A Discussion of Evangelism:
Biblical Truths and Modern Evangelism

                         Outline

      Part 1
           I. Evangelism According to God's Word
           II. Receipt of the Free Gift of Salvation through Faith Alone

      Part 2
           III. Some Unbiblical Modern Evangelism Concepts and Practices
                   A. Asking Jesus into your heart
                   B. ' The prayer '
           IV. Believing in Jesus

      Part 3
           V. Confession in Romans 10

      Part 4
           VI. Calling upon the Lord

      Part 5
           VII. 'Confessing Jesus before men' in Matthew 10:32
           VIII. Conclusion

Part 1

I. Evangelism Must Be According To God's Directions In His Written Word.

1. The author of evangelism is God, and it is God who has commanded believers to evangelize (Matt 28:19-20).
   1. Because evangelism is the mandate of God and accomplishes the purposes for His kingdom, Biblical evangelism is not man-based or man-derived.
   2. Evangelism must be entirely based on and derived solely from Biblical truths and directions given in the Word of God.
   3. All words, phrases, and concepts must be derived from and compatible with Biblical truth. ⁽¹⁾
   
   
2. Evangelistic activities not based on and completely compatible with Biblical truth must be abandoned.
   1. An evangelistic activity must not be used just because it seems to work - pragmatism.
   2. An evangelistic activity must not be used just because it seems some people have been saved in that manner - experientialism.
   3. An evangelistic activity must not be used just because many people use it - popularity.
   4. An evangelistic activity must not be used just because people in churches have been using it for a number of years - traditionalism.
   5. An evangelistic activity must not be used just because it results in a good 'feeling' - emotionalism.
   
   
3. Evangelism is the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
   1. The proclamation must include the call for sinners to repent and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
   2. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to proclaim the gospel.
   3. Evangelism includes prayer for the messengers and for those to whom the message is proclaimed (2 Thes 3:1-2).
   4. Evangelism includes discipleship of those who believe (Matt 28:18-20).
   
   
4. Relationships between believers are supportive of evangelism.
   1. The unity of believers gives evidence to unbelievers that Jesus is sent by God. Jn 17:21, 23
      1. The unity of believers gives evidence to the world that God loves believers. Jn 17:23
      2. Love among believers shows others that the believers are disciples of Jesus. Jn 13:35
   2. A Biblical relationship between a husband and his wife teaches others about Christ by indicating how Christ and the church relate to each other.
      1. A husband who loves his wife shows the love Christ has for believers. Eph 5:25-30
      2. A husband who leads his wife properly shows how Christ leads and cares for believers. Eph 5:23
      3. A wife who submits to her husband shows the relationship of believers to Christ. Eph 5:22, 24

II. Salvation Is A Free Gift From God That Is Received Through Faith Alone (Faith Plus Nothing). Eph 2:8-9

1. The Bible is consistent in saying salvation is received only through faith. ⁽²⁾
   1. This is taught in the Gospels: Mk 1:15; Lu 7:48-50; 8:12; Jn 1:12; 3:15-18, 36; 5:24; 6:28-29, 35, 40, 47; 8:24; 11:25-26; 20:31.
   2. This is taught in Acts: Acts 10:42-43; 13:38-39; 15:7-11; 16:30-31; 19:4; 26:18.
   3. This is taught in the New Testament epistles: Rom 1:16-17; 3:21-30; 4:5-16; 5:1-2; 9:30-33; 10:4-14; 1 Cor 1:21; Gal 2:16; 3:6-24; Eph 2:8-10; 3:11-12; Phil 3:9; 1 Tim 1:16.
   
   
2. A person must believe in (rely upon, depend on, rest in, place confidence in) the following:
   • the finished work of Christ on the cross (for forgiveness of sin)
   • the resurrection of Christ (for being raised to eternal life with God)
   • the person of Christ (as God, Lord, Savior, master, director, guide, and protector of one's life). 1 Cor 15:3-4; Gal 2:22
   
   
3. Faith must include repentance. (Mk 1:15; Lu 5:32; 24:46-47; Acts 3:19; 11:18; 20:21; 26:20; Rom 2:4-5; 2 Tim 2:25-26)
   1. Repentance is the 'negative' side of faith; it is turning away from self-life and sin.
   2. Faith is turning to God so that one's life is by God, in God, for God, and submissive to God.
   3. Acknowledgment and confession of sin do not necessarily include repentance from sin. 2 Cor 7:8-10
   4. Unless acknowledgment and confession of sin result in turning from sin, they are fruitless. 2 Cor 7:8-10
   
   
4. In Ephesians 2:9-10, the free gift is salvation (Eph 2:9).
   1. Jesus is the giver of the free gift; He made it available through His death and resurrection.
   2. One result of salvation is that the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, whereby he is then able to produce good works (Eph 2:10).
   
   
5. Faith plus anything is not faith!
   1. Faith plus something else is not trusting in the person and work of Christ as adequate and effective to save.
   2. To say prayer is necessary for a person to be justified is to add a work to faith.
      1. To say a person is saved because he said a prayer is to give saving power to the prayer (the person's words).
      2. To give saving power to a prayer is 'prayer regeneration' (a misunderstanding of Romans 10:9-10, 13) - comparable with 'baptismal regeneration' (a misunderstanding of Acts 2:38).
   
   
6. Since salvation is received only through faith, a person is not saved by doing an action.
   1. A person receives salvation through faith, not by doing something. ⁽³⁾
   2. Actions (good works) come only after the person is saved (forgiven of sins, regenerated). Eph 2:10
   3. Trusting in an action (such as prayer) to give access to salvation is false faith. Prov 14:12

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Notes

1.  "We should be very careful what doctrines we hold and teach on the subject of justification. He who is wrong here, ruins his own soul; and if he teaches any other than the scriptural method of justification, he ruins the souls of others, ver. 3.
    A sinner is never safe, do what else he may, until he has submitted to God's method of justification." Charles Hodge commenting on Romans 10:3-4, Epistle to the Romans, 343-344.  [Return]

2.  "the Gospel requires only that men should bring faith in order to receive the grace of God." John Calvin commenting on Romans 10:8-10, The Epistles of Paul to the Romans and Thessalonians, 227.
   "This passage is cited in support of the doctrine just taught, that faith alone is necessary to salvation. ... it is faith which is the means of securing the divine favour; whosoever BELIEVES on him shall not be ashamed." Charles Hodge commenting on Romans 10:11, Epistle to the Romans, 344.
   "St. Paul introduces a proof from Scripture of the statement made in the previous verse that faith is the condition of salvation," Sanday and Headlam commenting on Romans 10:11, Epistle to the Romans, 290.
   "In accord with 9:30-33; 10:2-6 the righteousness contemplated must be that which is unto justification and it is consonant with the teaching of the epistle throughout that faith should be represented as the instrument." John Murray commenting on Romans 10:9-11, Epistle to the Romans, vol 2, 56. [Return]

3.  "not to earn righteousness by works, but to embrace it when freely offered by faith, is sufficient to give peace to men's minds and establish their salvation." John Calvin commenting on Romans 10:6-8, The Epistles of Paul to the Romans and Thessalonians, 226.  [Return]

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L.D. Hammons © 2003 This article may be freely copied and distributed without charge if it is copied in its entirety (without editing) along with this notice - including the author's name and copyright notice.

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