Dead Man Walking
By Tom Benjamin
Bishop & Senior Pastor
Light of the World Christian Church
If someone were to ask you, "How do I become a Christian?" what would you tell him or her? Would you stammer and stutter or would you stand and deliver? Often what we know in our heart we are unable to speak because of fear but more than not because we have failed to practice it. One of my favorite stories is about the man who was in New York City for the first time trying to find Carnegie Hall. He runs into a hip street-savvy man whom he asks, "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?" The man's answer, "Practice, baby, practice!" Yes, this advice applies to sharing the precious plan of salvation. We must rehearse it and relive it because it is our testimony. I couldn't have told you about this plan before I gave my life to Jesus because I was "destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6)". What I didn't know was killing me. I was a dead man walking. A Cleveland pastor -who has gone to be with the Lord - led me to Jesus Christ. I don't want to ever forget Bill Hannah because I'm so grateful that a loving God saved me, bringing me from death to life and He used this man to bring me the message. From my personal perspective and the authority of the Bible, here is the precious plan of salvation. It has also been known as the four spiritual laws.
ONE: GOD LOVES YOU AND WANTS YOU TO HAVE A WONDERFUL LIFE.
How do I know this? My grandmother taught me even before I was saved the Bible song; "Yes, Jesus loves me - the Bible tells me so." This was confirmed by the Word of God that says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever (that's me) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)." God loves me and God has a plan for my life, which is for good and not evil. Jesus says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10)."
TWO: WE ARE DISOBEDIENT AND SEPARATED FROM GOD.
That is called sin. Sin blocks our blessings and causes us to die spiritually and physically. That is also what I was experiencing. I was dead on the inside as a 22 year-old man. No life, no hope, and no future. I was not alone in this condition, yet I found no consolation in the fact that others were lost too. The Bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)." Some people use this as an excuse but I use it as an example. I was a lost sinner - drinking and smoking, lusting and living for me and me alone. The Bible says, "the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)." I was a dead man walking and talking. You can be dead spiritually and still have motor functions. Why was I dead? Disobedience. Not just mine, but Adam's - the first man who disobeyed God from the beginning. The Bible says, "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:19)."
THREE: JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY PROVISION FOR MAN'S SIN AND NOTHING SHORT OF TOTAL SURRENDER TO HIM CAN SAVE.
The Bible says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"(Romans 5:8)." Jesus Christ is the only way to God, there is no substitute. With authority He said of Himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6)." Romans 5:17 says, "For if by one man's offence (Adam) death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."
FOUR: FINALLY, WE MUST PERSONALLY BELIEVE AND RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE FULL BENEFIT.
This is not something you can do through someone else. I would not get to heaven on my grandmother's faith. It was a great faith, but it was her faith. The Bible says, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12)." It's not by what we do, but what we believe that saves us and causes us to be born again. After, and only after, we become God's child do our works hold our reward. Jesus said, "You must be born again (John 3:7)." The Scriptures say, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast (Eph 2:8-9)." GRACE: God's Riches At Christ's Expense!
This is the precious plan. Precious because we are valuable to God. There is a miracle in this moment - don't let it pass you by. Believe Christ. Surrender your life.
Let His love bring you back to life.
Living He love me
Dying He saved me
Buried He carried all my sins far away
Rising He justified, freed me forever
He's coming back one glorious day
P.S. God has chosen for us to live out this glorious new life within the love and protection of a local church. Light of the World Christian Church, where I serve as Senior Pastor, is a loving family wanting to help you grow in Christ. See you soon?
