Explaining the Gospel: Back to Basics Series 2

By Rev. O.L. Johnson

This book is an easy- to- read rendering of the Gospel of Christ that takes the reader from the beginning, the Original Sin, through the plans of God to save his people from themselves, the means of salvation through the sacrifices of Christ, and the after effects of salvation for the believer. It is unique in its brevity, simplicity and

• Language: English
• Publisher: TOPLINK PUBLISHING, LLC
• Release date: Apr 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781948962568

Rev. O.L. Johnson

Rev. Johnson is an ordained Baptist minister, and an Associate Pastor of his home church in Los Angeles, California. He retired in 1990 after a 30 year career with the LAPD and thereafter answered the call into a teaching/preaching ministry. Since that time, he has self-published three additional books, all of which are available online; "Exploring the Holy Scriptures", the Back to Basics Series, "Applying the Holy Scriptures", the Back to Basics Series Three, and "From Ignorance to Enlightenment", One Man's Biblical Journey.

Book preview

Explaining The Gospel

Back to Basics Series 2

Rev. O.L. Johnson

Copyright © 2018 by Rev. O.L. Johnson.

Paperback: 978-1-948962-55-1

eBook: 978-1-948962-56-8

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Ordering Information:

For orders and inquiries, please contact:

1-888-375-9818

www.toplinkpublishing.com

[e-mail]

Printed in the United States of America

To Mrs. Delories M. Johnson,

my bride of thirty years,

my harshest critic,

my staunchest supporter,

my sounding board,

my inspiration,

thanks for putting up with me through this process!

A special thanks to

my pastor, Dr. Ricardo Bartlett, Sr.,

for your input and guidance,

and to those who graciously consented to read and endorse this work, including

Maureen Bautista,

B. Sandra Foster, and

Rene Simpson.

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Chapter 1 Destruction

Chapter 2 Deliverance

Chapter 3 Hope

Chapter 4 Expectations

Chapter 5 Mandates

Chapter 6 Benefits

Chapter 7 Temptations, Traps, and Pitfalls

Chapter 8 Recovery

Chapter 9 Moving Forward

Chapter 10 Images

Teaching Guide

Endorsements

Foreword

The subject of explaining the gospel has drawn the written attention of many people working out of a vast variety of experiences and educational backgrounds. Although Reverend Johnson’s offering here comes out of his deep desire to spread the gospel through understanding the Scripture, his wise, clear, and simple guidance through the complexities of reading and rightly dividing the word of truth, the common everyday person can find a basic understanding regardless of culture or ethnicity. The folkways of interpretation vary more today by socioeconomic types than by ethnic groups, except where languages other than English are involved. I have read numerous books and have found them helpful in one way or another, and so one might ask then, Why another one? Because I believe this one aims for a much higher goal than just the answering of questions or the solving of prob lems.

Personal spiritual growth—that is Orville Johnson’s great concern as he shares these pragmatic and basic insights with you. The goal is not just the reading of Scripture but spiritual development and deep, concise, and accurate understanding. After all, if we study, understand, and honestly seek God’s wisdom diligently and obey His will trustingly—the result? Spiritual growth all around!

Something else makes these chapters unique. They come from the heart and mind of a God-fearing man who is a preacher, teacher, and philosopher (even though he would not say so), a man who has a heart for revival and renewal in humankind. Orville Johnson draws from a wealth of learning that has been filtered through the grid of personal experience. No ivory tower ideas here, no theological dissertations, and no pious evasions!

Don’t speed-read this book. Pause, ponder, pray, learn, and grow!

—Ricardo Bartlett, Sr., PhD, Detroit, Michigan

Preface

The gospel is the most important gift our Creator has given to mankind. It carries this distinction because it is the only means by which any member of humanity can realize an eternal existence with the Creator in his heavenly abode. In view of its importance to mankind, it seems that mankind as a whole should be knocking itself out to learn all about it and how it accomplishes this monumental goal. But this is not the case. Unfortunately there are more among us who are ignorant of the gospel than who are not. Our goal in this work is to explain the gospel to the best of our ability in simple, down-to-earth terms so that all who are unaware can become enlightened and fully a ware.

It is fairly common knowledge that the meaning of the word gospel is "good news." However, as I recently heard a pastor say, before there can be good news, there must have been bad news. I agree, and that’s the reason this work begins with the bad news that precedes the good news. Chapter 1, Destruction, chronicles sin from its beginning and follows its journey up to now. Subsequent chapters carry the reader through the gospel from Deliverance in chapter 2 to Images in chapter 10 all in an easy-to-read, understandable writing style. This is not for scholars—although I would be honored if some would take the time to read it—but rather it is primarily intended for plain folks both inside and outside of the church sanctuaries of the world.

Allow me to close this preface by answering one question I’m frequently asked by those who have read my previously published books, Why did you write this book? There are actually two answers to the question. The first answer implies a second question. First of all I wrote this book because God told me to write it. The implied question is this: Why did he tell me to write it? Because he made me know a few years ago that although I was a loyal, dependable church attendee, I was not saved. I did not know I was not saved, and I did not have the slightest notion that I needed to be saved. But that was only the precursor to the revelation that gave birth to this book—the fact that I was not alone in my ignorance. God put it in my mind that the local churches of the world are literally full of folk just as ignorant and ill-informed as I was. So my assignment was to write this book primarily for them, good people who love God but who are in need of a simple rendering of the gospel as a guide to their salvation. That’s the goal, as Paul simply put it, that I might by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:22, KJV).

And now let’s get on with the assignment. My prayers are that you will find true revelations of the gospel of Christ in these pages and that you will allow Christ into your life to reign as your Lord and Savior.

Chapter 1

Destruction

Sin exists for a purpose. Its purpose is clearly given in a nutshell in the title of this chapter. It exists to destroy. In the hands of Satan, sin is on a mission to destroy you, me, and all of humankind. The Devil picks on us because he is so angry at God for evicting him from heaven that he decided to destroy God’s crowning creation, mankind.