The problems with modern evangelism and witnessing how Jesus did it

my pastor's been giving a set of lessons concerning this!!!

I've been learning some important things in church about biblical evangelism. It is that the sinner must know that he has trangressed the Law of God and is thus condemned to hell. only when the sinner is at this point of realization will he ever need a Saviour.

I am concerned that many modern methods of evangelism fail miserably in this aspect.

consider the following verses:

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

And consider some of these quotations from godly men (of old):

John Wesley: Before I can preach love, mercy and grace, I must preach sin, Law and judgment.

Ozwald Chambers: Conscience is the internal perception of God's Moral Law.

Martin Luther: The first duty of the gospel preacher is to declare God's Law and show the nature of sin.

Charels Spurgeon: They will never accept grace until they tremble before a just and Holy Law.

Matthew Henry: Of this excellent use is the Law: it converts the soul, opens the eyes, prepares the way of the Lord in the desert, rends the rocks, levels the mountains, make a people prepared for the Lord.

 

In order to value the happiness of the forgiveness you have to taste the bitterness of the conviction

 

Click here to listen to or download these two messages by Ray Comfort - Hell's Best Kept Secret - True and False Conversion.

These are excellent messages explaining how to use God's law to convict sinners and show them their need of the Savior. I have noticed that many Christians get mad when I use this approach because they have been taught the New Evangelical, positive only, make the seeker feel good, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life method of evangelism...which, in my estimation, has multiplied false conversions accross the country.

We need to let the Holy Spirit convict sinners and work repentance in their heart. This is not just a problem with the New Evangelicals, but also with many independent baptist churches. They run a person down the Roman's Road, then like a slick salesman, get them to pray a sinner's prayer and tell them they are saved. They redefine repentance to mean only changing from unbelief to belief. Jack Hyles and Curtis Hutson taught that false doctrine. Get saved now by praying this prayer, then maybe sometime later you can decide to live for the Lord if you want. They taught that repentance doesn't mean to turn from sin. That's about as unbiblical as the day is long! That's one of the reasons we have so many "carnal Christians" running around thinking they are saved but not following the Lord.

Charles Spurgeon once said, "The devil is such a master of deception that he can make men dance upon the brink of Hell as though they were on the verge of Heaven."

1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.

Psalms 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:

 

If a person did not see himself as real sinner (I mean he has never seen his personal sins) he could not see Jesus as his own Saviour. The Law shows my private life and my private sins and my private death. It is very useful part of Gospel preaching

 

of course, there is no glamour or mass appeal in telling people they are hell deserving sinners....it takes guts, really.

It's so much easier to have a rock concert and have someone dance around the stage, later have a mushy little sharing about how God changed someone's life, and then ask who else wants God to change their lives, help them out of their problems.

 

may I ask, what kind of Baptist church have you been, all your life?

I came from a new evangelical church (by God's grace i was saved there). When i stepped into the IFB church that i now belong to, i knew the preaching was different because it was so unapologetically BIBLE.

 

This is ok. But How many of us can perform 10 Commandments after our turnig to Jisus?

 

Dallasdid:

If God doesn't want anyone to perish, no one will perish. If He wanted anyone in Heaven, nothing can stand between God's will for that person and Heaven.

The power of the cross is not a possible salvation of the sinner, it is a sure and finished salvation.

 

I would like to agree with much of what has been said. I liked what Psalm 145 3 had to say. I also found it interesting(to no offense) how Dallasdid inserted Spurgeon's name between Jesus and Paul.

Testimonies and outlines don't save people. God saves people using his word.

I've always fought with doubts about my salvation, because I've always thought that you say "that prayer" and your are saved. So I've always had this notion that I need to do something or something more, therefore I've said that alter call prayer many times in my past saying to myself this will be the last time I do it and I won't doubt anymore afterward. Trusting in God in every aspect of my salvation and forgetting man's formula has brought me peace beyond description. We cannot put salvation in a neat little package. The word of God needs to be presented and then God will, through his Spirit, cause his elect to believe in Jesus Christ. Bottom line, give people the word. Testimonies and outlines are fine, but God convicts with his word.

....and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?..... Romans 10:14

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44

 

There's a happy balance between being too simplistic and too complicated when giving the gospel to someone. I've seen some people who needed 20 minutes or more of explanation, going through verses, and such before they really understood what God wanted them to do. Then I've seen others who already knew and only needed a person to help them take that last step of making the decision for Christ.

When we are out there talking to individuals about Jesus, take each instance as an individual case. Some have heard the gospel already, they are familiar with it but just need to accept it for themselves. Others have no idea what all our "pet" words mean and they need definitions and understanding.

I've heard some who criticize others for having a simple, direct message. But then those same people will go on and give such a lengthy description of salvation, with such flowery language, that it leaves my head spinning! Don't be afraid to give a simple salvation message, but don't neglect the fact that the person needs to understand as well.

 

I might cause a major uprising by mentioning this, but two books by John MacArthur, "The Gospel According to Jesus" and "The Gospel According to the Apostles" do an excellent job of providing a biblical answer to this issue. Another good one is "Chosen But Free" by Norman Geisler. Again, with the diverse view on this forum, some may choose to argue or take offense, but these books really helped me get a handle on the free will vs. predestination issue, and the role of our works in salvation.

Let me also say that it is pitiful that someone can grow up in a church without ever hearing the pure gospel of Jesus. The gospel should be presented clearly and without apology every time the doors of the church open.

 

Just to add my 2 cents worth...
My pastor has always told us Bible Institute students that you first had to get the sinner lost before you could get him saved. The ONLY way to do that is with the law of God.
Jim

 

Dallasdid:

My question is : Do you think people in this board are still unsaved ?

I mean, you plug in those sites, and they are witnessing sites.

I do not think an easy-believist will survive in this board. I believe the big, big majority of those posting in this board reject the prosperity or good times gospel as much as you do.

No disrespect. Just an observation.

 

Reading the posts about Ray Comfort and "The Way of the Master" stirred up my curiosity. I ordered the book and have been pretty much pleased with what I have read. Being a missionary myself, I perk up when I see others who are also concerned with modern evangelistic methods. I'd agree much with most of what is in the book and with their approach.

My only concern is that the WDJD plan could turn into the next Romans Road. I believe the Romans Road was started as a way to systematically present the gospel message and it incorporated many of the same points of the WDJD Plan. Over time the systematic outline has unfortunately been turned into the only known way of salvation, in some circles. Even worse, the first points of that systematic plan are often sped through in order to get to that sinners prayer at the end. I hope those who use the WDJD Plan will keep in mind that it is just a plan and tool. Only God's plans are 100% fail proof.

 

You mean there is a way to witness other than the Romans Road? I am not sure, that sounds very un-Baptist to me

PackerBacker, it sounds like you are familiar with the Personal Evangelism class I took at a Baptist College

It took the fishers of men analogy to an almost ridiculous level.