Gift Of Eternal Life Is Wrapped In Package Of Jesus

Romans 5:18, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

I was reading a wonderful book today by one of my favorite preachers, Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968). As I read his books and hear him preach, I see Dr. Bob Jones Sr. in Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001). It is clear to me that Brother Jones had a tremendous influence on the life and preaching of Dr. Jack Hyles. I love both of these dear men of God!

It grieves my heart to see how our nation has changed for the worse in my lifetime. What discourages me is that today's professed Christians (particularly my own camp of independent Baptists) cannot see the forest for the trees! We are changing so quickly and most Baptists are in woeful denial. Here is a beautiful quote from Evangelist Bob Jones Sr.:

“Young people, you can't buy salvation. You can't pay for it after you get it. But if you don't already have it, you can have it. Somebody is giving it away around here. His name is Jesus and He wants to give you salvation. 

Before I stop I will use an illustration I have used many times here at the college.  Maybe those of you who have heard it have forgotten it. 

Do you see this quarter? I want to give it to you. But I am a peculiar man. I just give away quarters one way. I put a quarter in a book, shut the book, and offer you the book. You don't want the book? Well, all right, you can't have my quarter, then. I have a right to put the quarter in any sort of package I wish. You, of course, have the privilege of rejecting the quarter. 

God has something He wants to give you. It is eternal life. He wrapped it in the most wonderful package you ever heard of. He put it in Jesus. People looked at Jesus. He had no form or comeliness; there wasn't anything about Him to be desired. And they didn't realize what was wrapped up in that package. They put Jesus on a cross. They nailed Him there. They killed Him. Then He rose from the dead, and He has been scarred ever since that time. If you could see Jesus today, the glorified, risen Son of God, you would find scars on His brow and scars in His hands. If you could look at His side you would find a would there. His feet are scarred. But, say, He has wrapped in Himself a wonderful gift. God gives you eternal life when you take Him. Eternal life is wrapped up in Christ.” —Dr. Bob Jones Sr., “Things I Have Learned: Chapel Talks,” pages 222-223; Bob Jones University Press, ©1945

Amen and amen! That was so simply, beautifully and eloquently said. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. preached the simplicity that is in Jesus Christ (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4).

Bob Jones University Preaches Another Gospel Today

Dr. Jones would be appalled, disgusted and angry if he heard Dr. Steve Pettit (president of Bob Jones University since 2014) teaching the students that to be saved, they “must persevere” in holiness, ministry and service to others, and faithfully “run the race” to obtain the “award” of Heaven itself. Dr. Pettit is preaching another gospel, not the Gospel of free grace once delivered unto the saints! Dr. Pettit made this blasphemous statement at Bob Jones University (BJU) to 2,700 impressionable students on January 26, 2015:

“You can't just speak about getting saved, and you accepted Christ, and then that's it! There is a justification; There is a sanctification; There's ultimately a glorification, and though there are three parts, they are all part of the whole, and you cannot separate them. In order for you to qualify for the award, you have to get into the race, you have to stay in the race, and you have to finish the race. If you want to win, you have to run to the end; and winning in the Christian life is everything, because if you lose—if you don't finish—you lose everything—you lose your SOUL. And so, the Christian race is the life of faith that begins, is run, and is finished when we cross over into Heaven!” [emphasis added] —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 11:34)

Folks, that is the exact opposite of what the founder, Dr. Bob Jones Sr., believed and taught the students at BJU. Dr. Jones would blow up the college he started with dynamite (he said so himself | MP4 | MP3) if he could today! Kindly said, Steve Pettit is a religious liberal! They actually pay him a 6-digit salary to preach a counterfeit gospel, sending those misled students to Hell. Still not convinced? Read this heretical quote from Dr. Pettit...

“So when we talk about 'The Race,' what are we talking about? We're talking about beginning and salvation, and then running the race through pursuing holiness and ministry, and service to others. But then let me say, that number three: This race HAS TO be faithfully run to the finish! You HAVE TO finish. Salvation is not just a past reality—“I GOT SAVED,” but is a future destiny! The race is not completed until you cross the finish line at death. What is this race—it is the race as we are running as we are headed toward Heaven.” —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 10:27)

“We run the race, we cross the finish line, and so what’s the prize? What is the award? Well, there are different viewpoints. Some would have the viewpoint that the awards are crowns in Heaven. But as I read the book of Hebrews and see the whole gist of the book and the flow of the book, I don’t believe its referring to crowns in Heaven. I think it is referring to Heaven itself.” [emphasis added] —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 22:57)

Dr. Pettit teaches strange doctrines. I shared with you earlier what Dr. Bob Jones Sr. taught. These two men are light-years apart in their plans of salvation! Steve Pettit teaches BJU students that if they perpetually lie, they'll go to Hell. That is another gospel!!! If you are saved, you can lie all you want and still go to Heaven (Acts 13:39; Romans 5:20). You shouldn't lie. Lying is a sin. God hates lying. However, none of that has anything to do with the free gift of God, which is eternal life (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). 

God knows I am not trying to be mean. I don't get paid a single penny for my preaching. Since I began my online ministry in 2002, I've never accepted one cent! I've had people send me money, and I sent it back to them, every penny! I do what I do because I love God, truth and people!!! I have a full reward in Heaven, the greatest being all the souls saved and lives changed through my humble labors for Jesus Christ. To God alone be all the credit, praise and glory!!! Jesus said without Him we cannot do anything (John 15:5). Jesus even keeps you and me breathing (Acts 17:25). Jesus is precious!!!

Eternal Life Comes In The Wonderful Package Of Jesus!

I like what Dr. Bob Jones Sr. said about being “a peculiar man.” I am too! Brother Jones gave away quarters (which was a lot of money in 1944). He always placed the quarter into a book, and then offered someone the book. If the person refused the book, then they didn't get the quarter. I do the same thing! I print my own Gospel tracts. I often place $20 in one of the tracts, and fold it up, keeping it ready under my sun-visor in my car to give away to a needy person. When someone asks for money, I hand them the Gospel tract. If they refuse it, then they don't get the $20. They cannot see the money until they unfold the tract. 

One day I saw a homeless man in a store parking lot. I offered him a Gospel tract. He was offended and cursed the name of Jesus. So I put the Gospel tract back into my pocket, and he never knew there was $20 inside. I don't give people money when they ask, I offer them a Gospel tract, which if they accept comes with a gift of $20. That is the same thing that Dr. Bob Jones Sr. liked doing! I was happy when I read that he did that too! God is offering everyone eternal life, but it comes in the wonderful package of Jesus Christ!

“Men are not saved by analyzing the truth of the Gospel. They are saved by accepting the truth of the Gospel. It is true, whether men believe it or not. It is as true as the multiplication table. Men use the multiplication table to do what the multiplication table is supposed to do. The Gospel will do what it is supposed to do. 'It is the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth.'” —Dr. Bob Jones Sr., “Comments On Here And Hereafter,” chapter: Preaching, Evangelism, page 123; Bob Jones University Press, Inc., © 1942