Youthful Days

Gospel Truth


There have been lots of mistakes made by the judges of this world, and surely none where the accused has been proclaimed innocent and then condemned to death - but that happened to Jesus.

The Roman judge said to the crowds, “I find no fault whatever in him” (John 18:38), and then, “What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22).  The answer is well known; they wanted Jesus to be crucified, and the judge agreed to it!

The soldiers humiliated Jesus, forcing a crown of thorns onto His head, spitting in His face, beating, mocking and finally scourging Him.  Then they led Him out of the city and crucified Him at the place called Golgotha.

Have you seen Jesus?

Did you see them nailing
       His hands to the tree,
Raise Him up on a cross
       For the whole world to see?
Have you seen Him dying –
       For you and for me?

As this simple verse implies, we must see beyond what men did to Jesus, and remember the words of the prophet who said, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5).

ABP

extracted from the Sep 2020 issue of Youthful Days


The Gospel from Isaiah

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

James was accustomed to ‘bad language’; he used it, so did his friends and his parents.  But one day, in idle curiosity, he wandered into a gospel preaching.  The preacher was reading from Isaiah, and the first words James heard as he came in were, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5).

In that moment, it struck James how like Isaiah he was.  “I’ve got unclean lips,” he thought, “and so have my friends.”  Perhaps you think this does not apply to you, but have you never told a lie, have you never used your lips to sin?

James sat down, and the preacher went on to show how we may be cleansed from our sins by trusting in the Lord Jesus, who offered Himself to God as the perfect sacrifice for sin.  On the cross, He bore all God’s holy wrath against sin, suffering - the Just for the unjust.  As he listened, James realised that there was a Saviour for him in the Lord Jesus Christ.

However unclean and unfitted for God’s presence we may feel, God offers us forgiveness through faith in Jesus.  The sins of the past cannot be overlooked but they can be righteously forgiven.  Consciences are burdened but, blessed be God, He has provided a way whereby we can not only be forgiven, but made as clear of sin as Jesus is.

James found it to be so that night.  Have you?

Mark Lemon

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
”    Isaiah 53:4-6

extracted from the Sep 2019 issue of Youthful Days


An Anchor for the Soul

Whilst preaching the gospel in the town square, we come into contact with many different people, most hurrying about their shopping as though their lives depended upon it.  But some are willing to stop and talk, and often it emerges that, deep down in their hearts, shoppers are looking for something far more satisfying than any purchase can provide, no matter how much they are prepared to pay. Not all will be prepared to admit to it, but many have no real purpose in life, and are secretly searching for an anchor for their souls.

Often, we have opportunity to tell passers-by that the Christian faith offers an anchor, secure and firm.  It is our Saviour, Jesus Christ, “the same yesterday, and today, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).

We all need Jesus, and we need to realise that His love for us will never change.  It is a love that has been fully tried and tested, especially when He gave His life on Calvary’s cross to save us from our sins.  It is a love that will never fail, and will never let us down.

If we trust Him, He will come into our hearts and will be with us each day as our Saviour and Friend.  He will guide us and bring us safe home to that place that He has prepared for us, and to which He has promised to take us so that we might be with Him where He is, and like Him for all eternity.

Brian Parr

extracted from the Mar 2019 issue of Youthful Days



Nothing to Pay!

Nothing to pay!  That is surely good news, and it is something that we read of in the Bible too.  Just recently, I had an experience that reminded me of the goodness of God and His wonderful free gift.

As I was standing in the town centre, a lady whom I knew came up to me and commented on my new coat.  “That looks warm, “she told me, “were you given it for Christmas?  It looks really expensive!”

I assured her it was certainly warm – and that day it needed to be, for a cold wind was blowing across the square where I stood, and I was thankful for the coat.  But I explained to her, “no, it wasn’t for Christmas, but a friend paid for it and gave it to me.  Isn’t that just like God’s salvation? – someone else paid for it, and we can receive it absolutely free!”

It was Jesus, God’s beloved Son, who paid the debt of our sins by suffering, dying and shedding His precious blood to wash our sins away.  His final, victorious shout when dying upon the cross, “It is finished”, meant my debt of sin was paid in full.  By trusting in Him, I can receive forgiveness, peace with God, eternal life, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  And so much more – free!

Truly, “my cup runneth over(Psalm 23:5), all paid for by the greatest Friend of all, our Lord Jesus Christ, and freely given to me!  That is why, right at the end of the Bible, God has included a reminder of His invitation to every one of us, “whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely(Revelation 22:17).


ABP

extracted from the January 2017 issue of Youthful Days