I had the privilege to speak at a retreat in February on 2 Timothy 3:14-17. In verse 15, it says that Scripture is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” As a result, I decided to use only Scripture–only the words of God–to give a gospel presentation during the message. Here’s what I put together:
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In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). God created man in his own image (Genesis 1:27). And God said, “I am the LORD, your Holy One. You shall be holy, for I am holy,” (Isaiah 43:15; 1 Peter 1:16). Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9)? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it (James 2:10). For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth (Romans 1:18). There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God (Romans 3:10-11). All have turned aside; no one does good, not even one (Romans 3:12). They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whosoever should believe in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). Though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:6-7). In every respect he was tempted as we are, yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace (Isaiah 53:5). Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and he was buried, and he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Christ has been raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20)! Death is swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54)!
Repent and be baptized everyone one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38). If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). He is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by him (John 14:6). For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-10).
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