This episode spells out the potentially devastating consequences of a sinner's profession of faith, devoid of repentance. Unfortunately many Americans claim to be Christians based on an incomplete grasp of the gospel. They may have recited a sinner's prayer, assenting to their need for Christ's sacrifice to cover their sin-debt. But accessing the benefits of Christ's sacrifice was based on believing, apart from any repudiation of their sinful lives. John MacArthur illustrates an encounter with "easy-believism" in which a strip club owner made a profession of faith in Christ at a church, but nevertheless continued to promote sin with his business. Churches and evangelists are at fault when they incompletely explain access to salvation, dumbing down or leaving out entirely the need for repentance. The results are spurious "decisions for Christ" that amount to fire insurance policies designed to secure heaven, without any corresponding change in heart or behavior. The result is that many have false assurances of salvation based on an incomplete gospel presentation. Sadly, the self-delusion, reinforced by the Church, now acts to inoculate the Hell-destined nominal believer from the true gospel based on self-renunciation and repentance. If they don't repent eventually, they will hear Christ's terrifying words, "depart from me, you workers of iniquity, I never knew you." (Matthew 7:22) The evangelist then is obligated to preach repentance and faith in Christ as the means of accessing salvation. Anything less makes the evangelist complicit in providing false hope for unbelievers. I wonder how many churches have so diluted the gospel, that they are actually stumbling blocks for the Kingdom..
Evangelism: Co-working with the Spirit
This episode summarizes some of the salient points made so far, beginning with simply showing up ready to have spiritual conversations. Unbelievers are often genuinely interested in discussing spiritual issues, even when they come off as hostile. Consequently, following the Spirit's leading, the second point, is indispensable when evangelizing. At certain points in a gospel presentation, the message brings conviction and "wounds the conscience" of sinners, making them uncomfortable. Since no one ultimately embraces Christ without being convicted of sin, the evangelist should expect and even be comfortable that the message preached causes others discomfort and distress. Along these lines, don't shy away from preaching the saving Biblical response to the gospel, repentance and faith in Christ. The evangelist shouldn't leave out the call to repentance because it is a stumbling block to salvation. This "obstacle" merely highlights the supernatural work of the Spirit necessary for ANY to call Christ Lord.
Stay in Your Lane and Preach Repentance
This episode ties together several New Testament passages, highlighting how saving faith ALWAYS involves repentance. Paul summarized his mission before king Agrippa, "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins.." (Acts 26:18) The prerequisite to receiving forgiveness of sins is a turning away from sin and Satan. Additionally no one can "follow Christ," if they're "following" themselves. Self-denial, a repudiation of one's self-centered life, is foundational to being a Christian. (Matthew 16:24) The episode anticipates that preaching a gospel that includes repentance will result in fewer "conversions," for sinners naturally balk at "receiving Christ" if it requires a change of mind and lifestyle. Since genuine conversions REQUIRE repentance, and only the Holy Spirit can bring one to repentance, the evangelist should stay in his lane, faithfully preaching the naturally distasteful message of repentance and faith in Christ, while the Holy Spirit overcomes resistance and enables sinners to receive Christ as Lord. The conversion of the soul is a supernatural event where the Holy Spirit does the heavy lifting, convicting and confirming the gospel we preach.
The Folly of Assent without Repentance
Based on 1 Peter 4:1-2, this episode spells out the gospel expectation that "calling Christ Lord" means "living for the will of God." Peter says that Christians "no longer live for the lusts of men but for the will of God." In essence, a Christian is one who repents from living for his own lusts and now follows Christ. So calling Christ Lord presumes repentance. Unfortunately many trust in confessional formulas where assent to the truths of the gospel, devoid of repentance, is sufficient for salvation. But mere assent doesn't address one's attitude towards sin, which is fundamentally not living for the glory of God. The evangelist then should not shy away from preaching repentance, the repudiation of the flesh-centered life that misses the glory of God. Faith in Christ manifests itself in an obvious change of direction: "living for the will of God" replaces living "for the lusts of men."
The Limits of the Classic Diagnostic Question
This episode addresses a common misunderstanding of the gospel that is not immediately evident based on the classic diagnostic question often used by evangelists: "if you were to die today and God asked you why He should let you into heaven, what would you say?" Many of course reveal a faulty grasp of true righteousness, saying something like "I'm basically a good person." Some actually provide a theologically correct answer, articulating that they are depending solely on the imputed righteousness of Christ. That answer however reveals correct propositional knowledge of the gospel but is not necessarily indicative of COMMITMENT or TRUST in the gospel. When people provide the correct answer to the above diagnostic question, I usually follow up with a question designed to distinguish mere "propositional faith" from true saving faith: "Are you living for Christ?" I've encountered many who concede they're not "living for Christ," after correctly stating the Biblical grounds of righteousness. Sadly confusion over Biblical faith, characterized by repentance and commitment to Christ ("living for Christ") and mere "propositional faith," assent to the truths of the gospel, is widespread among professing Christians. The latter only have the "faith" of demons (James 2:19), and the evangelist should try to correct this common misunderstanding of the gospel by pointing to the Biblical evidence of saving faith where believers "no longer live for the lusts of men, but for the will of God." (1 Peter 4:2)
Make Your Testimony Relatable
This episode builds off the last one, in which sinners identify with one of three kinds of sinners: the religious person who excels in keeping the outward law, the average person whose obedience is not particularly noteworthy, and the open rebel who respects neither God nor man. The prudent evangelist notes which one the potential convert identifies with and conveys his testimony accordingly, highlighting comparable experiences and struggles that might resonate with his audience. Few receive the gospel on the first hearing, but many will remember a testimony that is relatable. The Holy Spirit often uses individual testimonies to draw people to Christ on the day of visitation, for they represent real live examples, not just abstractions. The evangelist consequently needs to listen to both the Holy Spirit and the potential convert, as both often provide a veritable roadmap for evangelistic encounters.
A Helpful Analogy that Shuts up ALL under Sin
This episode reviews the salient points of the previous week, emphasizing that we are co-laborers with the Holy Spirit. He is responsible for "saving" sinners, not the evangelist. Most of the episode applies a common helpful analogy to explain the desperate plight of ALL people apart from Christ. A ship 1,000 miles from land sinks with 3 people aboard, an Olympian, an average guy, and a quadriplegic. The three represent the range from professional religious persons to Hitler. All miss the righteousness of God completely and desperately need a Savior. Ironically known sinners are often first to receive Christ before religious people. The evangelist should note which of the three the potential convert identifies with, incorporating his own testimony as the Holy Spirit leads.
Omission of the Great Commission Makes a Dull Christian
This episode initially drives home the central point of the previous lesson, that response to the Great Commission mandate is a matter of obedience, not feelings. And it is comparable to growth in many Christian disciplines, in which "feeling" dividends are not immediately realized but nevertheless accumulate with a lifestyle of obedience. This episode paints the stark contrast of an obedient disciple of Christ, making the most of every evangelistic opportunity, with the mediocre Christian life that never responds to the evangelistic call. In the case of the latter, a sub-standard Christian life sets in after prolonged disobedience to the Great Commission. The love of God poured out in the heart of the believer is imprisoned within oneself or family, and the unconditional love of God pleading with the world "be ye reconciled to Christ" withers away in solitary confinement. It is always technically present, but the indwelling Spirit is grieved that the UNCONDITIONAL love that defines Him is at best extended to cellmates. The disciple obedient to the Great Commission, by contrast, experiences greater degrees of the divine zoe life. Disciplined to follow the Spirit's promptings in leading others to Christ, he is constantly being strengthened with power in the inner man, rooting and grounding him in the agape love that he readily extends to unbelievers. (Ephesians 3:16-19) The supernatural mission of Christ IS his mission, and Christ's joy (and the angels) becomes his when he assists in bringing sinners to repentance. The zoe life characterized by obedience in making disciples becomes LIFE itself.
Not FEELING it? Let Your FEELINGS Follow Obedience!
This episode mostly deals with psychological hindrances to evangelism, principally a ministry mindset that is driven more by "feelings" than obedience. Many believers gravitate to serving in areas in which they are gifted, and feelings of fulfillment naturally abound. Sharing the gospel on some level, is however not the sole prerogative of the "gifted" evangelist and apologist, for ALL believers are exhorted to provide a reasoned account for "the hope that lies within them, with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15) Evangelism then is not a "gifted-restricted" ministry but a universal mandate placed on all believers. Not being a gifted evangelist, I struggled to respond to this universal command because of fear and low self-esteem, resulting in disobedience in this area. The program contains my testimony how I overcame my "feeling" driven mindset and became obedient to the universal command to witness. Positive feelings and a heightened sense of purpose FOLLOWED obedience, highlighting a common Christian growth experience. God commands us to obey, making us initially uncomfortable and dissatisfied, but obedience ultimately brings satisfaction and positive feelings that more than compensate for initial hesitancy and awkwardness.
Get Comfortable Making Sinners Uncomfortable
This episode addresses the role of the evangelist in cooperating with the Spirit when He convicts the world concerning sin. No one calls Jesus Lord apart from the Spirit's convicting work, and the Spirit makes unbelievers uncomfortable with themselves in light of any faithful presentation of the gospel message. Many evangelists desperately want to provide the solution to the problem of sin without adequately spelling out the problem. They interrupt sinners in the PROCESS of grappling with the just judgment due their sin, leading to a very shallow conviction that they NEED Christ. Never genuinely convicted of their sin and desperate state, they abandon Christ when difficulty arises, for they never had "firm root" in themselves. (Matthew 13:21) They were never sufficiently convicted of their sinfulness. Sadly, many such "converts" erroneously conclude they're saved based on a past recitation of the sinners prayer, which now inoculates them against real conviction. And, many will likely be horrified when they are cast into hell, despite their shallow profession. (Matthew 7:22) The above terrifying outcome should motivate the evangelist not to get ahead of the Holy Spirit and allow sinners to "suffer" under His convictions. Deep conviction leading to repentance and faith in Christ produces lasting disciples who KNOW their wretched condition apart from Christ. The episode concludes with this imperative: BE COMFORTABLE WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES SINNERS UNCOMFORTABLE, for there is no curtailing the process. And curtailing, albeit well-intentioned, is a stumbling block, and we know what Jesus says about that..(Matthew 18:7)