The Effectual Calling
. .... In our previous module we discussed God’s efforts in drawing people to Himself, as He prepares their hearts to receive Jesus. To this point, He has generally worked alone in their lives; but now it will come full circle as He involves other Christians in their lives. This is where evangelism begins.
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.... Evangelism is actually the most crucial stage of God's effort. It links all of His preparation to an actual conversion experience through a gospel presentation. This crucial event is sometimes referred to as our ‘effectual calling’; and for the person who is hearing the gospel it is the supreme moment of truth of their entire life. So before going further, let’s recap the four basic points of the gospel, which we will need to share with them:
.... Evangelism is actually the most crucial stage of God's effort. It links all of His preparation to an actual conversion experience through a gospel presentation. This crucial event is sometimes referred to as our ‘effectual calling’; and for the person who is hearing the gospel it is the supreme moment of truth of their entire life. So before going further, let’s recap the four basic points of the gospel, which we will need to share with them:
1. An understanding of who Jesus is (see Romans 10:9)
2. Jesus died for our sins, according to the Scriptures.
3. Jesus was raised again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
4. Jesus was seen, after His resurrection, by many witnesses.
.... Sharing the gospel can take place very spontaneously, perhaps during a chance encounter with a person you’ve never even met before. For this reason, Paul tells us to "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season." (2 Timothy 4:2). But not all evangelism will take place on the spur of the moment. Especially if you are trying to reach family, friends and co-workers, time will play more of a role and it will allow another dimension to grow in significance.
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.... In short, words are cheap. Those who have an opportunity to observe your life over an extended period of time will be far more convinced by the fruit they see; and only then might some of them open their hearts for you to share the gospel with them. So in a whole further sense, as our very lives speak of Jesus constantly, they must see Jesus Himself written in our hearts:
.... "Clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart."
(2 Corinthians 3:3)
.... During the Discipleship Introduction Module, everyone was encouraged to begin a significant Bible Study Routine of their own. There is really no replacement for this discipline, so how are you doing? Allow us to encourage you anew, that your light may shine before men and that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven; and that you may adorn the gospel of God -- which you are sharing with them -- with praise (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12). To proceed to the next lesson, click here
Daily Bible Reading: Mark 7
posted by loren at 11:56 AM
3 Comments:
The effectual calling is the supreme moment of truth in every person’s life. But if they do not receive Jesus at this point, it is not the ‘unforgivable sin’, as you may have heard. Of course they can be forgiven. In fact, they may simply need a little more time to think about it, to really come to terms with making a full, complete, life-long commitment, and that would be a good thing.
In any case, once a person receives Jesus, all prior episodes in which they might have received Him, but didn’t, are forgiven, simply because they have been swallowed up in the bigger issue of their conversion; or if you want to look at it another way, those episodes finally found their consummation and final disposition when the person finally did believe.
By
loren, at 6/17/2005 12:13 PM
Jesus reminded us that if the blind lead the blind, they will both fall into the ditch (Luke 6:39). This doesn’t mean you have to be perfect, but unless your commitment to the Lord is sincere you probably won’t impress anyone enough to want to share in your beliefs. People have to see that it works for you, before they’ll believe what you have to say about it.
Unfortunately, we are already working at a disadvantage in a larger sense. There are plenty of hypocrites who name the name of Christ these days, and they largely control the Christian media. Because of them, the public perception of the faith is not good at this time. So we must be prepared to live out our life in Jesus radically, humbly and sincerely, with plenty of love for others. And at times we must be patient, and pray for the Lord to open the door for sharing.
How effective will we be in this? Remember Jesus said that, in the end, we would be hated in every nation for His name's sake. Not because of hypocrites who have falsely represented Him, but for His own name. At least through sincere Christians they will see enough of the true testimony of Jesus to know the difference between those who serve Him in truth and those who do not. Therefore I predict we will overcome the present ill perception; and if people hate us anyway, it will be the real thing they are hating and not a simple misrepresentation.
By
loren, at 6/17/2005 12:24 PM
One further remark. I’ve grown weary of zealous Christians dumping on the mainstream church in their evangelism. Some do it to prove how ‘cool’ they are in contrast. When they join the scoffers and condemn their fellow believers, however misguided, they somehow think it will impress non-Christians into thinking “Oh, but YOU’RE not like those hypocrites at all! You’re so different!” Oh yes, and your example has certainly just proven THAT to them!
So if you’re going to criticize the mainstream church, or even those who criticize the mainstream church (as I have done, criticizing both in this article), then please be mindful and remember to pray for them too. For all their faults, God still loves them with all of His heart and they’re still our brothers and sisters in the Lord:
“He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.”
(Prov 11:29)
By
loren, at 6/17/2005 12:26 PM
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