The Lost and the Gospel
Introduction: This tract uses acrostics as headings and memory devices for the major points being made with the application of these words often used by Christians. Bible passages for this revised edition on MPNHome.net are from the New Heart English Bible. The tract was written by Michael D. Justice, and the original edition was printed in Springfield, Ohio in March 1982.
The First Acrostic for LOST
Losing Out in Sin and Transgression
Every person is in sin when they are born. The sin nature is universal, and no person exists without it:
Psalms 14 “1 The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none who does good. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who did understand, who did seek after God. 3 They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is none who does good, no, not one.”
Romans 3 “21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the Law and the Prophets; 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all those who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
Romans 5 “12 Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned.”
1 John 1 “8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
The Second Acrostic for LOST
Lacking Our Savior’s Transformation
Man remains in his sinful condition, unless changed by the transforming power of Jesus Christ:
Isaiah 64 “6 For we have all become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment: and we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is none who calls on your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities. 8 But now, LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you our potter; and we all are the work of your hand.”
2 Corinthians 5 “17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, new things have come.”
Galatians 2 “16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.”
The First Acrostic for GOSPEL
God’s Own Sacrificial Plan for Eternal Life
Until we have the Savior’s transformation, we are depending upon our own means to satisfy God. We must recognize that only through His own plan can God be satisfied.
Isaiah 53 “3 He was despised, and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering; as one from whom men hide their face, and we despised him and we did not value him. 4 Surely he has borne our sicknesses, and carried our pains; yet we considered him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
John 3 “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.”
John 14 “6 Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
Ephesians 2 “8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, that no one would boast.”
Romans 10 “9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made, resulting in salvation.”
The Second Acrostic for GOSPEL
Go Out and Share His Plan by Evangelistic Living
Our lives should picture the transformation we have received through Christ. We must then honor our Lord by sharing with others the source of our transformation.
Isaiah 52 “7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”
Galatians 2 “20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.”
Colossians 3 “16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to God. 17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.”
The Scripture in this tract speaks for itself. How have you prepared for eternity? Christ, plus nothing else, will assure your eternity in heaven. Ask Christ to take control of your life today! The spiritual fruit which you bear after that decision will glorify Christ. And Christ will forgive, and provide you with the power to overcome future sins in your life.
This tract may be reproduced if credited to MPNHome.net.
Revised 10 August 2019 — first published on MPNHome.net 15 June 2004