Present Day Evangelism # 4

Present Day Evangelism # 4

Inasmuch then, as Christ's salvation is a salvation from sin - from the love of it, from its dominion, from its guilt and penalty - then it necessarily follows, that the first great task and the chief work of the evangelist, is to preach upon SIN: to define what sin (as distinct from crime) really is, to show wherein its infinite enormity consists, to trace out its manifold workings in the heart, to indicate that nothing less than eternal punishment is its desert. Ah, and preaching upon sin - not merely uttering a few platitudes concerning it - but devoting sermon after sermon to explaining what sin is in the sight of God - will not make him popular nor draw the crowds, will it? No, it will not, and knowing this, those who love the praise of men more than the approbation of God, and who value their salary above immortal souls, trim their scales accordingly. "But such preaching will drive the people away!" We answer, far better drive the people away by faithful preaching, than to the Holy Spirit away by unfaithfully pandering to the flesh!

The TERMS of Christ's salvation are erroneously stated by the present-day evangelist. With very rare exceptions, he tells his hearers that salvation is by grace and is received as a free gift, that Christ has done everything for the sinner, and that nothing remains but for him to "believe," to trust in the infinite merits of His blood. And so widely does this conception now prevail in "orthodox" circles, so frequently has it been dinned in their ears, so deeply has it taken root in their minds - that for one to now challenge it and denounce it as being so inadequate and one-sided as to be deceptive and erroneous, is for him to instantly court the stigma of being a heretic, and to be charged with dishonoring the finished work if Christ by inculcating salvation by works! Yet, notwithstanding, the writer is quite prepared to run that risk.

Salvation is by grace, by grace alone - for a fallen creature cannot possibly do anything to merit God's approval or earn His favor. Nevertheless, divine grace is not exercised at the expense of holiness, for it never compromises with sin. It is also true that salvation is a free gift - but an empty hand must receive it, and not a hand which still tightly grasps the world! But it is not true that "Christ has done everything for the sinner." He did not fill His belly with the husks which the swine eat and find them unable to satisfy. He has not turned His back on the far country, arisen, gone to the Father, and acknowledged his sins - those are acts which the sinner himself must perform. True, he will not be saved from the performance of them, any more than the prodigal could receive the Father's kiss and ring, while he remained at a guilty distance from him!

Something more than "believing" is necessary to salvation. A heart that is steeled in rebellion against God cannot savingly believe - it must first be broken. It is written: "Unless you repent - you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). Repentance is just as essential as faith; yes, the latter cannot be without the former: "You...repented not afterward, that you might believe" (Matthew 21:32). The order is clearly enough laid down by Christ: "Repent - and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Repentance is a heart-repudiation of sin. Repentance is a heat-determination to forsake sin. And where there is true repentance, grace is free to act, for the requirements of holiness are conserved, when sin is renounced. Thus, it is the duty of the evangelist to cry, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy on him" (Isaiah 55:7). His task is to call on his hearers to lay down the weapons of their warfare against God, and then to sue for mercy through Christ.

The WAY of salvation is falsely defined. In most instances the modern "evangelist" assures his congregation that all any sinner has to do in order to escape hell and make sure of heaven - is to "receive Christ as his personal Saviour." but such teaching is utterly misleading. No one can receive Christ as his Saviour - while he rejects Him as LORD! It is true, the preacher adds, that the one who accepts Christ should also surrender to Him as Lord - but he at once spoils it by asserting that though the convert fails to do so, nevertheless heaven is sure to him. That is one of the devil's lies! Only those who are spiritually blind, would declare that Christ will save any who despise His authority and refuse His yoke! Why, my reader - that would not be grace - but a disgrace - charging Christ with placing a premium on lawlessness!

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 5)