International Gospel Hour

Jeff Archey: "Where are you?" was a question asked of Adam and Eve. Let's think about that question as we consider some answers in life. That's coming up next from the International Gospel Hour.

Jay Webb: Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God's word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archey of International Gospel Hour. Let's begin.

Jeff Archey: Well, thank you always to our Jay Webb, who does a wonderful job as our announcer. And we also appreciate you, our listeners. Oh, how much we are delighted to hear from you and the various places where you hear our broadcast. Thank you for being with us. I want to assure you of something: when you listen to the broadcast of the International Gospel Hour, or if you happen to see our broadcast, say on our YouTube channel, which is International Gospel Hour, you will notice that everything that we offer is free. We do not ask money from our listeners nor from our viewers. Everything we offer is free, and we are thankful we can do that. So feel free to reach out if we have something of interest to you. As a matter of fact, at the end of our broadcast, our Jay Webb will be back and will share with you the free God and Man Bible study that we want you to have.

Our lesson text comes from Genesis chapter 3, verses 8 and 9: "And they, that is Adam and Eve, heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, 'Where are you?'"

Friends, do you find it interesting that Adam and Eve hid themselves? You know, earlier in Genesis 3, Adam and Eve disobeyed God by partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve may have been hiding, but God knew where they were when he asked Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 33, verses 13 and 14, "The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; from the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth."

God called out to Adam and Eve, and only through His word today, God calls out to everyone. How we respond is a matter of eternal importance. How will we answer God when He calls out to us through His word? Today, I want you and I to consider four questions and how we will answer those questions. They are all questions that are before us in life. And friends, from the outset, these questions are not something original with me because there are many preachers who have used these thoughts in a similar, if not exact, way. But regardless, they are matters of truth that have no copyright, but rather a command of God from His word for all to know and all to obey.

Question number one: how will you answer to your death? In Genesis 3:19, concerning the dust of the earth unto Adam, God said, "For out of it was thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." Hebrews 9:27 reminds us, "It is appointed unto a man once to die, and after this the judgment." You know, friends, it has been said that we will not get out of this earth alive, unless the Lord returns in our lifetime and this old world ends.

Friends, how will you answer to your death? You know, in a matter of moments, you could leave this earth. I don't mean to be morbid, I don't want to scare you or anything, but how many times have we not known people to die suddenly? How will you answer to your death? Here's a second question: how will you answer to the resurrection? In John 5:28 and 29, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those that have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation."

In 1 Thessalonians 4:14 through 18, Paul said to the church there, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. He was writing there to those Christians who were concerned about loved ones, faithful ones, who had died. What will become of them? These words are indeed most comforting to those who have prepared their lives. So, kind friend, are you comfortable with this call? Are you certain that you have the answers to your death and prepared for the resurrection?

Because afterward, number three: how will you answer at the judgment? 2 Corinthians 5:10 and 11 says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences." Paul reminds those at Corinth of the importance of how we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. We will come up out of the graves, we will die, and how we are to persuade men, because you see, everyone will answer.

In Revelation 20:12 through 15, "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead which were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works."

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Friends, did you get that? Small and great. In another broadcast, I've shared the thought concerning the rich man and Lazarus. Death is the equalizer. No matter how great we may be on this earth, no matter how well-known, no matter how small or how little known we might be, we all will stand before God and give an answer.

Friends, are our answers not favorable? These are three very serious and eternal questions that need correct answers. How will you answer to your death? Will you be ready? How will you answer to the resurrection and at the judgment? But here's a fourth one: how will you answer the gospel call? You see, in 2 Thessalonians 2:13 and 14, Paul told those Christians, told the church there, "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

When He called them through the gospel, they were able to believe in that gospel. Their salvation was available through the sanctification by the Spirit, how God chose them, and how He called them by the gospel. He doesn't call just certain ones; that gospel is for all. For Jesus said to His apostles, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Every creature, every creation has the power to answer the gospel call.

In Matthew 11:28 through 30, Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Come unto me, learn of me. Friends, this question is the only conditional question. The other three, they are no choice. But this one is a choice. And this call, and how you answer the gospel call, will so greatly determine how the others will be answered.

That's why, friends, it's so important for you and I to believe in Christ and in His gospel as He commands in John 3:16, as we're commanded in John 8:24, Hebrews 11:6, to repent of our sins, Luke 13:3 and 5, Acts 2:38, to confess our faith as Jesus commanded in Matthew 10:32 and 33, and as Paul commanded in Romans 10:9 and 10. And yes, friends, to be baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins, just like they did on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:38, and that our sins will be washed away, Acts 22:16.

Friends, how will you answer the gospel call? You know, I mentioned earlier in our broadcast that our Jay Webb will come and share with you about a wonderful Bible study that's available by mail. I'm going to defer to Jay, let him tell you about it, then I'll come back and wrap up our study today.

Jay Webb: An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It's titled "God and Man: How To Be Saved From Sin." This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it's free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say "God and Man."

Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the contact tab and leave us the same information: name, address, and type "God and Man" in the message box. Another Bible study that is free from IGH and our friends at godandman.com. That's god-and-man.com. And you know, since you can't see it, let me just spell all that out for you: g-o-d dash a-n-d dash m-a-n dot com. We'd love to hear from you.

Jeff Archey: Well, friends, how you answer the gospel call will have a great impact on how you will answer to your death, the resurrection, and the judgment. We hope you'll take the study of God and Man: How To Be Saved From Sin. No matter what your standard may be in life, or your stature rather, to embrace that study and make certain that your gospel call is answered in the affirmative. How will you answer? Thank you for joining me today on this broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I'm Jeff Archey, and friends, keep listening.

Jay Webb: Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God's word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.