Psalm 126:1-6 Salvation Has Come!

Introduction

1) Illustration: God’s people were slaves in Egypt. They called out to God to deliver them; God came    in power and saved them.  The exodus stands as a testimony to anyone who is enslaved to sin, that    they can call out to the same God.  The God of - Bible can deliver them from slavery just like He did the Nation of Israel.  The term - Salvation - in - Bible has two close synonyms: Deliver and preserve. When one is drowning, they want to be delivered from the waters, saved from drowning, and preserved as one who can continue to breath air and stay alive. The true historical accounts in the Bible of how God saved people from their slavery & prison stands as a testimony to all who are slaves and prisoners today.  

2) Background: Psalm 126 deals with another deliverance of God.  The Jews from the southern

kingdom had been deported to Babylon.  This Psalm expresses - joy of Salvation, of God delivering His people from captivity and returning them to the Promise land.  Whenever a person is enslaved to sin, or needs to be delivered from a sinful habit, the song is for them.  This song gives us the principles of Salvation.  The Restoration has come.  Behold the salvation of our God.  Once we get saved we need to sing this song.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

We have been delivered and preserved by God. It appears that Jesus and Paul had this Psalm in mind when they taught about Evangelism.  Many teaching texts in the NT use the farming pictured in the Psalm to illustrate how to witness.

He was born in England, and his name was William. He was saved, and he was a Baptist.  He had only one problem, he kept reading his Bible.  In God’s book he saw God’s heart for those not yet saved, they needed to be delivered from darkness.  He saw we were God’s tools to reach the world, but no one wanted to go.  

William Carey challenged the Particular Baptists of his day to simply obey God’s command to go, make disciples, baptize and teach.  A missions society was formed and they sent William to India.  

The people in India needed to be delivered from captivity to sin and released from Satan’s prison house. This Psalm illustrates what Carey did in India and the fruit his work is still producing today.  If you are saved today this Psalm is for you.  When you were saved you were also enlisted in God’s army.

Here are His orders for you.  Here is how to farm and to fight. You see farming, fighting, even eating is intentional. Evangelism to be Biblical, need to move from optional in our practice, to intentional.

3) Direction

1.  We need to respond suitably to the salvation of our God.

2.  We need to submit to the command to join God in His harvest field.

 I.  WE NEED TO RESPOND SUITABLY TO THE SALVATION OF OUR GOD.  vs 1-3

(Psalms 126:1-3 NIV) A song of ascents. When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

     A.  The Joy of God’s people. v 1-2a

1.  The Bible prophesied that God would restore the captives to the land.

2.   In 538 B.C. it happened.

3.   What a wonderful experience to be out of captivity, back to God’s land.

4.   It happened so fast it was like a dream. Pinch me, is this real?

5.   The people of God respond to deliverance w/ shock, then joy and laughter.

6.    They couldn’t help shouting and telling everyone how God had saved them.

     B.  The proclamation among the nations. v 2b 

1.  This great act of restoration was talked about around - world.

2.  When God providentially steps in, His mighty works witness that He is                                                able to deliver His own people.

3.   The joyful people cannot stop testifying and declaring the mighty acts of God                                    who delivered them from darkness into His marvelous light.

     C.  The Thanksgiving for salvation.  v 3

          The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

1. The shock is over

2.  The prodigal is home; and it is now time to party.

3.  When God saves His people, the pagans recognize the greatness of God.

4.  God’s people are overflowing w/ joy because God has saved them.

(ILL.)  When a person really gets saved, there is relief from guilt, a change, and joy. Do you remember where Jesus found you? Do you remember the joy & happiness? When someone gets saved, it brings joy on earth and in heaven. If you have been delivered, saved, it is something to be joyful about. The greater our captivity, the thicker the prison walls, the greater the joy. Free at last.  Thank God, I am free at last.

II.  WE NEED TO SUBMIT TO THE COMMAND TO JOIN GOD IN HIS HARVEST FIELD. vs 4-6

(Psalms 126:4-6 NKJV) Restore our fortunes, O LORD, As the streams in the South (Negev). Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.

     A.  The prayer for God to make us fruitful.  v 4

1.  Judah was destroyed.  Everything was torn down and burnt.  We need to pray.

2.  God has delivered us, now we need Him to restore our fortunes, prosper our work.                            Do for us what you did for Job.

3.  When God sends the rains in the South, around Beersheba, the rain comes across that dry land in powerful flood streams. “God, open the flood gates of heaven and pour out your blessings on all our work.” We have repented of our sin. We are committed to obeying your command. Bless the labor of our hands

     B.  The promise of answered prayer.

1.  God will keep his promise.

2.  God raised up the prophet Haggai to speak to the returned captives.

(Haggai 2:19 NIV) Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. From this day on I will bless you.

3.  Is it a surprise that God wants His people to be fruitful? “Be fruitful & multiply fill the earth.” God commands physical fruit. And the number of disciples multiplied, they added daily to the church those whom God was saving. That is spiritual fruit.

(Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

(John 15:5 NIV) I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

    Fruit = the fruit of the Holy Spirit, good works, praise to God, giving, and new Christians.                   If we are really concerned about bearing fruit, then vs 5-6 are very important to us.

     C.  The presentation of the law of the harvest. v 5-6

1.  Going: One of the things you learn from the Bible studies in MasterLife, God has not suggested that you share your faith. God has commanded us to do it. Five times the resurrected Christ told us to go, preach, make disciples, be His witnesses. There are no good excuses. We are going, or we are sinning. To not Go and Tell, is to directly disobey God. This in not asking people to come and hear. This is going to them and telling the gospel, Good News.

     a) Go is present tense.  Continually going. Forth, means we leave something behind.

     b) Every farmer must choose his field. Where will I start?

(Matthew 13:38 NKJV) The field is the world

(Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

     c) We start casting seeds right here! Stand on your front porch and claim the three houses in front of you. Front porch evangelism. Claim the desks around yours in the class. Look at the text under 'going.' One GA preacher said, 'we have too many sitters and getters and not enough goers and tellers.'

2.  Weeping (Emotions)

     a) (ILL.)  Our second son, Jacob was born blue, they took him to Syracuse, & it started snowing, I visited him in ICU. The next day they operated on his heart. My wife, Deb, was in Elmira, our first son John in Valois. I did a lot of weeping when I prayed all alone in a strange city. When was the last time you asked God to save someone, & you asked w/ tears?

      (ILL.) Daimon: The call came, I have wonderful news, let me share it w/ you. Amway, I listened, then it was my turn, and I shared about Jesus taking away my sin, paying for them

b) We need a passion for souls.

c)  We must pray w/ earnestness, passion

        d) We need a burden from God for souls. Moses & Paul

        e) Jesus wept.

      1. Over a man, Lazarus and the pain and sorrow of sin & death.

              2.  Over obstinate Leaders, the Leaders of Jerusalem keeping the people from                         salvation.

                      3.  Over a world, ours. In the Garden of 'the crushing' (John 11:35, Mat. 23:37,                     Lk. 22:39-46)

3.  Sowing (The Mind)

(Luke 8:11 NIV) This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

          a) Sowing the seed is sharing the gospel.

          b) We must cultivate the ground before we sow

          c)  We simply go and tell what Jesus did for us and in us.

          d) If no one goes and sows, nothing will come up.

      (ILL.) An unbelieving neighbor through a tomato at the church building next to the parsonage. I washed it off the building. The next year 3 healthy tomato plants came up at that spot. 

e) Cultivating and sowing must be intentionally scheduled in our weeks like eating.  If not, it won't happen. Two Monday night a month are set aside for evangelistic visitation. This is not for just deacons; it is for Christians.

      (ILL.)  John MacArthur plane

f) Get the training you need so you can share w/ o fear and effectively.

4.  Reaping (The Will)

a) The promise to the Jews, God will make you fruitful.  Pray and sow, and guess what? You will have to reap. The same is true for the Church. Look at the book of Acts. Sowing produces reaping. Paul said, what you sow, you will reap. If you sow nothing, you will reap nothing.

       b) (ILL.)  Tomato plant S.C., removed rocks, planted, watered, weeded, fertilized, and reaped.

       c) (ILL.) Bee Gee was the WMU leader at Darrel Robinson’s church in Texas, she attended the witnessing training so she could teach others. She told the pastor, I have tried to witness, I get emotional and cry. I can’t witness, but I will teach others. She took her witnessing book to the beauty parlor, Cookie asked, What are you reading? I am reading a little book about Jesus.  May I share it w/ you? Cookie read the book and wanted to get saved.  Bee Gee panicked and went to see Pastor.  He set up a time for them to go together and meet w/ Cookie and her husband.  That hour God saved them both. After surrendering to the Lord Christ, Cookie asked Bee Gee, you have invited me to come to your church for all kinds of things.  But how come You never told me about Jesus till now? Bee Gee never said she could not witness again.

Conclusion

1.  We need to respond suitably to the salvation of our God.  JOY.  Happiness.  Change.

2.  We need to submit to the command to join God in His harvest field.                                                        We must Go, weep, sow, and reap. More of the same never produces change.                                            Will you commit to intentionally obeying Jesus' command to you to share your faith?                            What are you willing to do under:

Going

Weeping

Sowing

Reaping

(ILL.)  Robert M. McCheyne’s weeping over his congregation in prayer

Do business with God today. Agree to join Him in His harvest field. There is grain ready to be picked.   There are fields ready to be cultivated, some are ready for sowing. There are projects away from home, but we must first start at home. Then we can go to Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

Modified Evangelism Explosion Outline

 

I.  The Introduction (F.I.R.E.)

Family (Questions) Have any hobbies?  

Interests: [Tr.] Do you ever think about spiritual things?

Religious Background: When you attend church, where do you go?

Exploratory questions:

1.  Have you come to a place in your life that you know for certain that you have everlasting life and that you will  

     go to heaven when you die?

2.  Suppose that you were to stand before God right now and He asked you, “Why should I let you into my             

     heaven?”  What would you say?

II.  The gospel

      A.  GRACE        1.  Heaven is a free gift.

                     2.  It is not earned or deserved.

      B.  MAN           1.  Is a sinner, a lawbreaker (deserves death).

                      2.  Cannot save himself.

      C.  GOD            1.  Is merciful - therefore doesn’t want to punish us.

                      2.  Is just (holy) - therefore He must punish sin.

      D.  CHRIST      1.  Who He is - Jesus is God and He became Man at the first Christmas.

                2.  What He did - He paid for His people’s sin and purchased a place in heaven                    for us which He offers as a free gift.

                                3.  He did this by dying on the cross and shedding His blood for us.  Three days                                           later God the Father raised Him from the dead.

                4.  Christ returned to heaven and God made Him Lord of the universe.  He is now                   reigning as King over His universe.  He is everyone’s Lord.

      E.  REPENTANCE  1.  The Bible says that God has commanded every person to repent.                                                        Acts 17:30

                                 2.  What it is not - just feeling sorry.

                 3.  What it is - a change of all that I am from sin and selfishness to God.  It is a                                              U-turn, a change of direction (confession plus action). It is a turning to God                                              through Jesus and away from sin.

      F.  FAITH         1.  What it is not - only agreeing mentally to a few facts nor is it temporary faith.

                2.  What it is - actually trusting Jesus alone for deliverance from sin.

                        3.  It is an act of the mind, will and feelings.     

     G.  SURRENDER  1.  You have put God’s gift of faith to use when you have bowed before the                                                    throne of Jesus in submission and trust, asking Him to save you.

                                2.  Surrendering to Jesus as Lord means giving Jesus control of our lives. We                                               acknowledge Him as our Boss from now on.  We let him drive the car of our                                           ives.

     H.  RESULT             (of hearing this message)

           COSTS          1.  Those who truly believe and obey this message will be saved from sin’s                                                   punishment and control in their lives.

                 2.  Those who will not believe and obey will be responsible for rejecting the                                                   only escape path God has offered in the gospel.

III.  The commitment

        A.   Qualifying Question: Does this make sense to you?

        B.   Is there any reason you would not be willing to receive God’s gift of everlasting life?

        C.   Are you willing to turn from your sin and place your faith in Jesus right now?

        D.   Cost of commitment (explain the costs and losses of being a Christian)

        E.   Question of next step:

               1.  Would you be interested in coming to a Bible study to go over these truths in detail from                         the Bible?

     OR    2.  Would you be interested in coming to my Sunday School class or an Inquirer’s class?

     OR    3.  Jesus promises that He will not turn away from those who come to Him on gospel terms,                        faith and repentance.  (Read Matthew 11:28-30) This is Christ’s invitation to you, for you                      to come to Him. God has commanded you to repent and trust in the Lord Christ.  I urge                          you to become at peace with God through His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ.  You need to                        ask the Lord Jesus to save you.

        F.  Do you have any questions?  (Explain the prayer of submission for those who ask)

Dear God, I know that the Lord Jesus is Your Son.  He is God and He became man.  I know that He shed his blood by dying on the cross for sinners and was raised from the dead.  I know that I have broken Your rules, and I have sinned and need forgiveness.  I am now willing to turn from my sins and receive Jesus as my Deliverer and my Boss, my Savior and my Lord.  I now trust Him, I now repent of my sins, I surrender to Jesus.  Lord Jesus, please save me.  Thank you.  I pray in Jesus Name.  Amen. 

IV. Immediate follow-up

        A.  Bible - Live in the Word (Start reading the gospel of John)

        B.  Prayer - pray in faith   (each day)

        C.  Worship - spend time with the Master (devotions & come to church w/ me)                    

        D.  Fellowship with Believers (small group, S.S. class, church service, etc.)

        E.  Witness to the world (use present unsaved contacts, have a Matthew party)

        F.  Discipleship - one-on-one edification (first be discipled, then disciple others)

        G.  Service (ministering to other Christians, discover gifts)

Doc Belcher, Richard P., Sr. Homegoing

Rev. Dr. Richard Paul Belcher, Sr., TEGA CAY, SC - Richard Paul Belcher, 85, of Fort Mill, SC went to be with the Lord on January 3, 2020. Born October 12, 1934 in St. Joseph, MO, he was the son of Delbert and Virgie Belcher. He is survived by a son, Dr. Rev. Richard Paul Belcher, Jr. (Lu) of Fort Mill, SC and daughter, Ann Jeanette Gottman (Tom) of Springfield, MO; a brother Delbert Belcher of Scotts, MI, a sister Joan Teachout of Trenton, MI; five grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, and his wife Mary Anne Belcher. He attended Hannibal-Lagrange college for two years and graduated from Wheaton College. He became an evangelist before he pastored Washington Park Baptist Church in Washington Park, IL from 1961 to 1976. While pastoring he pursued an M.Div. from Covenant Theological Seminary and a Th.D. from Concordia Theological Seminary, both schools in St. Louis, MO. In 1976 he took a teaching job at Columbia Bible College (now Columbia International University) in Columbia, SC and taught for twenty-nine years. He authored many books, including his best-known Journey in Grace.

He had a heart for missions and went on numerous mission trips to India, Brazil, Africa, Taiwan, and other parts of the world. He became pastor of Covenant Baptist Church, Columbia, SC in the years before his retirement from teaching in 2005. The last years of his life he lived in Fort Mill, SC. Funeral service were conducted at 11 AM on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at Palmetto Funeral Home in Fort Mill, SC with Dr. Rev. Richard Belcher, Jr. officiating. The burial was conducted at 3 PM at Bush River Memorial Gardens in Columbia, SC. The family received friends prior to the service on Tuesday, from 10 AM until 11 AM at the funeral home. The family is being served by Palmetto Funeral Home and Crematory of Fort Mill, SC.

• Richard Belcher's students called him Doc
• He founded Evangelizing India for Christ in 1993
• Doc invested himself in numerous students for many years. He would call, email and meet them for lunch. He would come and preach at the churches they would pastor.
  
• He was a mentor to many young men. He would even pay for the lunch of students off campus who disagreed with some of his convictions and encourage them with matter upon which they both agreed.
• Doc would encourage men who had been rejected by others and were struggling. He never gave up on them. Doc rooted for the underdog, and if that was you, you greatly appreciated it.
  
• After teaching at Columbia Bible College during the day, he would preach at revivals and Bible studies during the evening hours or on weekends
• He founded Richbarry Press with a local Pastor to distribute his many written works
• He planted Covenant Baptist Church in West Columbia, SC
• He was Chairman of the Board of Christ for India for several years before founding EIFC
• He taught Bible, Preaching, Advanced Greek and Theology at CBC in the 1980s
• Doc wrote and performed the life of Bible characters and great Christians in music and script. He would read the narrative and punctuate it with meaningful hymns and worship songs. These include Adnorium Judson, David Brainerd, and Pontious Pilate and about 11 more. The Judson one is available online at Sermon Audio.com.
• Doc took many teams to India and Africa for a week or two of ministry and went alone to do specialized training for many years. It is estimated that he went to India over 35 times.
• J.A. Medders wrote: "Don't do ministry and missions as if it rests on you. Work and sleep like a Calvinist. Work like it is all up to the most powerful person in the universe. Work like you are God's humble coworker, pointing people to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Go the the nations, evangelize your friends, and plant churches because you know God is sovereign. Be a hard-working, expectantly-evangelizing Calvinist who trust God's sovereignty. Work hard for the glory of God. And enjoy watching what he lets you be part of." (Humble Calvinism, 2019, The Good Book Co., Loc. 1393). Doc did not write this, but he lived it.
• After teaching and meeting with students all day, Doc would work on books he was writing and travel to preach revivals and mini-Bible conferences. I rode with him to a revival he was preaching at in SC one hours' drive away on one occasion. He took time to share his faith at the gas station we had to stop at on the way home and gave the cashier one of his books. John Cummings drove Doc back and forth to preaching engagements many times when he had bad headaches or was too sick to drive, but he kept his ministry promise.
• Doc banked on prayer. On my first trip to India in 1994, our team was in a large diesel van heading to the airport. The driver ran it out of diesel fuel, and we had to pull over 0.3 tenths of a mile from a fuel station. Doc stood up and prayed. The van started after the prayer and made it to the fuel station and then to the airport. There were many other instances like this through the years.
  

How to Use a Tactical Plan with Difficult Skeptics

Helps for the Answers Class: How to Use a Tactical Plan with Difficult Skeptics

Columbo Questions[1]

Bring these questions with you to the Answers Class. The right tactics can assist you in staying in the driver’s seat by directing the conversation.  Questions are a good way to approach group members with diplomacy rather than with verbal combat.  Use questions to make your case without a lecture and making claims you will be responsible to defend when dealing with skeptics who have not thought out their own positions carefully. The truth is on our side!

Once a participant answers a question about your topic stating a non-biblical point of view, ask them a series of questions.

1)      What do you mean by that? [You are asking, “What do you believe?”] Make them define their terms.  Gather information by using clarification questions.

2)      How did you come to that conclusion?  (or)

·        Why do you say that?  (or)

·        What are your reasons for holding that position? (or)

·        I am curious, why would you say such a thing? (or)

·        Why should I believe what you just stated? (or)

·        Can you give me some reasons why I should believe that is truth? (or)

·        What makes you think that is the right way to see it?

·        And what would be your evidence for that? 

·        And what support do you have for that idea?

·        The essence of this second type of question is: How do you know that is true? What are your reasons for coming to this conclusion?

You are reversing the burden of proof.  The person who makes the claim bears the burden of proof.  Challenge their commitment to unbelief.  Don’t go into a defensive posture when the skeptic makes a claim.  Ask them for their reason for holding their view.  If they change the subject, navigate the discussion back to their reasons for holding their view.  They have made an argument; they should do the work of proving why their view is the most reasonable solution to the evidence. Once they make a claim, the burden of proof is on them.  Don’t fall for the trap to have to defend your view.  Ask them to slow down and give you their view and the reasons for it, and let you think about it.  Don’t let them reverse the burden of proof when they made the claim, they must give reasons why their view is the most plausible, not just possible.  It is their job to not only make a point; they must also give reasons why this is the best understanding of the facts.  An alternative explanation is not a refutation.  He must show that his explanation is the best explanation, most plausible pointing to the facts, evidence, and truth.  Don’t let them dodge the issues.  If they make a controversial claim, they should be able to defend it with reasons. 

We should all listen while they explain why they think what they are claiming is true.  Ask them to carefully explain their view and the reasons why they hold this view so that you can think about it.  Ask simple leading questions that are interactive, probing, and amicable.

3)      Have you ever considered (or),

·        Can you help me with this? 

·        Maybe you can clear this up for me. 

·        The third type of Columbo question is to use more questions to find a flaw, a clear weakness, a wrong assumption, or a contradiction in their thinking. (Carefully listening to how they reason from the # 2 question above)  Here is sample conversation using this third type of question:

Participant: “You should not push your morality on me.” 

Facilitator: “Why not?”  Notice they just pushed their morality on you by saying there is something you should not do.  Everything they say next will be attacking themselves.

Participant: “You are intolerant because you believe in absolute truth.” 

Facilitator: “What do you mean?” 

Participant: “Well, you think you are right about this and others are wrong.”

Facilitator: “Help me out, here.  Something is bothering me.  How is it when I think I am right I am intolerant, but when you think you are right, you are just simply right?  You can’t have it both ways.” 

Participant: “That is just your interpretation.” 

Facilitator: “What do you mean by ‘just’?”  If they mean all interpretations are equal, then misinterpret something they just said to force them to admit that some interpretations are incorrect and some are correct. 

Participant: “How can there be evil if there is a good God?” 

Facilitator: “What do you mean by evil?  How can there be an objective standard of good and evil if there is no great lawgiver?” 

Facilitator: “Would you be willing to consider an alternative explanation?”  Anticipate objections and think of questions in advance (see Luke 20:1-8, 20-26). 

Facilitator: “Let me ask you a question.”  You as the facilitator are going on the offensive in a disarming way by the repeated use of questions.  Your plan is to point out errors with questions rather than with statements.  When they evade your questions by making other claims, question those claims as well.  What if they start using the Columbo method on you?

Facilitator: “I am sorry; I am not prepared to answer that question tonight.  Why don’t you tell me what you believe about this and the reasons why you believe it.  Once I understand your view, I will see if I can offer an alternative or state my agreement with you.”

After the session, think through the false claims that were made.  Think through the questions that you could have asked to make the person think about the self-contradictory and illogical statements that class members made.  Write these down for the next time you teach this session.  Pay close attention to ideas that have internal contradictions and learn to expose these with questions to get the entire group to think.  For example, Participant: “There are no absolutes.”  Facilitator: “Are you absolutely certain about that?”  Participant: “There is no such thing as truth.”  Facilitator: “How do you know that what you just said is true?”

See www.str.org for more information on using questions to expose error.

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[1] The material in the section is adapted from Gregory Koukl’s lecture, “Tactics in Defending the Faith,” available from Stand to Reason, at www.str.org .

TULIPER 7 Points of Calvinism - Richard P. Belcher, SR.

TULIP-ER

Total Depravity (or total inability): The unbeliever is in bondage to Satan and is incapable of exercising his will freely to turn to Christ. Man is beyond all self—help because he is ‘dead in his trespasses and sin.̓ (This is not absolute depravity as everyone could be worse.) Man is “as bad off” spiritually as he can be and is naturally in rebellion against God.

Unconditional Election: Before the foundation of the world, God chose certain individuals out of His free grace and love and by His sovereign will. His choice was not based on any foreseen response, obedience, faith, repentance, or any condition, but according to His unchangeable purpose, secret counsel, and the good pleasure of His will.

Limited Atonement (definite atonement or particular redemption): “Christ died to save particular persons who were given Him by the Father in eternity past. His death was, therefore, a one hundred percent success, in that all for whom He died will be saved, and all for whom He did not die will receive 'justice' from God when they are cast into hell.” (D. E. Spencer) The intention of the atonement was for the elect and it actually obtained salvation for them.

Irresistible Grace (or effectual call): Salvation is based on God̓s free will and because God is all—powerful (omnipotent),, His grace cannot be resisted. “In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the Gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call” (made to anyone) “can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion.” (Loraine Boettner)

Perseverance of the Saints: Every individual who was chosen by Cod, redeemed by Christ, regenerated and given faith by the Holy Spirit will persevere to the end. Once truly believing, always persevering. Their assurance and trust will remain in Christ̓s finished work and in the promise that ‘salvation is of the Lord.̓ God will keep His sheep that He brings into His fold. His sheep have a love for the Savior, a hatred of sin, and a growth in holiness.

Evangelism: All believers must share the Gospel with the lost. We are commissioned by Christ to bring the gospel to everyone in our world. All people groups must be discipled. God ordains both the means and the ends. The people of God and the Word of God are key means to spreading the gospel to every people group on the earth and establishing a church among each people group to further the work of the gospel. Missions must be our heartbeat and it is not optional.

Responsibility: The Bible holds all men responsible to repent, believe, and turn from their rebellion to the Lord Christ. All people are without excuse for ignoring general revelations and special revelation. Believers are responsible to follow Jesus fully, including to be witnesses for Him to the uttermost parts of the earth.

A Possible Model for a Skeptics Form, Answering the Questions of those Outside of Christ

1990s Skeptic’s Forum at Open Door Church

 

Finding Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions

 

This is a six-week general introduction to the issues that one needs to understand to embrace the Lord Christ by genuine saving faith and real repentance.  Each week those who are willing to attend will be provided supper by the Evangelism Team along with coffee, drinks, and snacks.  They will attend this Wednesday night discussion along with any friends (ODBC members) that invited them, and other members requested to attend and love on these folks by invitation of the elders.  There will be a different person each week to lead the discussion.  Each leader will need to come prepared with a list of questions to help lead the discussion on the topic below assigned for that week.  The leader will also need to be prepared to answer questions with propositional truths appropriate for each topic.  There is a stated goal below for each person to come to in his or her understanding as a result of each group discussion.  The leader should honestly, patiently, and lovingly answer the questions that are germane to the topic under consideration.  As facilitator, seek to diffuse any excessive passion being expressed by a skeptic by asking questions in return or asking the person to rephrase the question according to some stated guidelines.  (Lets, talk about that subject, but please re-word that question to be more polite.  We are all friends here.)  Also, turn questions that are off the subject into a question that is back on the topic for discussion by returning with a bridge question back into the topic.

Week One:  “What are the issues?”  Defining faith and reason and how they relate to seeking the truth and true understanding of life’s issues.

Ending Goal of discussion:  Leading each participant to realize that faith is important and when properly understood, it is a reasoned step into the light.  You do not check your brains at the door to trust biblical truth or to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Week Two:  “Does God exist?”  Intelligent design, reason, justice, love, and creation all point to the fact that a greater being than man must exist. 

Ending goal of discussion:  Leading each participant towards the concept that there has to be someone greater than ourselves and to explore the possibility that this person is the God of the Bible.

Week Three:  “Has God spoken specifically?”  Considering the reasons why God special revelation in the Bible can be trusted and is true truth.  If God has spoken, what authority should His truth have in and for our lives?

Ending goal of discussion: Leading each participant towards acknowledging that the Bible might be true, thus they should seriously consider its claims.

Week Four:  “Who is man?”  Is man basically good with a proclivity to err some of the time or is man basically a lawbreaker with the appearance of doing good some of the time?  Is man the measure of all things or a dependent being to the only independent being?  If man is a sinner and God is holy as the Bible teaches, man is under judgment and is separated from God.

Ending goal of discussion: Leading each participant to consider seriously the implications of radical and pervasive depravity and the humility this recognitions should produce.

Week Five:  “Who is Jesus?”  There clearly was a historical person who was named Yeshua.  This person was and is God and Man, the God-Man.  What was His life and work all about?

Ending goal of discussion:  Leading each participant to consider the claims of Christ that He was and is God, yet at the first Christmas became fully human as well.  He is Lord of the universe and of His church.

Week Six:  “What is salvation?”  How can a person be delivered from the guilt and penalty of their sin?  What does genuine faith, repentance, and surrender look-like?  Why is it not good enough to have just “prayed a prayer?”

Ending goal of discussion: Leading each participant to understand what the gifts of faith and repentance are and look like as they struggle with surrendering their obstinate will to Christ.

There will be a final fellowship time for further questions from the group members in a home for those who are interested.  Likewise, all will be invited to our ABF ministry with specific suggestions on the class they should visit.

Invitations will come from members to co-workers, family members, neighbors, and friends, as well as from letters to those who attend special events at Open Door (Party-on-the-block).  Church guests, prospective members, and new believers can also be invited to attend.  Certain types of members will also be asked to attend to help with the group dynamics and to build a bridge to the ABF ministry for those who are saved or who will commit to further instruction.  Once the program is working smoothly, we can advertise through our members, church signs, mail-outs, radio spots, for the community announcements, etc.

 

Week 1:  Dwayne Milioni                               “What are the Issues?”

Week 2:  Robby Rose                                     “Does God Exist?”

Week 3:  Pete Schemm                                   “Has God Spoken?”

Week 4:  Bob Jones                                        “Who is Man?”

Week 5:  Wesley Price & Zack Nelson           “Who is Jesus?” 

                                                                        Wes = His person, Zack =His cross-work

Week 6:  Ted Manby                                     “What is Salvation?”