I had a friend ask me about the Way of the Master presentation today which led me to examine their presentation and provide comment. So from my point of view, here's my take on the Way of the Master gospel presentation.
They use the 10 commandments heavily as the schoolmaster to bring you to Grace; but, then they mix in confusing terms that almost nullify Grace.
From their God Loves You tract:
“If you stepped into a courtroom and offered to pay a $50,000 fine I couldn't pay, what an insult it would be for me to say I would give your offer of help "some thought." Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, then by the grace of God hold on, because you have just begun the "abundant life"�you are going to be busy swimming upstream against the world (with all its sinful pleasures), the flesh (your sinful nature) and the devil (you'll find out about him). Read the Bible daily, obey what you read, and you will never fail.”
My issues with above:
1. Repent
It concerns me when Repent is used in Gospel presentations without defining the Biblical definition of (Gk) metanoia – “change of mind” as opposed to the modern English definition of “change your ways” “have remorse” etc.. Biblical Repentance is changing my mind, or simply realizing that Salvation is God-provided and not Me-provided. All of the religions of the world teach Me-provide by somehow earning God’s favor. Christianity alone teaches God-provided by Christ Alone through Grace Alone. No Works. Period. And if works don’t come in to play when obtaining Salvation, they have no play in keeping Salvation.
(Works do come in to play in terms of Fellowship with God, Rewards from God, and having Abundant Life and blessings while here on Earth.)
2. Baptism
“…and be baptized” adds a work. And if it’s of works, then it is no more of Grace. Baptism is a step of obedience after Salvation, not part of obtaining Salvation. It falls in the discipleship and service arenas of the Christian walk; it has nothing to do with becoming a Christian.
3. Receive the Holy Spirit
Receiving the indwelling of the Sprit is simultaneous with the rebirth. He is the Earnest of our Salvation.
Ephesians 1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
4. Then hold on…
The remaining items bring disciple issues in to the mix, at best are confusing, and at worst indicate that somehow the individuals’ works of holding on are going to maintain Salvation.
My opinions, for what they’re worth.
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8 comments:
Great post David! I've also been disturbed by the way "Way of the Master" presents the gospel. Perhaps they ought to concentrate on the "Gift of the Saviour"!
God bless,
Andrew.
Hi David,
I'm a graduate of the Biblical School of Evangelism. I love Ray (Comfort) and God has used Way of the Master to reveal the direction of my life so I am also very thankful for the man...
Do you hear a but coming? Good ears! :)
But you're right. WOTM leaves many things undefined and unclarified and it gets turned into a "Lordship Salvation" message.
I have taken the good from WOTM and left the not so good and the bad. The 10 Commandments reveal God's "Moral Absolutes" to us. Even people who the Law was not given to, respond to it because they really do reveal Truth to us.
So I use the 10 Commandments to reveal a person's true heart and then when they see it then I explain the Grace that God showed on the Cross.
It's been a crazy ride, but after MUCH study I've come to know that Repentance is self-judgment in agreement with God's revealed Truth (the Word). A great book for people interested is Harry Ironside's Unless You Repent.
WOTM has some great stuff.. but they also subscribe to some not so great stuff.... but that's like most ministries. Test all things and hold on to the good.
Kev
Hello,
I agree with you for the most part. I think that tract is not very well written, but there are other Living Waters tracts with a clearer gospel. If someone doesn't like that one, they should use a different one.
That being said, as we criticize including baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit being included in that context, Comfort pretty much quoted Peter from Acts 2:38, which was the same context. I can't hardly blame anyone for taking a verse from the Bible, but there are probably better verses to use.
We probably disagree in defining repentance as a change of mind. We can't just pick apart Greek words to come up with their meanings; we have to let the Bible define the words. Godly sorrow brings repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). And we will stop living a lifestyle of ongoing sin (1 John 3:9). But, I certainly agree that repenting is not something we can do, but it is a gift from God (Acts 11:18).
Thanks,
Bill
Hi Bill
You wrote
We probably disagree in defining repentance as a change of mind. We can't just pick apart Greek words to come up with their meanings; we have to let the Bible define the words.
I couldn't agree more.
Yet you continued.
Godly sorrow brings repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).
It's a common error to confuse that which can bring something with the thing it brings. The messenger is not the message. The "Godly Sorrow" is not the repentance. It is one thing that the Bible says can lead to Repentance.
Check out Romans 2:4 for something else that can lead to Repentance - but is also not it's self Repentance.
And we will stop living a lifestyle of ongoing sin (1 John 3:9).
While many English translations use the word "Practice" the Greek is closer to "commit" The statement is that a person of God will be "without share in" sin. They will be "sinless".
Of course that sounds outlandish doesn't it?
It gets worse for those who think that 1 Jn is some kind of "test" for salvation.
1 Jn 2:29, 1 Jn 3:7. Now what if a person does righteousness and does unrighteousness (1 Jn 3:10)????
We all still sin, so we all "do" unrighteousness... none of us are saved? well I see "professing Christians" doing righteousness often! So wait, we must all be saved then right?
Sorry for the sarcasm. But do you get the idea that 1 John might not be a "test" after all? Maybe, just MAYBE he's writing about something altogether deeper?
I suggest you dig into Paul's writing a bit deeper and look for thoughts on the two natures.
Repentance IS part of the Gospel. But it's not the "change of behavior" it's that which can lead to a change of behavior. http://onmywalk.blogspot.com/2007/05/what-is-repentance.html
Kev
Andrew, Thanks for the kudos!
Kev, (1st Comment) Thanks for recognizing that my post was not a personal attack on Ray Comfort or any of the other brothers and sisters at WOTM.
As to your comment of “Repentance is self-judgment in agreement with God's revealed Truth (the Word).” I whole-heartedly agree with your definition in conjunction with the Greek – Repent means to have a change of mind (self-judgment in agreement with God’s revealed Truth). We have not Biblically repented in terms of Salvation as long as we cling to any concept of salvation being through our own good works. We must change our mind, have self-judgment, that Salvation is God-provided and not me-provided.
Does that make sense or is it clear as mud?
Bill,
Thank you for your comments. They are very thought provoking - I will follow up with you later today with some additional input.
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