Present Day Evangelism # 3

Present Day Evangelism # 3

First, the man to whom these words were spoken had just witnessed the miracle-working power of God. "Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!" (Acts 16:26).

Second, in consequence thereof the man was deeply stirred, even to the point of self-despair: "He drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled" (v. 27).

Third, he felt the need of illumination: "Then he called for a light" (v. 29).

Fourth, his self-complacency was utterly shattered, for he "came trembling" (v. 29).

Fifth, he took his proper place before God - in the dust - for "he fell down before Paul and Silas" (v.29).

Sixth, he showed respect and consideration for God's servants, for he "brought them out" (v. 30).

Seventh, then, with a deep concern for his soul, he asked, "What must I do to be saved?"

Here then, is something definite for our guidance, if we are willing to be guided. It was no giddy, careless, unconcerned person who was exhorted to "simply" believe; but instead, one who gave clear evidence that a mighty work of God had already been wrought within him. He was an awakened soul (v. 27). In his case there was no need to press upon him his lost condition, for he obviously felt it; nor were the apostles required to urge upon him the duty of repentance, for his entire demeanor betokened his contrition. But to apply the words spoken to him - unto those who are totally blind to their depraved state and completely dead toward God - would be more foolish than placing a bottle of smelling salts to the nose of one just dragged dead from the water. Let the critic of this article read through Acts and see if he can find a single instance of the apostles addressing a promiscuous audience, or a company of idolatrous heathen, and "simply telling them" to believe in Christ! 

Just as the world was not ready for the New Testament, before it received the Old; just as the Jews were not prepared for the ministry of Christ until John the Baptist had gone before Him with his claimant call to repentance - so the unsaved are in no condition to day for the Gospel, until the law is applied to their hearts, for "by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). It is a waste of time to sow seed on ground which has never been ploughed or broken up! To present the vicarious sacrifice of Christ to those whose dominant passion to take their fill of sin - is to give that which is holy unto the dogs! What the unconverted need to hear about, is the character of Him with whom they have to do, His claims upon them, His righteous demands, and the infinite enormity of disregarding Him and going their own way.

The Nature of Christ's salvation, is woefully misrepresented by the present-day "evangelist." He announces a Saviour from hell - rather than a Saviour from sin! And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire - who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness! The very first thing said of Him in the New Testament is - "You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people...(not from the wrath to come) but from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). Christ is a Saviour for those realizing something of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, who feel the awful burden of it on their conscience, who loathe themselves for it, and who long to be freed from its terrible dominion. And He is a Saviour for no others. Were He to "save from hell" those still in love with sin, He would be a minister of sin, condoning their wickedness and siding with them against God. What an unspeakably horrible and blasphemous thing with which to charge the Holy One!

Should the reader exclaim, "I was not conscious of the heinousness of sin nor bowed down with a sense of my guilt when Christ saved me." Then we unhesitating reply - Either you have never been saved at all - or you were not saved as early as you supposed. True, as the Christian grows in grace, he has a clearer realization of what sin is - rebellion against God - and a deeper hatred of and sorrow for it; but to think that one may be saved by Christ whose conscience has never been smitten by the Spirit, and whose heart has not been made contrite before God, is to imagine something which has no existence in the realm of fact. "It is not the healthy who need a doctor - but the sick" (Matt. 9:12). The only ones who really seek relief from the great Physician, are those who are sick of sin - who long to be delivered from its God-dishonoring works, and its soul-defiling pollutions.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 4)