OUTLINE:
Effective Evangelism
We noted that Jesus used the Law to lead people to salvation by grace through faith (ala Gal 3:24; Eph 2:8-9).
Gal 3:24
Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
“tutor”
from paidagogos – a boy-leader, i.e. a servant whose office it was to take the children to school; (by implication, (figuratively) a tutor (“paedagogue”)): — instructor, schoolmaster.
God gave us the Law as a grace gift!!!
Ro 7:7b
..if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.
The One Who’s Forgiven Much Loves Much!
Lk 7:47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven —for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
The Love of God
God loves us beyond human comprehension; by giving us His Law, He has provided us with the basis for understanding this love. We find it magnified at the Cross, where our transgressions against His perfect law are met with sacrifice.
Mt 5:5
“Blessed are the meek [the submissive], for they shall inherit the earth.”
Meekness Isn’t Weakness
Never mistake meekness for weakness. (2Co 12:9-10)
Do Not Be Fooled!
We see tears and we don’t recognize that they spring from a root of arrogance! When the flesh is offended, it often cries out for relief. Seize the moment! Never compromise.
Effective Evangelism
Presenting the Gospel isn’t an “awww- shucks” moment; rather, it’s a moment where absolute Truth matters most! It is supremely ungracious to water down the truth in the Word of God in order to keep your speech palatable (and then call it meekness).
Reminder
Christ didn’t die for nothing.
Effective Grace
It’s much more gracious to tell the whole truth about Jesus than only the unoffensive parts. Jesus intended for all to know Him as Savior from certain spiritual death (that condition in which all are born into).
www.christsavesministries.org
Effective Evangelism – 2 Parts
&
“Just a Walk In the Park”
Just Another Walk In the Park
Christian : “You and I are guilty before God, so we must stop trusting in our own goodness to get to heaven (as religion often teaches us to do), and instead place our trust in Christ alone as your Lord and Savior.
Jesus is the only truly good One, and He’s the only One that made a satisfactory payment for your sins, according to the Bible.
Just Another Walk In the Park
Christian : Salvation is between you and God. And God looks at the heart.
The time is short, as is life. Go to Him and surrender in repentance and faith.
He is a good, good God who is “rich in mercy”, and He loves to give “grace to the humble”.
Effective Evangelism
Are you willing to express the love of God through the Gospel? Will you suffer for doing good, for presenting a known stumbling block to an unbeliever? Will you evangelize for God rather than for self, bearing the load of your own cross?
Jn 15:10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
– AND -
Jn 14:15“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Obeying the Command to Love
Jn 13:35By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Jn 4:11-12Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
“practice these things”
“practice” – from prasso – means to commit to habit, to perform, to be in any condition; Ala Jas 1:22-25, don’t just “talk the talk,” but rather, “walk the walk” (ala Gal 5).
Why Is Grace Offensive To Some?
Because grace destroys any notion of creature-credit, any glory meant for self. It relegates the aspirations of the human flesh to a dung pile – “all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Is 64:6).
“having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know”
It is difficult to get our arms around this. By the grace of God, He blesses us with spiritual sight, which changes us profoundly. We get to “see” Him while alive on Earth. We love Him in response (1Jn 4:19).