Background
Something certainly is tragically wrong; the
contemporary Church has forsaken biblical evangelism. Modern Christianity has
failed to use God’s Law (Ten Commandments) to bring the knowledge of sin, and
has therefore filled the Church with false converts.
Therefore by
the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the
law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:20 KJV
These false converts have named the name of Christ,
but have never departed from iniquity (“lawlessness”-transgression of the Ten
Commandments).
It is a neglect of the Law that has resulted in our
churches being filled with tares among the wheat, foolish virgins among the
wise, bad fish among the good, and goats among the sheep. This is why so many
profess Christ and have no assurance of salvation. They have no assurance
because they are not saved. This is why so many profess to have the love of God
in their hearts, and at the same time couldn’t care less that the world is
going to Hell. Every Christian should be horrified beyond words that any human
being could be cast into Hell.
Who Is God?
Idolatry is the fertile soil from which a false
profession grows. The Scripture tell us that,
By mercy and
truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 KJV
So few fear God because so few pulpits preach the fear
of God. Rarely do sinners hear that God is angry with the wicked every day,
that if they are friends with this world they are enemies of God, and that His
wrath abides on them. Every time they sin, they are storing up His wrath that
will come upon them on the Day of Judgement.
Rather, they hear the unbiblical gospel of “God has a
wonderful plan for your life” or simply that God wants them to prosper. Instead
of being told to repent because they have offended a holy God, they are told
that God will solve their problems.
Who Is Jesus?
To the false convert, the Saviour is the One who died
for his sins. However, you will find that there is a shallow understanding of
the sacrifice of the Father. This is because he has no knowledge of God’s Law.
Wherefore the
law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by
faith.
Galatians 3:24 KJV
It’s only when he sees his terrible sin (that he is a
terrible Law-breaker) and that he deserves consequent damnation that he will
understand the unspeakable sacrifice that the Father made in Christ Jesus. The
Law makes grace abound. It makes Jesus precious to him.
Scriptures
A false convert may believe that the Scriptures are
God’s word, but he usually doesn’t see them as his life’s sustenance. He
doesn’t desire the sincere milk of the word that he may grow, because he hasn’t
tasted of the goodness of the Lord. “This Book will keep you from sin, or sin
will keep you from this Book.” Because he doesn’t soak himself in the word, he
is ignorant about subjects such as holiness of God, the Law of God and its
functions and the reality of true and false conversion.
Heaven and Hell
A false convert usually lacks any depth of sound
doctrine. He couldn’t explain the basics of how we are justified or sanctified.
This is because, without the Law, God seems unjust to condemn sinners (most of
whom he sees as reasonably good people) to eternity in Hell. More than likely
he will believe that everyone goes to Heaven, except people like Adolf Hitler.
Hell is a place for those he thinks are worthy of punishment.
Sin and Salvation
A false convert thinks
lightly of sin, he doesn’t really understand the effects of sin. He is truly a
“worker of iniquity”
And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew
7:23 KJV
Who sees nothing wrong with fibs, not keeping his
word, taking things that belong to other people, and giving himself to sexual
lust. His reasoning is, “Who doesn’t do that?” and God understands. You may
even hear blasphemy slip from his lips.
The false convert has often been through the motions
of modern “conversion” (responded to an altar call, prayed a sinner’s prayer
etc.) and has consequently been given assurance by the preacher that he is
saved.
Conclusion:
Use the moral Law (like a mirror) to show him his true
state before a holy God. However, once you have shown the seriousness of sin,
explain that seeing sin in its true light has been what has been lacking in his
life. This will help him understand why he has never truly repented. Why should
he repent if his sin isn’t too bad? Ignorance of the Law has left him seeing
himself as a basically good person. Without the light of the Law, he has never
seen the character of a holy God, known the fear of God, or understand the
sacrifice of the cross.
With Blessing in Christ,
David & Gay
