I have been praying to the Lord for opportunities to share the gospel with others. And, wouldn’t you know it, He has actually answered that prayer.
The other part of that is I have to see and seize those opportunities. Not all opportunities are the same. Some I get to share the full gospel while other times it may just be a small portion due to the circumstances of the encounter. But, every little seed counts.
I have been trying to use the law as a part of my presentation of the gospel. Sin is a non-negotiable aspect of actually sharing the gospel. And the ten commandments are the best way to show people that they are sinners in need of a Savior.
I didn’t come up with this all by myself. I heard it from the Way of the Master ministries. This is an evangelistic ministry by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. I don’t agree with everything they say, but I do like their gospel presentation.
They actually didn’t come up with it either. It is from scripture. In Mark 10 a guy comes to Jesus’ and asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” And as the conversation continues what Jesus uses is the law to show the guy his sinfulness and need for forgiveness.
" And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." (Mark 10:17-22, ESV)
I love that account. Most Christians today would jump out of their shoes if someone approached them and said, “What must I do to be saved?” It is never that easy. But, look at what Jesus did. He didn’t sign the guy up, or encourage him to get baptized, or ask him to fill out a card and say a prayer. He offended him by pointing him to the law. And the account ends with the guy walking away from Jesus.
Maybe Jesus needs to take a course in relationship evangelism? Maybe Jesus needed to be taught how to build a relationship with this guy and meet him at the local pub to build some lasting bridge into his life? Or not.
Jesus dealt with the primary issue in his life – his sin. And Jesus used the ten commandments to show the guy that he was a sinner.
I have tried to follow that model more often lately and find it surprisingly easy. It is easy to walk people through some of the ten commandments and let them see for themselves that they have fallen short of the glory of God.
I will ask them if they have ever lied, or stolen, or taken God’s name in vain. Most people are willing to acknowledge that they have done those things. If it is a male then I ask them if they have ever lusted after a woman, which Jesus says is adultery. I know that all guys have done that.
So, as I walk them through the commandments they have freely admitted to me and themselves that they are lawbreakers and sinners. If they are judged by those standards they are guilty and deserve the punishment for their own sin.
From there it is an easy step for them to see Jesus as Savior and not just some icing on the cake of their life. That is more likely to lead to genuine repentance and faith demonstrated in a life of fruitfulness to Christ.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Strange Fire
" Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord." (Leviticus 10:1-2, ESV)
Last week I preached on this chapter from Leviticus. These words of scripture continued to follow me around all week long.
Nadab and Abihu offered strange, unauthorized fire before the Lord. They falsly assumed that they could do things their own way. They rebelled against the clear commands of God and paid a price.
In my studies I came across a message by Rev. Henry Law. The title of his work is The Gospel in Leviticus. Let me leave you a quote to chew on from Rev. Law.
Reader, now view your censer; now say, what are its contents. Surely you hold some 'offering' in your hands. Surely some confidence keeps conscience still. What is it? God has sent forth His Son—the only way—the only truth—the only life—the only ransom-price—the one atonement, for all sin. Is He the rock, on which you rest? Is He the center of your hopes? Is He the one foundation of your trust? Is He your only argument for mercy? One sun illuminates the world. One ark delivered from the flood. One Joseph fed in times of famine. One brazen-serpent healed the poison's sting. One fire came down for tabernacle-use. One Savior saves the saved. One Christ is first and last to merit life. God sends, anoints, accepts, proclaims Him. If you plead Him in real faith, you cannot fail. To grasp another savior, is to grasp a straw.
Some Nadabs and Abihus come with streaming eyes. Sin has brought loss. Some worldly prospect has been crushed. Thus Esau weeps. Conscience sometimes is quick to see the misery of guilt. Saul's flowing tears own this. So, also, the Gospel's melody will often melt a heart. It falls, as tender dew upon a moistening soil. Feelings relax, as ice beneath the sun. In these relaxing moments, Satan whispers, 'there is merit here.' The mourning spirit fondly hopes, that 'mourning' can buy peace with God. The tearful eye sees virtue in its drops. Thus signs of penitence are offered, as a ransom-price. Doubtless, no heart loves Christ, which hates not self, and bitterly bewails its grievous state. Doubtless the arms of penitence twine tightly round the cross. But seas of grief cannot wash out soul-stains. Sorrow, when brought as pardon's price, is but strange fire. And all unauthorized fire calls vengeance down.
The class of formalists may not be overlooked. They crowd God's courts. Each attitude—each look—is studied reverence. Their lips drop holiest words. Their hands touch holiest symbols. Their souls seem rapt to heaven on devotion's wing. If services discharged—if rites observed—if outward show were Christ, their cup of safety would be full. But these are only means. In their right place, they are most salutary helps—but decked as saviors—they impose; mislead; destroy. To use them, as meek handmaids of the Lord, is piety's delight; to trust in them, as reconciliation's price, is superstition's blind conceit. Then they become strange fire. These worshipers reject the substance, and repose on signs. But ritual services have in themselves no saving power. Such planks span not the gaping gulf. Such ladders reach not to the throne of God. Their office is to lead to Christ; and witness of His love. They are the channels of His precious grace. But they wash out no sin; they satisfy no wrath; they stay no vengeance; they have no key of heaven; they snatch not from the grasp of Satan; they are no plea for pardon; they hold no title-deeds of glory's kingdom. Christ is Salvation—Christ alone. Such is the work, which God commissioned Him to work. He undertook it. And He gloriously achieved. The mighty truth is ever true, "I have finished the work, which You gave Me to do." They, then, who now present another sacrifice, like Nadab and Abihu sin—like Nadab and Abihu die.
Last week I preached on this chapter from Leviticus. These words of scripture continued to follow me around all week long.
Nadab and Abihu offered strange, unauthorized fire before the Lord. They falsly assumed that they could do things their own way. They rebelled against the clear commands of God and paid a price.
In my studies I came across a message by Rev. Henry Law. The title of his work is The Gospel in Leviticus. Let me leave you a quote to chew on from Rev. Law.
Reader, now view your censer; now say, what are its contents. Surely you hold some 'offering' in your hands. Surely some confidence keeps conscience still. What is it? God has sent forth His Son—the only way—the only truth—the only life—the only ransom-price—the one atonement, for all sin. Is He the rock, on which you rest? Is He the center of your hopes? Is He the one foundation of your trust? Is He your only argument for mercy? One sun illuminates the world. One ark delivered from the flood. One Joseph fed in times of famine. One brazen-serpent healed the poison's sting. One fire came down for tabernacle-use. One Savior saves the saved. One Christ is first and last to merit life. God sends, anoints, accepts, proclaims Him. If you plead Him in real faith, you cannot fail. To grasp another savior, is to grasp a straw.
Some Nadabs and Abihus come with streaming eyes. Sin has brought loss. Some worldly prospect has been crushed. Thus Esau weeps. Conscience sometimes is quick to see the misery of guilt. Saul's flowing tears own this. So, also, the Gospel's melody will often melt a heart. It falls, as tender dew upon a moistening soil. Feelings relax, as ice beneath the sun. In these relaxing moments, Satan whispers, 'there is merit here.' The mourning spirit fondly hopes, that 'mourning' can buy peace with God. The tearful eye sees virtue in its drops. Thus signs of penitence are offered, as a ransom-price. Doubtless, no heart loves Christ, which hates not self, and bitterly bewails its grievous state. Doubtless the arms of penitence twine tightly round the cross. But seas of grief cannot wash out soul-stains. Sorrow, when brought as pardon's price, is but strange fire. And all unauthorized fire calls vengeance down.
The class of formalists may not be overlooked. They crowd God's courts. Each attitude—each look—is studied reverence. Their lips drop holiest words. Their hands touch holiest symbols. Their souls seem rapt to heaven on devotion's wing. If services discharged—if rites observed—if outward show were Christ, their cup of safety would be full. But these are only means. In their right place, they are most salutary helps—but decked as saviors—they impose; mislead; destroy. To use them, as meek handmaids of the Lord, is piety's delight; to trust in them, as reconciliation's price, is superstition's blind conceit. Then they become strange fire. These worshipers reject the substance, and repose on signs. But ritual services have in themselves no saving power. Such planks span not the gaping gulf. Such ladders reach not to the throne of God. Their office is to lead to Christ; and witness of His love. They are the channels of His precious grace. But they wash out no sin; they satisfy no wrath; they stay no vengeance; they have no key of heaven; they snatch not from the grasp of Satan; they are no plea for pardon; they hold no title-deeds of glory's kingdom. Christ is Salvation—Christ alone. Such is the work, which God commissioned Him to work. He undertook it. And He gloriously achieved. The mighty truth is ever true, "I have finished the work, which You gave Me to do." They, then, who now present another sacrifice, like Nadab and Abihu sin—like Nadab and Abihu die.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)