Finished this book tonight. Yes I have been a slow reader as of late, certainly not buying books nor reading like I once did. I would recommend this book for all whom are interested in evangelism, and doing evangelism the way Jesus did.
Ray hits the nail on the head in defending the principle of evangelism that makes use of the 10 commandments to bring about conviction for the sinner. Sadly so few churches use the law in their evangelism programs and preaching. Ray not only defends how Jesus did His evangelism, but defends what Paul, Peter, Jude, James, Stephen, and John the Baptist did as well in their evangelism. Another treat of this book is that it answers the debate that some have made up that since the Law was given to Jews only, it must not be used with gentiles in evangelism. Ray's other books that I have hardly address this issue, but this book hits the debate on the head. Clearly Rm 3:11 states that none understand and this includes Gentiles, and Paul himself says in Rm 7:7 that he would not have known what sin was without the law. Paul did not once differentiate between the Jew and Gentile in this verse and later goes on to state that the law is for everyone (Rm 3:19).
What did Jesus do?
Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by evangelist6589, Jul 4, 2015.
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evangelist6589 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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InTheLight Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Show me a verse where Paul preaches the Law to Gentiles.
Here is Paul's gospel:
1 Cor 15:1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Do you see the Law in there? -
And the point of this thread is....?
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blessedwife318 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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evangelist6589 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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You severely misunderstand Scripture here, brother, as evidenced by the banner at the bottom of your post. I would like to encourage you to read Romans apart from looking at a method of evangelism. I think that if you do this you will find a greater truth which will allow you to understand Scripture and the depth of our salvation in a better light. It is difficult (we all have the same issue of having to actively check our preconceptions at the door). But if you are going to preach on the street, then it is vitally important that you preach truth and not false doctrine. We will be held accountable for what we teach (James 3:1). I have to say that, by your comments here and over the past year regarding this issue, your teachings regarding the Law would fall into the category of false teaching. Many of us have tried to point you to Scripture and help you correct what throughout history has been heresy (placing Gentles under the Law was one of the first heresy’s dealt with by the Apostolic Church). I know why you believe as you do, and I agree that using the Ten Commandments may be effective in evangelism, but you have the tail wagging the dog. Restudy Romans from the standpoint of allowing Paul to dictate your beliefs rather than using your opinions of evangelism to dictate what Paul says. I think most of us here wrestle with Scripture and spend quite a bit of time taking advice, listening, working through and coming to a closer understanding of what God is saying (I’ve been on one verse for over 2 months now). I wish that for you. -
Here is a synopses of Ray Comfort's book, "What Would Jesus Do?"
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evangelist6589 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Are you a NewCovenant theologian? You are espousing views from that camp. -
I'm still waiting to see where any scriptures make a clear delineation between "moral law" and any other part of the law, such as dietary, ceremonial....
Jesus mentioned THE law, and referenced it as THE law of Moses, or simply "Moses"
And the writer of Hebrews clearly tied THE law to the priesthood. Yes, the "moral" law was tied to the sacrificial system. And both have been set aside for something more glorious.
The whole premise of law based evangelism stems from the error of thinking Paul had individual evangelism in mind she he said that the law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ -
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evangelist6589 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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blessedwife318 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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1. The Law of Moses was given to a specific people, at a specific time in history, and for a specific purpose. Paul explains this when using the illustration of the Law as a guardian, or tutor.
2. The Law cannot be divided (it is not composed of a moral law which can be divorced from a ceremonial law). We can, however, look to the moral aspects of the Law as expressions of God's own nature, which is eternal and never nonapplicable to man. Paul makes this distinction very well when he explains that Gentiles (who are not under the Law) are a "law unto themselves. "Thou shalt not murder," for example, is to be obeyed because it is God's law - not because it is a commandment under the Mosaic Law (it was always a sin, even before the Law was given).
3. Sin against God predates transgressions of the Mosaic Law. Although we can transgress the law written in our hearts and exemplified throughout creation, we are not transgressors of the Mosaic Law because we were never under the Law. Our issue is our sinfulness - our sinful nature that is evident through manifested sin.
4. One cannot understand Pauline theology without realizing Paul's insistence that the Law was given to the Jews while Gentiles remained outside the Law.
5. The Old Covenant and the New Covenant are vital parts of God's redemptive plan. But this plan has its origins long before the Law and the Old Covenant is given. It is not as one dimensional as you are making it out to be (the lost are not under the Law of Moses while the saved under grace). For example, the lost were never "potential benefactors" of the blessings under the Old Covenant that Israel once was.
6. You are ignoring a much older covenant within God's redemptive plan. If I am anything, I suppose it would be an "Abrahamic Covenant theologian."
I hope this helps understand my position. I agree with John MacArthur on this one (having read him may help you understand my comments). Please feel free to ask any questions you may have - I'll try to answer to the best of my ability. -
blessedwife318 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I find it interesting that a dispensationalist would try to put people in the church age under the law which is of another dispensation.
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