The gospel according to Jesus

Send me a copy and I'll read it.

 

No extra money right now.

 

Read this not long after being saved, then read it again some years later...great book. Not sure what the controversy is about. Obedience to God is just a basic Bible Principle.


God bless.

 

Probably haven't read it. Probably more likely they just don't like MacArthur because his views conflict with theirs. It's a great book and I would recommend it to any new believer.

In a recent thread MacArthur was vilified because he refused to sign the Manhattan Project. His reason being, he viewed it as not any different than the ECT (Evangelicals and Catholics Together) Document. It was hearing a round table discussion with MacArthur, Sproul, Kennedy, and John Ankerberg that I first heard MacArthur. Thought all those guys were great. Pretty unpopular position to take in even what was then a climate demanding ecumenical tolerance, and diminishing of Doctrinal Purity.


God bless.

 

Here is a question for you. How do you square this quote

"As we have seen in other accounts where Jesus evangelized, the methodology he used is not the point. Conversion is a divine miracle, and there are no formulas that can bring it about or explain it. There is no four- or five-step plan of salvation, or any prefabricated prayer that can guarantee the salvation of a soul" (pg 101 revised and expanded edition)

With your insistence that TWOTM is the best way to evangelize. MacArthur is making the argument that there is no one way to evangelize, no formula since it is all God's working in the hearts of sinners. It would seem you are at odds with your hero MacArthur on this point.

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I'll take a crack at it, since MacArthur is definitely one of the few heroes I have: MacArthur is not, I think, nullifying his own method of evangelism in saying this. He takes a very methodical approach to Exposition which no doubt has the intent of evangelizing those he teaches.

His point here is more an eternal perspective, meaning conversion itself is the Work of Sovereign God, not the one being used in the process.

I think most of us would be in agreement with the statement, the mention of a prayer being more readily understood, where often this "formula" is ridiculed with statements such as "You don't just say a prayer, walk the aisle, get baptized, and Boom! You're saved."

From the eternal perspective salvation is the result of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, enlightening the understanding of man to the reality of the Gospel, whereby He empowers the natural man to understand spiritual things of God which apart from the Holy Spirit he cannot.

From the temporal perspective you have those in the Body, and I believe even some that are not of the Body (and I give you the example of Caiaphas, and, I am not saying anyone was actually part of the Body in that day, prior to the Cross and Pentecost), who are used as delivery methods of the Gospel. And in the temporal, we know we have been commanded to be diligent in seeking after God, knowing Him and His will for our lives better. There is a consistent and strong emphasis on the Word of God and proper understanding of it, which all of us, in some way, give a certain amount of diligence in pursuing. The simple truth is that God can supernaturally use someone not well prepared, or in large part ignorant of Scripture (and I give you the disciples as an example), but, it is more likely that those who are diligent to prepare themselves will be more likely candidates in the process of conversion.

And each one will have a method, a formula, a system by which they approach that which they have been called to do. For some, a simple approach of the Romans Road is perhaps where they start. As they gain experience and a better understanding of Scripture, they will develop that unique ministry which God has prepared for some soul or souls in that person's life somewhere.

I have no idea what TWOTM is, and not sure I would agree it is the "best" way even if I did, because every person is unique and their perspective of God and salvation will define their approach. This may be the best way for some, and if it is, my personal opinion is that all of us should be standing behind, exhorting, edifying, and encouraging that individual in his evangelical efforts.


God bless.

 

Thank you for your reply. I would agree with you. I was asking this because the OP is well known for telling people that if they don't use The Way of The Master (TWOTM) method that they are not witnessing the "right" way or the "best" way. I wanted to see of MacArthur who he quotes all the time might cause him to be more open to how other people do their witnessing.

 

I think most of us have a view that we are special and the Lord has shown us the right way, lol.

Best to understand ourselves as individuals with unique character traits as well as flaws, still learning, still being molded into the person we will be, or should be if we were perfectly obedient.

Personally I have a lot of respect for anyone that has the courage to street preach. I think these individuals are called and gifted to accomplish this ministry, and I would do anything I can to encourage them. Sometimes ministries can be discouraged, I know my own gets that from a number of people. I am reminded often "We are not called to be lawyers," lol, but the fact is that Paul was very much about the business of disputing:


Acts 19:9

King James Version (KJV)

9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.



It was Paul's confrontation of error that separated the disciples.


Acts 17:2

King James Version (KJV)

2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,


So it would seem that some are called to be lawyers, lol. Check out the link, it's a great word study.


God bless.

 

Here is another one for the OP

John MacArthur then goes on to point out that making disciples is the point of evangelism. Yet many times on this board you have criticized people for pointing out that evangelism is about making disciples.

So it would seem you are one that creates a distinction between being saved and being a disciple which is very much what MacArthur is arguing against.

 

I know this is for the OP, but could you point out where he is making a distinction between being saved and being a disciple? The two are synonymous in a New Covenant salvation context.

It looks as if what he is saying discerns between methods of ministry in the Body, he being more comfortable with street preaching than with a continuous ministry with the same people.

Consider:


Matthew 28:18-20

King James Version (KJV)

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.


In this we see two ministries, the first the making of disciples (v.19), the second the instruction of disciples (v.20).

It seems the OP feels more comfortable with the former, and it's not something I don't understand, because often this latter can require quite a bit of patience. But for some of those that are evangelistic in their efforts, there is no dedicated discipling efforts required.

MacArthur is pretty consistent in his teaching concerning his view that there is not two groups of believers, those who are disciples and those who are "just saved," and his primary point is that everyone that professes Christ has a duty to obedience. Meaning one can't be saved at one point and then decide they will "make Christ Lord" at another.

We are not given an option about which commands we will be in submission to. The one that learns that Christ died for them will also learn "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."

In other words, there should be no distinction, for the one led to Christ will understand they are to do that which those who led them to Christ do, and eventually among the converts new evangelists will rise up, as will new teachers, that what Christ has commanded applies to every member of the Body.


God bless.