The Apostles used the Law (Ten Commandments) and the Prophets’ prophecies when they evangelized (Acts 7:53; 28:23; Romans 3:19,20; 1st Tim 1:8-11; James 2:10), and so did Jesus (Luke 24:27). The Law speaks to the conscience of a sinner, and is best used to convince another of the knowledge of their own personal sin (Ps 19:7). It is good to use this approach if it is used lawfull...y (1Tim 1:8), because the Law wasn’t made for the righteous people (born-again) to try and live up to, it was made for the ungodly and sinners (1Tim 1:9). The Law was given by God to be our tutor to lead sinners to Christ (Gal 3:24). Even Paul did not know that he was a sinner until he was convicted in his heart by the Law (Rom 7:7). Jesus knew that the Law was key to knowledge (Luke 11:52); it is perfect and will convert the soul of sinners (Ps 19:7). The Apostles also used the books of the Prophets, because proven prophecy proves the inspiration of Scripture (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel etc., and MT 24); proven Prophecy speaks to the intellect of a sinner, which produces faith in the Word of God (2Tim 3:16). Only then is a person able to receive the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ with an open heart (Rom 7:9), realize that he or she is a sinner (Ps 14:3), understand that Jesus paid the price of their personal sin in His death (2Cor 5:21, Phil 3:9), rose from the grave (Matt 28:6, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6, John 20:14) entering into His glory (Luke 24:26) becoming the Door to the Kingdom of God (John 10:9). Jesus holds the only key (Rev 3:7) which was taken away by the lawyers (Luke 11:52) and corrupted by the pharisees (Mark 7:8), but it is now firmly in the hands of Jesus (Isa 42:21, Rev 3:7) and offered to whoever shall call upon His name (Rom 10:13) and be born again (John 3:3) by baptism for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38). Amen.
|
Mission StatementEncouraging those in a world full of "bad news" with the "good news" of Jesus Christ “To do everything I can to advance the Kingdom of God by making the Great Commission my daily mission.”
Archives
March 2016
|