This issue is very easily remedied...What did Jesus do? Let's take a few moments to look at the way He preached throughout His ministry. Firstly, His Sermon on the Mount. Did He preach about sin and repentance? Yes, He mostly certainly did. He preached how hatred is murder in God's eyes (1 John 3:15) and how lust is adultery of the heart. He went so far as to say, "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell" (Matthew 5:9). Here are more biblical examples of how Christ witnessed to the unsaved: 1. the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-22); the scribe (Mark 12:28-34); the lawyer (Luke 10:25-29); the adulterous woman (John 8:3-9); and one example of His interactions with the Pharisees, whom He referred to as a "brood of vipers" and "white washed tombs" (Luke 16:14-28). Not once, do I read Jesus ever telling sinners that "God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their lives." He preached the Law of God while confronting sinners (whether gently or harshly as He did with the religious Pharisees), and He preached repentance. He used the moral Law in conjunction with future punishment. Why did He openly confront people about their sinful nature and the righteousness of God? The answer is quite simple, because He loved them. He was not afraid to offend or of being politically incorrect. He was not afraid of rejection or ridicule. He did not shy away from using words like sin, repentance, judgment or hell. How can we, as His followers, not follow His example? Look at Paul, Peter, John, James, and Stephen. Moreover, Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, John Wesley, and D.L. Moody. Read about these great men of God, and learn how they sought to save the lost.
Last edited by abidenhim; 24th May 2009 at 01:46 PM.
Christ's message was pure and simple: love your neighbor. Confrontation, no matter how honorable the goal may seem to be, is not showing love.
Jesus confronted and condemn some people for their sin. In Matthew 23 He called the religious leaders "hypocrites" seven times. He told them that they were "blind fools," children of hell, full of hypocrisy and sin. He said, "You serpents, you generation of vipers, how shall you escape the damnation of hell?" (Matthew 23:33). He then warned that He would say to the wicked, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).
Last edited by abidenhim; 25th May 2009 at 04:27 PM.
This is not a competition of who can win more souls for Christ. The risks are too high when the eternal destiny of the unsaved is at stake. The truth of the matter is this, those who do not repent from their sins will be cast into hell forever. Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). If there is no repentance, there can be no salvation. Salvation is not a resolution to change a way of life, but "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). If there is no mention of sin, repentance, Judgment Day, God's wrath or hell, people will be ignorant of God's moral Law - this could cost them for eternity, because not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' will enter into the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). The Law of God reveals His holiness, His righteousness, His justice and truth. It is the very instrument that the Holy Spirit uses to convert the soul (Psalm 19:7). It is the means by which the way to the sinner's heart is prepared to receive the grace of God. It cannot be forsaken in evangelism. I'm resolved to following Jesus' example in this. He did not mince words nor did He shy away from confronting people of their sins.
Last edited by abidenhim; 25th May 2009 at 04:28 PM.
29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
I'm resolved to following Jesus' example in this. He did not mince words nor did He shy away from confronting people of their sins.
But what was the predominant example that Jesus used? Was it confrontation or love? And even if Jesus occasionally confronted- does that give us the right to be hostile?
__________________ John 6:33: "For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
You people should read the book Unchristian. It talks about how so many people have utterly turned people away from christianity due to their methods that dont use love.
They have the statistics to prove it as well as the responses from those who have been treated unkindly by us.
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I am not aware that Ray Comfort has ever provided any information that would allow the effectiveness of his method to be measured.
Although Biblical accounts of how effective Jesus' ministry was are more anecdotal, they nevertheless suggest that a large number of the people in places like Capernaum did subscribe to his message. And, of course, the fact today that Christianity is still the world's most popular religion is a testament to the appeal that Jesus has.
__________________ John 6:33: "For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
and many of that great crowd that followed Jesus was false follwers? John 6:66 my friend.....
66As a result of this many of His (A)disciples (B)withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
This followed one of Jesus harsh teachings..... guess he was a loser at witnessing to the truth too.....
and then at his crucifixition.... the fact he was unpopular with the public authorities shows he wasn't good like some people...... he got himself killed.....
and how many people were there when he was captured? even John Mark fled leaving his cloak behind.....Mark 14:51-52 (History/Tradition holds it to be John Mark the Gospel writer, the same John Mark who traveled with Paul and was the cause of his split with Barnabus)
Speaking of Paul's popularity he said this:2 Cor 11:24-29
24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
yeah, a failure... for the sake of Christ..... numbers, they don't matter, souls changed for the Glory of God, by the Grace of God, that matters.
__________________ Let everything I do be done for the Glory of God and not the glory of sod.... I am the child of the dirt man - Adam... let me never believe myself to be so great when my origins are so low.... my only worth starts and ends in Jesus, for apart from Him, I am nothing
What is Salvation? preservation from destruction or deliverance from the power and effects of sin.
What is sin? transgression of the law of God.
Lawbreaker: a person, who violates the law,
punishment: a penalty inflicted on an offender of a law.
What is Salvation? preservation from destruction or deliverance from the power and effects of lawbreakers.
To Witness to a person is to inform them that someone took upon himself there penalty for your violation of Gods law.
Would you want this gift of Salvation whereupon Jesus took upon himself your penalty for violating Gods law?
If you want this gift Pray this prayer with me and mean it in your heart.
Dear Jesus. Forgive me or all my sins and save my soul. I repent of all my sins and ask you to come into my heart and be lord of my life. For I give myself to you. Thank you for hearing my prayer and, and taking on yourself my penalty, and saving my soul. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
There is no magic in the words, the prayer is just a tool for the person to make a decision in there heart. If the prayer come from ones heart then there will be a change.
Remember! The bottom line in Witnessing is to get a person to this point when you can ask them right where you are. “If you want this gift Pray this prayer with me and mean it in your heart”.
I have done this in parks, bus, trains, cars, peoples homes, bars, night club parking lots, bowling alleys, in front of drug houses, drug pusher [Porsche] car,
__________________ The flesh revels in the soul’s demise. ---- Prov 6 :23 "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. "
1 John 1:6-7 "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua, his Son, purifies us from all sin." ----
The Evil one hides in our secrets. Reveal our secrets, and we reveal the Evil one and he flees
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