This episode mostly focuses on the kindnesses of God that lead to repentance. The last program emphasized cooperation with the convicting Holy Spirit, as He works godly sorrow leading to repentance without regret. The temptation for some evangelists (and churches) is interrupting or sidestepping the Holy Spirit's work of conviction, resulting in shallow repentance without genuine sorrow. The result at best, is a shallow repentance with regret. The evangelist instead needs to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's "sorrowful" work, while at the same time bringing to mind His more "positive" gracious works. "The kindnesses of God lead you to repentance." (Romans 2:4) Many unbelievers have experienced kindnesses of God that smack of divine intervention: miraculous survival from normally "fatal" accidents, instantaneous answers to prayer, and rescue from dire circumstances. God can't help Himself, for "He is kind to ungrateful and evil people." (Luke 6:35) The evangelist can then hopefully elicit acknowledgment of God's kindnesses while articulating God's call to repent. Godly sorrow coupled with God's kindnesses, embodied in the cross, are the means of repentance.
Sorrow that Leads to Repentance without Regret
This episode unpacks 2 Corinthians 7:10, in which "sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret." Arguably the reason why many repent only superficially is that sorrow according to the will of God is missing. Sorrow over sin and missing the purpose of God is necessary for lasting repentance. So when an evangelist is not comfortable with a would-be convert's squirming under conviction, he may interrupt the Holy Spirit's convicting work by minimizing or dumbing down the need for repentance. Many churches, in a sincere desire to bring people to Christ, unfortunately gloss over repentance in rushed alter call settings. It may result in recitation of the sinner's prayer, but since genuine sorrow leading to a repentance without regret is rarely possible in a five-minute alter call, many either return to the world (seed sown in rocky ground) or vacillate in their commitment to Christ. Their "repentance" came with regrets because real SORROW was never experienced. The evangelist then needs to be attentive to the Holy Spirit and allow His work of conviction to proceed uninterrupted, until it produces a sorrow that leads to repentance without regret.
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.
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)
Conviction, Indispensable to Confessing and Calling
This episode summarizes the specific content of the gospel that informs evangelism, emphasizing leaning on the Holy Spirit's leading. Calling Jesus Lord presupposes knowledge of the gospel and personal appropriation of Christ as king, as Lord. The evangelist as co-laborer with the Holy Spirit consequently conveys the "negative" side of the gospel story, that all are judged as sinners for not trusting in Christ. The episode introduces the essential role of the Holy Spirit in convicting the world of "sin, righteousness, and judgment." (John 16:7) These convictions, or Spirit-impressed truths, are the natural consequences of any Spirit-led evangelistic encounter, in which "the good news" is founded on "TERRIBLE NEWS." Ultimately calling Christ Lord then rests on knowledge of one's hopeless desperate state before a holy God, and the wise evangelist simply cooperates with the Holy Spirit in conveying these truths.
Converting People is NOT in your Job Description
This initial episode unpacks the classic "formula" for salvation articulated in Romans 10:9, "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." This relatively straightforward "easy" confession is predicated on the work of the Holy Spirit, so persuading and even manipulating someone to recite the sinner's prayer, APART from the leading of the Holy Spirit, is a vain useless exercise. The evangelist should see himself/herself as the mouthpiece of the Holy Spirit, following Him as the LEAD player in any evangelistic encounter. The Romans 10:9 "formula" requires renouncing the kingdom of darkness (repentance) and receiving the kingdom of God's beloved Son (faith). No one can convince someone to "believe in their heart," so mere parroting of the formula doesn't make one a son or daughter of the Kingdom. The episode emphasizes that "no man can call Jesus Lord, except by the Holy Spirit," (1 Corinthians 12:3) and ALL successful evangelism proceeds accordingly.
“Don’t Let Sin Issues Go to Waste!”mourn
This final episode centers on the process of sanctification, the ongoing experience of the Holy Spirit conforming believers into the image of Christ. Once a believer becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit, the Indwelling Spirit has much to say about our living conditions. And while the Paraclete comforts us, reminding us of our secure position in Christ as heirs of Christ, He also makes us miserable and anxious over unconfessed sin, driving us back to Christ as the source of grace. He works "godly sorrow that leads to repentance." (2 Corinthians 7:10) The episode highlights the Holy Spirit's confrontation with David over his sin in Psalm 32, leading to his restoration where he is "surrounded by songs of deliverance." The episode closes with the admonition to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in our struggles with sin, as this is paradoxically the means by which we draw closer to God and receive His comforting grace.
“Mourn the Residing Power of Sin, not the Penalty”
Building off of the last episode, this program contends that "mourning" should be a common occurrence in the life of believers. The same Holy Spirit that convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-11), leading to repentance and faith in Christ--well that same Spirit continues his convicting work in the life of believer. Though eternal destiny is settled for believers (position), seemingly endless adjustments are in order as the Holy Spirit conforms the saint into the image of Christ, as He addresses our condition. James 4:8-9 insists that believers mourn their remaining affinity with worldliness: "Purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep.."
“Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance”
This initial episode emphasizes that coming to Christ necessarily requires mourning. The gospel of grace is predicated on judgment, the acknowledgement that justice must be satisfied. "The wages of sin is death," so either Christ's pays the debt or the sinner renders the payment. The conditions to receive Christ are repentance and faith. 2 Corinthians 7:10 declares that "godly sorrow leads to repentance." So even though subsequent joy over receiving the grace of God is the experience of the Christian, mourning that leads to repentance opens the door to that joy. The surrounding verses of Matthew 5:4 also highlight the psychological state of anyone who comes into the kingdom. Being "poor in spirit" and hungry and thirsty for righteousness describe those who mourn over sin. Those who receive Christ are subsequently comforted by the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
“Lord I believe, Help my Unbelief!”
Building off of 2 Cor. 3:14-16, this episode highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in uncovering the numerous veils of unbelief in our lives, addressing the root problem behind all sin, which is a failure to trust Christ (John 16:9). This refusal to trust Christ in certain areas corresponds to a veil of unbelief which blinds us to the glory of Christ. The solution, of course, is to turn to Christ and the veil is lifted. But we can't simply make ourselves believe God in everything. So believers are encouraged to go forward in the spirit of "Lord I believe, help my unbelief." As we confess the sin of unbelief (1 John 1:9 ) and consume God's Word, the Holy Spirit "strengthens us with power in the inner man so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith." (Eph 3:16-17) When we do our part, the Holy Spirit comes alongside and uncovers the glory of Christ and the veil of unbelief comes tumbling down. When we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and respond positively to His convictions, we progress towards the beatific vision.
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