!” (Revelation 4:10-11 WEB)

“Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1Corinthians 10:30-32 WEB)

“You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalms 16:11 WEB)

It doesn’t take a genius to understand that very few people actually live their lives within God’s purpose of honoring, serving, and fellowshipping with Him. What happened that destroyed this perfect relationship? Man chose to sin against God rather than serve Him.

“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:22-23 WEB)

What does it mean to sin against God?

“Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.” (1John 3:4 WEB)

Men, women, and children sin by doing what God has commanded everyone not to do or by not doing what He has commanded them to do. Therefore, it is quite easy to know if one has sinned or not. In fact, this is the crux of much of the rebellion in the Church today. Many are saying that people can remain in their sins and still be united with God. However, the Bible is very clear that sin separates Men from God and His purpose. In fact, the Bible says that the penalty for sin is death.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:22-23 WEB)

When Man chose to rebel and disobey God, the result was death. The basic meaning of death is separation. From God’s Word we learn that there are three types of death, or separation, which result from sin. Spiritual death separates a person from the life of God, (Ephesians 2:1) and physical death separates a person’s soul from his or her body, (Hebrews 9:27) and eternal death separates a person, both soul and body, from God forever in Hell. (Revelation 20:15)

When Man fell into sin all of the Human Race was plunged into sinful rebellion against God. However, worst of all, everyone in this Race is dead in their trespasses and sins. They are totally unable to create a bridge back to God because all works done in the flesh is sin and God cannot even be in the presence of unatoned sin. Then how can Man ever have eternal life? History is replete with Man’s attempt to create a bridge to God to attain eternal life with Him, but all has been unsuccessful.

“There is a way which seems right to a man, But in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12 WEB)

not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves (Titus 3:5a WEB)

“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast”
(Ephesians 2:8-10 WEB)

Therefore, we know that Man’s attempts to create a bridge to God via good works, religion, money, or even morality do not work. These things are examples of self-righteousness and, in God’s eyes, nothing but works of lawlessness. However, God is merciful. He knew that Man could not create a bridge to Him so He created a bridge to Man. How? Remember it is sin that separates Man from God so His Bridge had to deal with that. He sent the second person in the Holy Trinity, God the Son, to become a man, taking the place of His people in paying the penalty for their sins by dying on the cross in their place.

“But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8 WEB)

“Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God” (1Peter 3:18a WEB)

God has created the bridge to Man so that men, women, children may cross it to eternal life. How do they cross it? They must receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” (John 14:6)

Receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, which is coming to the Father through Christ, happens when those whom God calls, repent of their sins then put their trust in Jesus Christ alone as their blessed hope of eternal life.

“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19a NET)

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved: (Acts 16:31a NET)

“For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 WEB)

This act of faith is one of believing God, not simply believing in God. It is the result of God’s Grace as He quickens a person so they can believe and repent and receive Christ as Lord and Saviour. They are justified by faith and are washed clean by God’s regeneration. They are no longer dead in their trespasses and sins, but have passed from death to life.

“Most assuredly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5:24 WEB)

From this verse we learn that the person who, by faith, believes God has eternal life, does not come into judgment, and has passed out of death into life.

In order to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour a person must admit that they have sinned against God and ask Him for forgiveness. They must believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for them on the cross, rose from the dead, and is Lord. They must call upon Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour.

World English Bible (WEB)

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Version 1.3

19 thoughts on “God’s Bridge”

  1. Well done my brother in Christ. What a glorious God; faithful Father, Son and Holy Spirit we serve. This could only come from HIm.

  2. Good Mike. Well wrote. Not only do we have false teachers, false gospels, but the Word is being printed all together false now. God is still on the throne and sovereign, but it makes you wonder how anyone can hear the ‘true’ gospel with all the garbage floating around out there!! He won’t lose one of His elect. We have to pray for Him to regenerate them in spite of all the falseness going on. He does. That right there is a miracle!!

  6. Mike,
    The true Gospel is not presented to the world enough, it is watered down. The way you presented it was plain and simple and truthful.

    Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,
    And done that which is evil in thy sight;
    That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest,
    And be clear when thou judgest.
    Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity;
    And in sin did my mother conceive me.
    [And] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
    (Psalm 51:4-5)

    Cristina

  7. Mike you wrote:
    “In order to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour a person must admit that they have sinned against God and ask Him for forgiveness. They must believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for them on the cross, rose from the dead, and is Lord. They must call upon Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour.”

    Mike can I slightly rephrase that?

    In order for a person to be able to be received by Jesus, the Lord and Saviour, He (The Lord) must first cause them, through the peaching of God’s Gospel to be convicted of their sin. The person will be caused by the Holy Spirit to understand and believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for them on the cross, rose from the dead, and is Lord. The Lord then will cause a person to repent and seek His acceptance.
    When the Lord does these things…there are no false converts because the sinner was saved by God’s grace, rather than the steps and formulas of men.
    Our “soul” job as ‘the accepted into the beloved’ (notice He accepted us, not us Him) is to proclaim Him and stand back and allow God to do the saving work of His grace and Spirit! God saves men, we don’t nor can we.
    Loved the writing as always!
    Brent

  11. Mike,

    You say sin is lawlessness. Can you give me a better biblical definition of sin? How does someone know that they are a sinner? How does someone know that they have committed lawlessness?

    I think that is also what is wrong with the church today. They do not even know what sin is because it is seldom talked about.

  12. Kevin,

    Sure, look at the Ten Commandments and Matthew 5,6, and 7. Any violation of those commands is lawlessness. Also, any self-righteous behavior that is a substitute for working within the Grace and Will of God is lawlessness.

    In Christ

    Mike Ratliff

  13. Mike,

    Thanks for the answer. I asked that because if you just took a random poll of the people in most churches today they could not give you the biblical definition of sin. If we use the law to bring forth the knowledge of sin it leaves a person without excuse. It makes sin personal. It shows them their need for a Savior!

    Thanks again.

  14. Mike,

    Hey. Saw your comment on justification @ Irish Calvinist, clicked on your name, and now I can say that I’m glad I did. This is an excellent post pointing to the need for preachers to grow a backbone, preach God’s word faithfully and wholly. Too many just don’t want to put their jobs in jeopardy because many of the unregenerate ‘converts’ sitting out there won’t like it.

    I also noticed that you said you are a Reformed Southern Baptist in your comment on Erik’s site. Where are you at? I’m in west Texas, preaching at a small church . . . but being Reformed too, I understand the frustrations with many churches that are either doctrinally confused or compromising for whatever reason. Anyway, just wanted to encourage you that it looks like some of our SBC brothers and sisters are becoming more aware of the depth, height, and volume of Scripture and the importance of knowing it in order to know about God.

    Respectfully for the Gospel,

    Kevin

    BTW – let me know where you are, how things are going, etc. You can email me or drop by my blog if you wish (schaubk@gmail dot com OR kschaub.wordpres dot com)

  15. Hey Kevin! You are right about the lack of backbone in alot o preachers these days. They seem to run scared. That is not what we are called to do. I rejoice that you are not in that bunch. :-)

    The Irish Calvinist is a great site. I consider myself a Reformed Baptist. There is only one Reformed Southern Baptist church in our area so we are attending an independent Baptist Church that is Reformed. Awesome preaching and teaching! We live in the Kansas City area on the SW side of the metro in Kansas.

    In Christ

    Mike Ratliff

  16. KC?! Right in the middle of everything. I have some friends from SEBTS (my school!) from that area. Somewhere along the way, they heard good expository preaching and the Doctrines of Grace in their churches. Not sure where though.

    Before returning to Texas for a break from full-time studies, I was offered an internship at a non-officially Reformed Baptist church in Amarillo, and so I got to see what a God-centered, Bible focused student ministry looks like. And you know what? Probably more students from that student ministry graduated from high school with a solid foundation for their faith/theology/discipleship/etc. than any youth ministry I’ve ever seen. Blew me away.

    Sorry for the rambling. I look forward to visiting your site more regularly.

  17. Kevin,

    I am not suprised of the good results that happen when everything is centered on God and His sovereignty. When things become man-foucsed everything devolves into a mess of compromise.

    We are in a great church now that is God-centered on everything. What a blessing! People are being fed as they humble themselves before their God and obey Him. What a concept. :-)

    In Christ

    Mike Ratliff

  18. Amen! Mike. Great post. I would to God that we have such clear presentation of the Gospel on our pulpits and elsewhere.

    But the Lord is building His Church, doubtless, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. With little or much, the Lord is able to get the job done.

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