Have you ever seen the words Jesus Saves written in a public place? I didn’t know what that meant at first and I still don’t know why anyone would write it on the wall in a bathroom. Some call this e-vandalism: evangelistically motivated graffiti: just put the gospel out there and hope someone responds. But there is a problem with hit and run evangelistic techniques. One reason why the gospel is often rejected is that the good news is meaningless to people who don’t believe the bad news. No one follows the prescription if they don’t believe the diagnosis.
When I finally received the good news that Jesus Saves, it was due to the fact that I accepted the bad news that I was lost and in need of salvation. Once I realized the severity of my situation, I was more than willing to admit I needed help.
This weekend we will look at a classic verse, Rom. 6:23, which provides a clear diagnosis of our problem and then presents the solution: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is a simple summary of Christianity. I know you will get a lot out of looking at this verse, word by word. A testimony and a skateboarding video will tie into the message as well. Come find out how it will all fit together.