- Mar 2, 2020
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It is an established statistical fact that only around 5% of people who make a decision for Christ last beyond their first year of Christian life and become fruitful church members. Why is this so? And why is it so difficult to answer the question that many ask, "What do I need to be saved from?" How do evangelistic workers are able to get through to resistant sinners who are satisfied with the lives they are already living?
Often a decision involves a change of mind, putting on a Christian badge, joining a church, but because there is not a change of heart, disillusionment comes after around a year when they realise that what was promised does not eventuate, especially when they see no real change in their fellow church members.
The problem is easy believerism, through the promise of a better life, prosperity, fellowship. They learn everything about church, Bible study, Christian morals, etc, but they never actually "meet" the God behind it all. Somehow they don't receive the inner witness of the Holy Spirit that they are genuinely converted to Christ. Their Christian profession is shallow, just like the seed sown in rocky places which springs up quickly, but withers away after a while because of a lack of substance.
They lack one essential component: Conviction of sin. They don't see themselves as hopeless, vile sinners, deserving of hell. The Christian life for them is just a change of lifestyle, not the inner work of a Saviour who has rescued them from the road to hell.
How are they going to be convicted of their sin? The answer is that the first thing an evangelistic worker needs to confront them with is a comparison of their life and conduct with the Ten Commandments. Without that conviction they think they are basically good people whom Jesus welcomes them as friends.
They need to answer questions as follows:
Have you ever taken something that wasn't yours? Theft.
Have you ever said OMG? Blasphemy
Have you ever told just a small white lie? Liar.
Have you ever looked on someone with lust? Adulterer.
Have you always loved God with all your heart, mind, and strength?
What this means is that they are a thieving, blasphemous, liar, adulterer, who has fallen short of loving God completely.. If they appear before God at the judgment, would they be guilty or not guilty? And if guilty, where would they go? Hell.
Once they are convinced of their sinfulness, then the Gospel is good news. They would gladly embrace Christ and not be satisfied until the Holy Spirit gave them the inner witness that they would be genuinely converted to Christ. Once there, it would be difficult for them to fall away, because Christianity would be in their hearts.
The Bible says preaching the Cross is foolishness to those who don't believe. It makes sense only when they are truly and completely convicted of their sinfulness and deserving of hell. Then, when they are told they need to be saved through faith in Christ, they are fully away of what they are saved from.
This is the way to make evangelism work effectively.
Often a decision involves a change of mind, putting on a Christian badge, joining a church, but because there is not a change of heart, disillusionment comes after around a year when they realise that what was promised does not eventuate, especially when they see no real change in their fellow church members.
The problem is easy believerism, through the promise of a better life, prosperity, fellowship. They learn everything about church, Bible study, Christian morals, etc, but they never actually "meet" the God behind it all. Somehow they don't receive the inner witness of the Holy Spirit that they are genuinely converted to Christ. Their Christian profession is shallow, just like the seed sown in rocky places which springs up quickly, but withers away after a while because of a lack of substance.
They lack one essential component: Conviction of sin. They don't see themselves as hopeless, vile sinners, deserving of hell. The Christian life for them is just a change of lifestyle, not the inner work of a Saviour who has rescued them from the road to hell.
How are they going to be convicted of their sin? The answer is that the first thing an evangelistic worker needs to confront them with is a comparison of their life and conduct with the Ten Commandments. Without that conviction they think they are basically good people whom Jesus welcomes them as friends.
They need to answer questions as follows:
Have you ever taken something that wasn't yours? Theft.
Have you ever said OMG? Blasphemy
Have you ever told just a small white lie? Liar.
Have you ever looked on someone with lust? Adulterer.
Have you always loved God with all your heart, mind, and strength?
What this means is that they are a thieving, blasphemous, liar, adulterer, who has fallen short of loving God completely.. If they appear before God at the judgment, would they be guilty or not guilty? And if guilty, where would they go? Hell.
Once they are convinced of their sinfulness, then the Gospel is good news. They would gladly embrace Christ and not be satisfied until the Holy Spirit gave them the inner witness that they would be genuinely converted to Christ. Once there, it would be difficult for them to fall away, because Christianity would be in their hearts.
The Bible says preaching the Cross is foolishness to those who don't believe. It makes sense only when they are truly and completely convicted of their sinfulness and deserving of hell. Then, when they are told they need to be saved through faith in Christ, they are fully away of what they are saved from.
This is the way to make evangelism work effectively.