Seeker Intro | Point 1 | Point 2 | Point 3 | Point 4
The Objective Gospel -- Training
An Alternative to The Four Spiritual Laws
By T.A. Ragsdale
Update: I recently decided it would be wise to create two separate introductions to The Objective Gospel. The one you are viewing now is for believers looking to equip themselves to be faithful to The Great Commission. It will focus on "how to." The other will be designed for "seekers" (though Romans 3:11 says no one seeks God, folks sure do seek for something).
You might find navigation back to this page a little awkward since the four point pages all have references back to the seeker introduction rather than this one. That is by design. To get back here, use the "Training" menu rather than "The Objective Gospel" menu.
Introduction
Salvation is a work of God. There is no guaranteed method for you to lead someone to Christ. Our goal is to faithfully present the message of the gospel. It is God who changes hearts; it is God who justifies. Take comfort in knowing that our calling is to faithfulness, not "success." Preach Christ crucified and stand in awe as God brings life to the spiritually dead.
Points 1 & 2 --Are helpful, but are really only telling people what they already know (but suppress--Rom 1:18) and what they could easily find out if they cared to examine the evidence.
ESV 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
ESV Romans 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
While these two come first logically, they don't necessarily come first chronologically. It is not crucial for complete agreement on Point 1 or even Point 2 to move on to Point 3. They come in most handy when Point 3 is met with denial... "who says?" ... etc.
Point 3 (Law) --The biblical model of evangelism is Law to the proud and Grace to the humble. The power of God's Law is that it speaks directly to the conscience. God uses flawed people like us to speak the truth of God's standard of "goodness" to people, and then He grants them faith and repentance by His Spirit--all to His Glory. To skip this point is to fail to proclaim a biblical gospel (who needs grace? ... I'm doing just fine thank you).
Point 4 (Grace) -- The most crucial, and difficult thing to remember is to never go to point four with a person who is not broken and contrite before God. Faithfully and prayerfully leave them to the convicting power of God's Law ministered by the Holy Spirit. The fundamental error of modern evangelism methods is the offering of God's Grace inappropriately. Jesus gives a strong warning in this respect:
ESV Matthew 7:6 "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."
The Bible clearly demonstrates the message we should be preaching: "repent and believe." I've compiled a list of verses that demonstrate this is the consistent message of the early church. Perhaps someone could compile a list of "ask Jesus into your heart" verses and send them to me?
ESV Mark 6:12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
ESV Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
ESV Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out
ESV Acts 8:22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
ESV Acts 17:30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent
ESV Acts 26:20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
ESV Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
Exclusive?
Yes, these are exclusive claims and they aren’t popular to hear in our pluralist culture, but again, we are interested in the truth of the matter, not what is comfortable or “works for us.” Jesus clearly taught that he was the way, the truth and the life. If you disagree, remember that your argument is with Christ, not the Christian.
- Stand to Reason has a helpful booklet that documents 100 verses that directly or indirectly point to Jesus Christ as the only way. Here is a sampling from the "clearest statements" section:
ESV John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
ESV Acts 4:11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
ESV Acts 16:30 Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
ESV 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
ESV 1 John 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
ESV 1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
ESV Luke 10:16 "The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
ESV Luke 12:8 "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
ESV John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
ESV John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
ESV John 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins."
ESV John 10:7 So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers
I hope that you find this helpful as you seek to be faithful to our Lord's Great Commission.
Seeker Intro | Point 1 | Point 2 | Point 3 | Point 4
Disclaimer
You will, no doubt, find things you disagree with on this site. Keep in mind our goal is not to offend, but to inform. Rather than discussing personalities, we seek to discuss and defend Christian doctrine, issues, lifestyle, and worldview from a distinctively Reformed perspective. If you believe we have crossed that line, please let us know and we'll consider revising.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns you may email me at Tim @ objectivegospel.org (no spaces).
