THE CRUX OF THE MATTER 

"Have You Heard Of The Four Spiritual Laws?"

Yes, it is a question you may wish to ponder, for the answers to true purpose in your own life, but it is also the title of a small booklet, written in 1952 by Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade For Christ - to present the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ "in a nutshell." According to Campus Crusade History, this little book with very basic illustrations, each law being supported by several relevant Scripture verses - has been the most widely distributed religious booklet in history, with upwards of 2.5 billion printed in all major languages of the world.

What are these Four Spiritual Laws?

They are, according to Bill Bright, as follows:

Law 1

God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life

(John 3:16; John 10:10)

Law 2

Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life

(Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23)

Law 3

Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin.

Through Him you can know and experience God's plan for your life

(Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6; John 14:6)

Law 4

We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord;

then we can experience God's love and plan for our lives

(John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 3:1-8; Revelation 3:20)

Some have criticized this as being a simplistic presentation, and that it does not tell the whole story of the Christian life - that it leaves out the realities of suffering and tribulation which are the lot of true disciples of Christ. However, personally, from a starting point of introducing a person to the Gospel, I believe it has been a very effective tool in leading many (probably in the millions) people to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ at the start of their journey of faith.

I remember being given a copy of this little booklet when I committed my life to Christ at a Christian coffee shop outreach on Queensland's Gold Coast way back in 1967. As mentioned above, the laws were illustrated by simple drawings, simple in their design but which had a profound impact on my mind and spirit.

The second law states that Man is sinful and separated from God. This was illustrated by two line drawings depicting Man trying in vain to reach out to God through his own efforts through good works, philosophy or religion.

The third law shows again the two entities illustrated by line drawings - God above and Man below, but this time with the separating gulf being bridged by a large Cross with Jesus printed on the cross beam - showing that the Cross of Christ is the only means of Man's restoration to God. As Paul the Apostle wrote in 1 Corinthians 5:21 "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

As Jesus said of Himself in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Also speaking of His death on the Cross, He said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." John 12:32

There are a number of Old Testament scriptures which directly speak about the crucifixion of Christ.

Several of these are as follows:

Psalm 22:14-16 -"My life is poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like unbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid Me in the dust and left Me for dead. My enemies surround Me like a pack of dogs; and evil gang closes in on Me. They have pierced My hands and feet."

Zechariah 12:10a -"Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on Me whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as for an only son."

It is little wonder that Paul said concerning the emphasis of his own ministry, in 

1 Corinthians 2:1,2  "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."

Not every person has or will embrace the message of the Cross of Christ, as Paul, again states in 1 Corinthians 1:18,19 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.

For it is written:

                        "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

                          the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

                                                                                                                      (from Isaiah 29:14)