Pastors John Sherwood and Peter Simpson were preaching the gospel in the centre of Uxbridge, West London, on December 7th.
One of the helpers, Mrs Jackman, spoke to a Roman Catholic gentleman who said that he was a man of God doing God’s work, including feeding the poor and caring for people generally. He was told that such actions are of course most honourable, but that it is also necessary to remember that no one can earn acceptance with God and a place in heaven though any meritorious good works of one’s own. Salvation is by grace alone, through repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died in the sinner’s place.
Mrs Jackman also spoke to a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), who of course sadly laid strong emphasis on keeping the Saturday sabbath. SDA’s claim that observing the first day of the week as the sabbath only came into being following the decree of the Emperor Constantine in 320 AD. This, however, is not true, because there are in existence “at least 10 quotes from major writers from 90 to 300 AD who all say that the practice of Christians everywhere was to meet on Sunday, not the Jewish Saturday sabbath” . Also, in the following 4 New Testament passages there is reference to Christians gathering together on the first day of the week : 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Acts 20:7, John 20:19 and John 20:26.
Also, SDA’s have added to Scripture by means of the writings of the false prophet, Ellen White, who taught amongst other things that the Lord Jesus Christ only entered in His heavenly Father’s eternal presence in year the 1844 AD!! , as opposed to at His ascension. This amazing claim flatly contradicts Hebrews 9:12, which states,
“By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12).
At one stage a man walked by and gave to Pastor Simpson what looked like a rude gesture with his hand. The preacher immediately retorted that a rude gesture constituted no reasonable argument by which to refute the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Some passers-by refused to take tracts, saying that they were regular churchgoers. One pointed to a crucifix around his neck. It is hoped that these folk were genuinely trusting in Christ alone and His death upon the Cross for mercy and salvation.
A number of people stopped to comment on how important the witness was and to express their appreciation. One lady even offered to buy those witnessing a cup of coffee! This was most encouraging.
Pastor Simpson took as one of his texts Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked : who can know it?”
He proceeded along the following lines : “Man has a serious heart problem. All people in fact need brand new hearts. And that is why the Lord Jesus Christ came down from the glories of heaven where He had been since all eternity to become one of us, and to live a perfect life to teach people about the kingdom of God, and then to die upon a cross for sinners. Come to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only Saviour of sinners. There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved from our sins, but that of Jesus Christ. He came down to this earth to rescue you and me from our sinful hearts which control us. Man is not good by nature.
This is the root cause of all the problems in the world, the sinful heart of men and all need to come to Jesus Christ for a new heart. All people need heart surgery. All need to come to the master surgeon, the great physician of souls, Jesus Christ. All need a heart transplant operation. The Lord Jesus Christ will create within you a new heart, if you turn from sin and trust in Him. He is the only one who can remove your guilt, who can take away your corrupted nature.
The Bible calls our corrupted sinful natures the flesh. All are controlled by the flesh, until Jesus gives them a new heart. “If any man is in Christ he is a new creature”. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new”. Jesus Christ can can make you new if you acknowledge your sin and trust in Him, but without Christ all are on their way to an everlasting hell, because the holy God must punish sin”.
May many who heard this message in Uxbridge come to the Lord Jesus Christ for heart transplant surgery, and without further delay, for this is exactly what the Saviour meant, when He declared, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7).