Law and evangelism

I have recently learned about the importance of using the law is a backdrop (the bad news), so the gospel (the good news) makes sense and is effective. While there is no "forumla" for what to preach... the gospel does include some fundamentals, and we are told to be prepared to share...Someone told me the other day that the law is one way people can come to Christ. Apparently Paul didn't use the law when preaching to the gentiles. Be it the law, or the Holy Spirit convicting them, I don't understand how people can come to Christ without conviction. I dont understand how we can be convicted unless we are shown that we are sinners?I was wondering if anyone had a list (or we could create one here) where people in the NT didn't seem to use the law to bring people to Christ?Maybe it will help understand it better?

Well I might as well get the ball rolling, if someone has another idea on how to do this let me know, but I might as well start from the start of Matthew...Laying a foundation of repentanceMatt 3:1 "In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "Mat 4:17 "From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."Thats all right... now we have v18-25...

Sorry. See other message!

If there is a message that must be preached to the lost, and one absolutely refuses to use the law, repentance must be preached. I will say foremost that basically all Gentiles today are familiar with the law. Everyone in America is familiar with the 10 commandments, so it is a valid form of evangelism to those of this country. If one was dead set on not preaching law, then he must preach repentance. However, I see the law as effective and Biblical as a use in evangelism. See from Scripture how you can't get around repentance:To the people, soldiers, and publicans, John Baptist said, "Repent." (Matt, Mark, Luke)The message Jesus told his disciples to leave with, when He told them to go out two by two was "that men should repent." (Mark 6)Jesus twice said in Luke 13, "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."The Great Commission given in all 4 gospels and in Acts 1, is summed up in Luke 24:47: "...repentance and remission of sins should be preached...among all nations"Acts 2:38, Peter says, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ."Acts 3:19, Peter says, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted."These two verses should answer any question as to what message should be given to what crowd (although the Great Commission in Luke 24 covered it):Acts 17:30, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent."Acts 20:21, "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."These are only some of the 66 times that the New Testament uses the word "repent." The law is simply showing someone what they need to repent of. Shows them their sinful nature in God's sight that they need to turn from. God's grace then makes sense. The message of repentance was not missing from Wesley, Finney, Ravenhill, etc etc, but it is missing from our church today. Brothers, we must tell men to repent!

Yes! there is no repentace without salvation and the law leads to repentance...But are there other ways someone can be brought to repentance? Is there another way someone's concience can convince them they are sinners before God?

Coops, Let me give a disclaimer up front here and say that I do not think that using the Law is wrong in evangelism. It seems to be a pretty effective method. I just wonder if there's a better way. I think the Bible reveals there is. Either way you understand it, this post should be helpful as far as the list you are working on.Quote:"But are there other ways someone can be brought to repentance?"How about God's kindness demonstrated through healing, deliverance, signs, wonders, miracles, etc. Is this not a common New Testament model? In the New Testament, doesn't preaching the gospel (especially the gospel of the Kingdom), healing the sick, casting out demons, and other demonstrations of power often go hand in hand? Matthew 4:23-24"And Jesus was going about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. And the news about Him went out into all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, taken wiht various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them." Luke 9:1-2, 11"And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and to perform healing... But the multitudes were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the Kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing."Luke 10:8-9"And whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God has come near to you.'"And the following Scripture seems to speak very plainly to our discussion...Luke 10:13"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occured in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ahses."Acts 8:5-7, 12"And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed... But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike."Quote:"Is there another way someone's concience can convince them they are sinners before God?"I don't know if someone's conscience in and of itself will convinct them, but it is part of the Holy Spirit's work to convict the world concerning sin.John 16:8"And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin..."In the Bible, is there any reference to the Law being used in preaching after the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentacost?

Hey todd, thanks for your input...it is really helpful :)I don't really know much about "the gospel of the Kingdom"... can you explain how it is different from using the law in evangelism?You have brought up a really good point with the miracles, and the verse comes to mind..."When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven' " (Luke 5:20) and " For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness" (Romans 4:9) so I guess when miracles happen people see and have more faith and it counts as righteousness?Another can of worms...miracles confirmed Jesus’ authority and claims. Through His miracles, Jesus revealed His glory as the Son of God, His supernatural power, His glorious character, divine thoughts and principles, the beauty and holiness of His attributes, His transcendent teachings, and His great love for mankind. They revealed His authority over nature, His authority over Satan, and His divine authority to forgive sins. When the paralytic man was lowered through the roof in front of Jesus in the crowded room, Jesus said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." Then the religious people who heard these words accused Jesus of blasphemy, saying, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus replied, "Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But "that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" - He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up bed, and go to your house." (Luke 5:23, 24).So in summary: What is the difference between preaching "the gospel of the Kingdom" and using the law as a foundation?Is it right to say that in many cases the miracles could lead to faith which leads to righteousness?It seems the miracles were not to fix the current need of the world, but to prove that Jesus had the power to forgive sins (which I think we need the law to understand...)On todd's question about preaching the law after pentecost: I don't necesarily mean naming a commandment etc, but just appealing to the conscience about their sin, (which is known by the law), you don't need to quote verses, but still point out sin an urge repentance... But the qustions still stands to anyone: Where did people preach using the law after pentecost? :-)

Brothers, We must take this discussion to the same place we must all go, to the cross.The issue of one being converted is the issue of their death. Plain and simple. Jesus said "Any man who desires to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will surely find it."The cross of Calvary is where we must all come, laying down every kind of sin and iniquity, doubt and shame, and let Christ put us to death to ourselves so that we might "have life in His Name".How can one come unto the cross without turning away from themselves and turning towards God in repentant, desperate faith? And how can one repent if he knows not what he is repenting from?"I would not have known what sin was, but by the law." Paul said in Romans 7:7"The Law IS our schoolmaster to lead us to Christ." Galatians 3:24So what is it that Paul wrote AFTER PENTECOST to show people how to lead them to Christ? The law.Now, the overall principal I believe is found in James. James says "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."In my own experience, I've witnessed to people who could care less about sin, and need the law of God to break down their hard hearts and see their need for God's forgiveness. These people are proud, and God opposes them with the law, which is able to break through and convict them of "sin, righteousness, and the coming judgment".However, there are other people who I've met, who are so overwhelmed with guilt over their sin that they are humbly broken, but without the understanding of the gospel (good-news) of Christ. These people, like the man I met almost crying outside of a club because he just found out his wife had been cheating on him, are already humbled by their own sin and are truly ready to receive the grace of God. They know they've messed up their lives, they just need to know God can come in and work a miracle in them.In that case, a person may not need the law presented to them, because they are ALREADY AWARE that they are a sinner.In either case, the person MUST have an understanding that they have sinned against a Holy God, and that God now commands "...every man, everywhere TO REPENT, for He has set a day in which He will judge the earth by the man (Jesus) He has appointed." Acts 17:31I am in complete agreement that God can, has, does, and will use signs and wonders to accompany His word, so that people might believe. But even then, the person who has seen or heard such a mighty and awesome act MUST then THEMSELVES come unto the realization that they have sinned against this Holy and Powerful God, and that Jesus is the way in which they might be restored unto God by faith alone.There are two kingdoms in this world, the Kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of God. One must not only turn from one unto the other, but understand why and what it is (sin, by the knowledge of the law) that they are turning from.As far as the law being used after pentecost? Paul preached against false Gods (1st comm.) in Acts, wrote about the law to the Romans, and exposited about it to the Corinthians and Galatians, instructing them so that they may know how others might come unto faith (Galatians 3:24).And what of the mighty works of God in America, Wales, and Shantung? Are they not after Acts 2? It would be laughable to say that the law was not preached in these to bring massive repentance and massive life! Ask Whitfield, Wesley, Spurgeon, Roberts, Campbell, Ravenhill, Finney, Culpepper, etc, etc.And what of those who yet preach the law today as a schoolmaster unto Christ? We here are after pentecost aren't we?Thank you Lord! You showed me my need for grace that I might appreciate it all the more! Seeing Your love for what it really is! Hallelujah!

Coops, Quote:"I don't really know much about "the gospel of the Kingdom"... can you explain how it is different from using the law in evangelism?"The Kingdom, and the gospel of the Kingdom, seems to have been a neglected and little understood subject in the body of Christ since the times of the Early Church. Your sharing that you don't know much about it does not surprise me. I went for years in the Church and don't think I ever heard a teaching on it. At least not with the understanding I now have of it. This is tragic. But God is restoring understanding concerning the Kingdom.It is a foundational subject. It's a vast and wonderful subject and reality. I would love to discuss it but we should probably start a new thread to do so. I think Greg also mentioned wanting to start a discussion about the Kingdom. As to the difference between the gospel of the Kingdom and using the Law... The gospel of the Kingdom is the message of good news about the Kingdom of God and seems to go hand in hand with demonstrations of the reality of His Kingdom. Using the Law in evangelism is a method. So an easy distinction is a message versus a method. The gospel of the Kingdom seems to be accompanied by power, while using the Law doesn't necessarily demonstrate any power. Quote:"I guess when miracles happen people see and have more faith and it counts as righteousness?"Good observation. And, yes, I think this is often the case if it leads to faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, but this is not always the case I suppose. Quote:"Through His miracles, Jesus revealed His glory as the Son of God..."Was this the purpose of His miraculous works? Did Jesus do His miracles as God, or a man in right relationship with God? You're certainly right, this is openning a whole 'nother can of worms. A big one. I will attempt to begin discussion of this topic by laying a foundation.Philippians 2:6-7 seems to indicate that although Jesus was certainly God, He laid aside His priviledges as God and emptied Himself of them, and took on the form of a bond-servant in the likeness of men. Hebrews 5:7-8 seems to confirm this. It says:"In the days of His flesh, he offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although he was a Son, He learned obedience through the things He suffered."Jesus took on the likeness of man and took on the challenge set before Him as a man. It seems clear that, in a sense, He laid aside His divine priviledges and related to God and the world around Him as any other man would have to.Why did Jesus have to pray? And He prayed with loud crying and tears. And it says He prayed to the One who was able to save Him from death. Why did He need someone to save Him from death? It says that Jesus "learned" obedience. If He came as God, would He have to "learn" anything? And why does the Scripture say He was heard by God? Because He was the Son of God? No, it says He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience and was pious and because of His piety God heard Him. Luke 2:40, 52 further reveals this..."And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him... And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."Jesus physically grew and became strong, going through the natural growth process as a man.Jesus "increased" in wisdom. So there was a time when Jesus had a certain amount of wisdom, and then a later time when He had more. The grace of God was upon Him. Why would this matter if He was functioning in the world by His divine priviledges? Jesus increased in favor with God. There was a time when Jesus had a certain amount of favor with God, and then a time later on when He had more favor with God. Luke 3:23; 4:1-2"And when He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thiry years of age... And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, He became hungry."Jesus got hungry. He got tired.He didn't being His ministry until the Holy Spirit came upon Him.In my NASB study Bible there's a note for the phrase "by the Spirit" in verse 1. It says, "under the influence of the Spirit." So Jesus, under the influence of the Spirit, began His ministry. Why did He wait for the Holy Spirit to descend on Him?Do these things reveal Jesus as the Son of God or the Son of Man? Yes, He was both, but is it not clear that He emptied Himself of His divine priviledges and walked the earth "in the days of His flesh," relating to God and the world as a man? Quote:"It seems the miracles were not to fix the current need of the world, but to prove that Jesus had the power to forgive sins." I think that part of the reason for miracles was to prove Jesus, as the Son of Man, had the power to forgive sins. But could the main reason for miracles be that that they reveal the nature of God?

Here is my take.... You must repent to be saved... you must know what sin is to know what to repent of.... the law brings knowledge of sin.

Couch, Some good point there. It seems Romans 7 and Galatians 4 are very relevant to this discussion.Romans 7:7"I would not have come to know sin except through the Law."First, I think it might be relevant to point out that this text refers to an experience of coming to the knowledge of sin before Pentecost. I wonder, could it be now said, in the days after Pentecost, "I would not have come to know sin except by the Spirit"?I guess the "better way" that I have mentioned and that I am contemplating has to do with the power of God openning the door to the unbelievers heart. It seems that for many, seeing the demonstration of the power of God in the name of Jesus softens their heart towards Jesus and gets them in a place where they are more easily "harvestable." Instead of coming to Jesus for "fire insurance," they come because they realize that He is real. Then, for the rest of their lives, they have a stable foundation of their faith as it rests on the power of God and not on persuasive words of man. (see 1 Cor. 2:5) It's been said, "If someone can argue you into it, someone can argue you out of it." But when the power of God and the reality of His Kingdom is demonstrated in the name of Jesus, a solid conviction is established in the persons core- that God is real- and it starts them off on the right foot. So that they don't just "become a Christian" and start going to church and get all into the religious routines but have no intimacy with the living God. Now they have a reference point, right from the start, to go from. Then they would probably be less likely to fall into the trap of false religion, which I understand as basically form without power (2 Tim. 3:5).When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, besides the fact that supernatural phenomena had just occured, Jesus had also just recently been raised from the dead and there were many living witnesses to confirm it. There was a fresh revelation of the reality and power of God in the peoples hearts. Could this have been a big part of the reason why they were so quickly and, if you will, easily converted?And in looking at the account in Acts 2, it wasn't until after they were "pierced to the heart" and asked "what should we do?" that Peter told them to repent. But what was it that made them so soft towards the gospel? Was it not fresh demonstrations of the power and reality of God?How much easier would things go for us if we had more of the power of God in our ministries?As for Galatians 3:24...I am not fully confident in my understanding of it, but for the most part I think I might understand it differently than Comfort. My NASB reads like this:Gal. 3:24"Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith." Perhaps someone who knows Greek better can explain if the verse is saying the Law "is" or "has become" our tutor. Which one is more accurate?Anyway, I think that looking at this verse in context reveals some important things. I think a reading of all of chapter 3 will help us understand this verse. It seems that Paul lays out what he is going to be talking about in verse 2 in which he says,"This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?"This seems to set the stage for the rest of what Paul is going to talk about in the chapter. It seems that the Galatians were falling back into the old understanding of the works of the Law. But Paul is going to correct them and teach them about the primary importance of faith. It seems he is laying again the foundation of repentence from dead works and faith towards God. He goes on to contrast righteousness by the Law with righteouness by faith. Throughout verses 5-29 Paul goes over the people of God's history as it relates to the Law verses faith. He seems to be explaining dispensations and seasons in God's relationship towards man. The original way to righteousness, which Abraham found, was by faith. But, Paul explains, the Law came 430 years later. And why did it come?Gal. 3:19"Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made." And verse 16 reveals that the seed here is Christ. So when Christ came, it seems clear that relating to God through the Law became outdated, if you will. It seems that relating to God through the Law was just a temporary concession. When Paul says the Law was just a tutor (literally "child-conductor") to lead us to Christ, it seems clear that he is referring to the history of the people of God. He is identifying himself and the Galatians with the people of God throughout history. And he's saying that the Law took us (the people of God) along until Christ. Now we are to relate to God by faith, the way it was originally set up. The better way.

Jesse, That's awesome. Great testimony. I'm curious- how did you become slain in your conscience? Was it by the preaching of the Law?

Thanks. Yeah, I suppose most people who grow up here in America know the Law, at least to some degree. It seems to me that right and wrong tends to be understood by most. From your experience, do you agree?

Todd,It is clear from Romans 1 that the Lord has written his law upon the hearts of man, so that their conscience bears witness against them and no man has excuse on the day of judgment.I like your statements stressing the need for the Holy Spirit, His power, His conviction, His drawing people to the father. Amen! Indeed, it is only by Him that a man "cometh unto the Father." Therefore, His work should permeate every task of evangelism in Jesus' name. And what is that work? "To convict the world of sin, righteousness, and the coming judgment." If indeed "by the Spirit, I have the knowledge of sin" as you have presented, then by the Spirit we would have the knowledge of sin by his working of conviction of that sin, the need for righteousness, and the need to prepare for the coming judgment.The coming judgment is against those who "obeyed not the gospel", remaining in their sins, and refusing to repent of them before a Holy God.As Jesse testified - like Paul - when he realized his sin in light of God's holiness (both revelations of one and the same Holy Spirit)his conscience (placed there by God) cut him to the heart and he turned to the savior (through the Spirit)My point is that ultimately, whether its by the law or the Spirit, before or after Pentecost, the essential necessity for someone to repent is that they know of their sin, and know of their Savior.The Spirit can reveal personal sin to someone in their life, that doesnt necessarily fit a particular commandment to the letter, but in some means breaks one or many. The Spirit can break down walls of pride by directly quoting Exodus 20 to someone.The Spirit can penetrate someone with the knowledge of their state before God in a dream or vision, without someone even speaking to them!The Spirit can do many things, but ultimately his goal to bring them to Christ is to reveal to them:1) Their sin (which means "transgression of the law")2) God's righteousness in Christ3) The day of Judgment is comingAnd may it be for many in this very hour.

Jesse, Wow. Thanks for that insight. Perhaps you are right. This is something I have been thinking about but it's not like you can be sure of it from a book. I guess you find out through personal experience, as you are doing.I wonder how much of this generation has knowledge of the Law, right and wrong, and how much doesn't? Would you think maybe 50/50? Or even worse than that?