Sharing the Gospel with a Dying Unbeliever (again)

Almost ten years ago I wrote a longish post on this subject to help concerned Christians prepare for their time with unbelieving family and friends as they approached death. (Sharing the Gospel with a Dying Unbeliever, March 11, 2012)

However I thought a shorter post might be useful, and again it is written to these same concerned, caring Christians.

Be assured, that if you share the gospel, the good news, that's all you have to do.

The good news for your friend:

God loves you and holds nothing against you because Jesus, God's Son, came to earth and paid the penalty for your sin.

Whatever happens next is entirely up to God - you have no part in it.

If God has chosen this person to be living in the kingdom age, he will give faith to him/her to believe this good news, and the Holy Spirit to confirm it.
If not, he/she will be resurrected at the end of the kingdom age and will have a personal experience with the risen Lord Jesus at the Great White Throne.

Faith is required and will be given in this age; personal experience at the end of the next - so that all of us will belong to Jesus eventually.
Jesus promised:

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
[John 12 : 32  NIV]

So, just do your job (share the good news) and stand back and let God do his.

Blessings, Barry

The Myth of Freewill

For many years I have discussed and written about several topics that seem to arouse strong negative responses from fellow Christians.
 
For example, in the chapter titled 'God's Supreme Sovereignty' in "The Really Good News About God", I discuss the myth of mankind's freewill.

I don't have a problem with the "will" part, but with the "free" part, and I use events in the lives of several Biblical personalities to illustrate this myth - Job, Jonah, Joseph, Saul/Paul.

In my Gospel reading for today, I bumped into another excellent example in Matthew 26.
Peter was determined to stand by Jesus, no matter what.

"Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."
"Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you."
[Matthew 26: 33, 35  NIV]

However, Jesus knew better; he knew what was to eventuate.
To his disciples, he said:

"This very night you will all fall away on account of me."
[Matthew 26 : 31  NIV]

To Peter he said:

"Truly I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."
[Matthew 26 : 34  NIV]

And, of course, Jesus was correct. Peter's determined will was overridden by what had been previously ordained to happen.

... those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away".
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!"
Immediately a rooster crowed.
[Matthew 26 : 73, 74  NIV]

The thought that God might be sovereign over his creation is scary to some people, foolishness to others and a challenge to the supposed integrity, independence and freewill of others.

However, like every creator or inventor in the earthly realm, God ensures his creation fulfils the purpose for which he created it.

For that I am very thankful.
Why?
Because it means that whatever God has decided will happen, must happen, regardless of the will or plans of others.

Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
[Proverbs 19 : 21  NIV]

And what is God's purpose in creating the heavens and the earth?

He (God) made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment - to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
[Ephesians 1 : 9, 10  NIV]

 

And Jesus promised to do the heavy lifting to get the job done.
As well as paying the death penalty for our sin, he took the responsibility of bringing all people to himself over the course of time to complete God's unity plan.
Jesus said:

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
[John 12 : 32  NIV]

It seems to me that anyone who does not believe God will achieve what he has planned, does not believe God is sovereign - is in total charge of his universe.

Even so, I know many Christians who say they believe God is sovereign and yet expect billions of people to "out-will" God and thwart his plan to save and unite the world. Go figure.

The only freewill in the entire universe is God's !!

Blessings, Barry

Easter Holidays

To many people, Easter is just another holiday season.
In the Quick Crossword that I attempt most days, Easter is usually the answer to the clue "Holiday Season".

Supermarkets have been stocked with chocolate bunnies and eggs, hot cross buns, and the like, for some time, but no mention of why the buns have crosses on them.
It seems that the vast majority of the world's population knows nothing about the real reason for celebrating this "holiday" season.

Maybe those of us who do know could be sharing what we know with those who don't.

That sounds easy ... or does it?
But how do you start a conversation like that?
I like to gently ask leading questions.

When I see someone eating a hot cross bun or mentioning their purchase of hot cross buns, I often ask if they know why the buns have a cross on them.

When discussing the holiday season I always refer to the Friday as "Good Friday", as most calendars do. I then look for any opportunity God might give me to ask if they know why the Friday is called 'good'.

Only a simple explanation is necessary which could be based on the following facts:

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
[Romans 5 : 8  NIV]
... by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence.
[Colossians 1: 22  GNB]

If the holiday conversation continues, I refer to the Sunday as "Resurrection Sunday" and look for any opportunity ...

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
[Roman 6 : 5  NIV]

Even after Easter, I will ask people what they did over Easter.
Did you go away?
Did you travel on Good Friday?
Did you get some hot cross buns?
And then see if God is opening any doors from there.

Being led by the Holy Spirit is so important.
If he doesn't create the opening, we mustn't force one.
If he does, then we follow his leading by stepping in to it.

The Spirit lives within us for good reason, and has always gone ahead of us to open doors and prepare the way if that is his intention with that person on that occasion.

We need to trust his leading - "go" or "whoa" - and follow the nudges in our spirit.
Let's remember:

... you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
[1 Peter 2 : 9  NIV]

Blessings, Barry