Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The error in modern evangelism
is not in the zeal and fervor of those who are engaged in it,
but the sad fact that it is primarily a zeal without knowledge, in
much the same fashion as the manner of which Paul described
the ignorance of the Jews. For I bear them record that they
have a zeal of or after God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about
to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of God. It is accepted without question
or examination by the vast majority of those who style themselves
as evangelicals that man is a creature with a free will who can as easily
choose eternal life as he can choose sin. Therefore, they believe
he can use that free will to avail himself of a salvation
which is offered to him by a doting God who would not hurt a flea
and hopes with all of his heart that they will take him up on
the offer. In this formula it is also accepted without question
or examination that when the scripture says God is love that
this means he loves all men the same. In the same fashion they
conclude on this basis that Christ therefore died to pay for the
sins of all men and making salvation available for all men has now
left it up to them to cast the deciding vote as to whether or
not they will be saved. The magnitude of this error cannot
be overstated. This is not simply a procedural
mistake or a slight blurring of the truth or difference of
opinion. Rather, this is an egregious
error which confuses, distorts, and sets forth a gospel which
is no gospel at all. If any portion of a man's salvation
depends on an act of his free will, then he is done for. Since
the scripture accurately says, There is none righteous, no,
not one. There is none that understandeth.
There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of
the way. They are together become unprofitable.
There is none that doeth good, no, not one. It is sheer folly
to think that a declaration of the gospel can be heard by those
who were dead in trespasses and sins. The truth of God can only
be heard by those who have been given ears to hear it. But the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.
For they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned. This is why the Lord
Jesus told Nicodemus, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. The gospel
is not a proposition which is offered to men in hopes that
some will be persuaded to believe it. Rather, it is the declaration
of that work of redemption which Jesus Christ has done in the
behalf of His elect children, who are themselves by nature
the children of wrath, even as others, and worthy of destruction.
Yet because of the great love wherewith He has loved them,
He has undertaken their complete salvation and has obtained eternal
redemption for them. This salvation is totally dependent
on the work which He has performed for them. In His own time, He
gives them eyes to see and ears to hear that sweet and blessed
sound of a complete salvation in Him, even as Paul declares,
who has saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according
to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is
now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ,
who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel. Yet the first work of the Spirit
in the sons of God is not to cause them to hear, but rather
to see themselves as they really are. No man will call out for
mercy, nor will the gospel appear as the sweet savor that it actually
is, until he first knows himself in desperate need of such. The
Lord has sent His Spirit to convince men of their sin, His righteousness,
and the certainty of judgment. The natural man is exactly like
the Pharisee who went down to the temple to pray, and there
considered his own merits and faith. He is totally unable to
cry out for mercy as the publican, who by the grace of God had been
shown exactly what he was and what he deserved. Even as Job,
who declared, I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear,
but now mine eye seeth thee, wherefore I abhor myself and
repent in dust and ashes. This is the music of heaven.
I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the angels of
God over one sinner that repented. This is the result of the destruction
of the hope of the natural man. This is that which David experienced
which led him to the complete understanding of his own estate,
which he expressed in the 51st Psalm. The sacrifices of God
are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God.
thou wilt not despise. For the preaching of the cross
is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it
is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy
the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding
of the prudent. Do you rejoice in the cross of
Christ? If you would like a free transcript of this broadcast,
email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.