The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalm 19:7 (KJV)
We are not saved by keeping the law; we’re saved by grace alone through faith. The law, however, prepares the heart for grace. Why? Because it converts the soul, according to the Bible. It shows a person why they need the Saviour. It’s a key that changes everything, and that’s why the enemy does not want you to get a hold of it. It’s something that the enemy has bent out of shape over the years. He’s misused it and even hidden it so that many churches do not even know that it exists. It is hell’s best kept secret!
Making the Good News Make Sense
If we approach a hardened, unrepentant sinner, someone whose understanding is darkened, and say Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, it’ll be foolishness to him and offensive to him. Foolishness because it won’t make sense: the Bible says that “the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:18). And it will be offensive because we’re suggesting that he’s a sinner when he doesn’t think he is. As far as he’s concerned there are plenty of people far worse than him.
But if we take the time to open up the divine Law, the Ten Commandments, and show the sinner precisely what he’s done wrong—that he has offended God by violating His Law—then when he becomes, as James says, “convinced of the law as [a] transgressor[s]” (James 2:9), then the good news of the fine being paid for him will not be foolishness, it will not be offensive, it will be “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).
The tragedy of modern evangelism is that it has almost entirely neglected God’s law and its capacity to convert the soul to drive sinners to Christ. Modern evangelism instead focused on “life enhancement” to appeal to the world. It has diluted and re-packaged the gospel into “Jesus Christ will give you peace, joy, love, fulfilment, and lasting happiness.”
The Motive and the Result
In modern evangelism, they say “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and He’ll give you love, joy, peace, fulfilment and lasting happiness.” In other words, Jesus will improve your life. So, the sinner responds, and in an experimental fashion, puts on the Saviour to see if the claims are true. And what does he get? Temptation, trials, tribulation and persecution. So what does he do? He takes off the Lord Jesus Christ; he’s offended for the Word’s sake; he’s disillusioned and somewhat embittered; and quite rightly so. He was promised peace, joy, love, fulfilment and lasting happiness, and all he got were trials and embarrassment. He’s bitter towards the people who gave him the so-called good news, and becomes a bitter backslider.
But when a sinner understands the horrific consequences of breaking God’s law, then he will flee to the Savior solely to escape the wrath that is to come. And if we’re true and faithful witnesses, that’s what we’ll be preaching: that there is wrath to come; that God commands all men to repent. Why? Because He has appointed a day in which He’ll judge the world in righteousness.
Preaching the Cure without Convincing of the Disease
They must see themselves lost before they will cry for mercy; they’ll not escape danger until they see it.
A.B. Earle
A lot of churches today is that they have preached the cure without first convincing the sick of the disease. They’ve preached the gospel of grace without first convincing men that they have broken the Law. Consequently, many so-called Christians are absolutely convinced that they’re saved; but they continue to fornicate, they blaspheme and use God’s name in vain. Their lifestyle does not match what they preach. What’s happening? They’re using the grace of God for an occasion of the flesh. They don’t appreciate the sacrifice. Why? Because they’ve never been convinced of the disease that they might appreciate the cure. They must see themselves lost before they will cry for mercy; they’ll not escape danger until they see it.
The Principle of Biblical Evangelism
Biblical evangelism is always, without exception, Law to the proud and grace to the humble. Never will you see Jesus giving the gospel, the good news, the cross, the grace of our God, to a proud, arrogant, self-righteous person. No! With the Law He breaks the hard heart, and with the Gospel He heals the broken heart. Why? Because “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).
Most people when asked if they are going to heaven or hell, they will say “they’re going to heaven” despite living a sinful and unrepentant lifestyle. This is a product of modern evangelism. This is because they are taught that God is good and He will overlook their sins.
But the very thing that sinners are hoping will save them on the day of judgment—the goodness of God—will be the very thing that will condemn them. Why? Because God is good, He must punish murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, fornicators, and blasphemers. God is going to punish sin wherever it’s found.
It’s as simple as this: we broke the Law; Jesus paid the fine. If a man will repent and put his faith in Jesus, God will remit his sins so that on the Day of Judgment, when his court case comes up, God can say, “Your case is dismissed because there is no evidence.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.
Make Your Calling and Election Sure
Have you ever come before our Holy God, trembling before His throne and saying “God be merciful to me a sinner. I’ve sinned against You, oh God! Have mercy upon me!”
Please take a long, hard look at the motive for your commitment. Don’t let your pride stop you. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. So humble yourself before the mighty hand of God. Call it what you will- a committal; call it a recommittal. But whatever you do, “make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10). Better now than on the Day of Judgment.