How Do You Make a Gospel Appeal?
QUESTIONS
I have a couple of questions. Firstly, in Romans 10:9-10 there appears to be something that is essential from an individual, namely the declaration that "Jesus is Lord". Secondly, in Acts 11:29-31, the act of repentance could be regarded as a necessary part from an individual that secures salvation. Please comment on these. I am also interested in how the Gospel 'appeal' (I don't mean an 'altar call') is communicated; Paul to Philippian jailer (Acts 16:31) "Believe"; Peter “Repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). How do you make your appeal in the Gospel? (Anonymous)
ANSWER
Thanks for your inquiry. A line-by-line response follows…
I have a couple of questions. Firstly, in Romans 10:9-10 there appears to be something that is essential from an individual, namely the declaration that "Jesus is Lord".
I can certainly sympathize with why many conclude that Romans 10:9-10 requires “something essential” from an individual. I believe that is not what is intended by this passage for a number of reasons. First, if something is required of the sinner in order to obtain eternal salvation then Jesus Christ did NOT meet all of the requirements of eternal salvation on our behalf and thus he did not “perfect” us as the bible claims (Hebrews 10:14). Second, if this proclamation is a requirement for man to be made righteous before God, and if this passage is commanding this requirement, then Paul was certainly wrong when he said that we were made righteous “by the obedience of one” (Romans 5:19). Third, any such proclamation is indisputably a work of righteousness. If it is required for our eternal salvation then we are saved by works of righteousness which we have done, which is contrary to Paul’s plain statement that we are saved “not by works of righteousness which we have done” (Titus 3:5), “not according to our works” (II Timothy 1:9) and “not of works” (Ephesians 2:9).
All that said, it is important to recognize that man is incapable of making the profession of Romans 10:9-10 in his natural state of depravity (Romans 3:10-18). We must have a firm understanding of this precept if we are to have a proper understanding of what is intended by Paul’s statement. Since the Lord taught that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34), and the unregenerate heart of man is wicked, deceitful, and unknowable by nature (Jeremiah 17:9) it is an abject impossibility for an unregenerate man to make the proclamation of Romans 10:9-10 in sincerity. This brings with it two unavoidable observations: (1) those who make this proclamation in sincerity do so because they are ALREADY born again, and (2) those who are born again are ALREADY in possession of eternal life, thus any actions they take cannot be for the purpose of obtaining the eternal life they already possess. I have a short video on Romans 10:9 that you might find helpful – though it seems that I’ve sort of reconstructed the content of it in this response.
Secondly, in Acts 11:29-31, the act of repentance could be regarded as a necessary part from an individual that secures salvation.
You may have the wrong passage listed above. (Perhaps Acts 17:29-31?) At any rate I believe one must answer the following questions to rightly understand the role of repentance.
Is repentance a work of righteousness? (Titus 3:5)
Does repentance require faith? In other words, do men repent as a result of hearing a message that they do not believe? (Hebrews 4:2)
Is faith a fruit of the spirit? (Galatians 5:22)
Do unregenerate men, who lack the indwelling Holy Spirit of God (Romans 7:9), have the spiritual capacity of faith? (II Thessalonians 3:2)
Proper answers to these questions make it clear that repentance is always a lagging indictor of saving grace that has already been imparted. Repentance is not a prerequisite to obtaining eternal salvation.
I am also interested in how the Gospel 'appeal' is communicated (I don't mean an 'altar call'); Paul to Philippian jailer (Acts 16:31) "Believe"; Peter “Repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38).
While I do not use the term “Gospel appeal” in my preaching or writings, it is not inappropriate to say that the ”gospel appeal” can be made to all men, provided “gospel appeal” is carefully defined. Were I to use this term, it would be needful to define it as a declaration of truth that should be believed by all. The gospel IS the truth. Everyone ought to believe it, even the non-elect because it is the declaration of what Christ has done to save his people from their sins. This “gospel appeal”, however, is NOT an offer of eternal life to all of humanity contingent upon repentance and faith. That distinction is almost universally overlooked in modern Christendom, but it is needful to a proper understanding of the nature and purpose of the gospel message.
One of the core gospel concepts that I endeavor to clarify is that the gospel is NOT offering eternal life to all of humanity. The fact that Christ did not die for all of humanity (John 10:11,26), did not purpose to save all of humanity (Matthew 25:41), and did not elect all of humanity (Ephesians 1:4-5) makes this a matter of unavoidable, logical consequence from the bible’s testimony. It is important to be clear about the NATURE of the gospel message – it is not OFFERING eternal life to all of humanity, it is PROCLAIMING the FINISHED WORK of the Lord Jesus Christ to save HIS PEOPLE from their sins. It bears repeating that gospel truth is true whether someone believes it or not. To say that , “Jesus Christ saved his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21, I Corinthians 15:3-4) is to state the truth, irrespective of one’s attitude towards it. Given that it is the truth, it can be pressed upon all men as a revelation of the truth, not as a contingent offer of grace, but as a factual declaration of the past accomplishment of the Lord Jesus Christ. This truth is accompanied by the assurance that those who believe this testimony HAVE eternal life (John 6:47) because apart from the God-given capacity of faith (Philippians 1:29) they would lack the ability to receive and believe this spiritual message (I Corinthians 2:14). It is likewise attended by the admonition to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in obedient discipleship (John 14:15) as our reasonable service (Romans 12:1).
How do you make your appeal in the Gospel?
The short video entitled What is the Gospel? briefly explains the nature and purpose of the gospel message. that you may find helpful in this regard. The gospel inhabits a higher-station than what is implied by the well-meant-offer “gospel"s” that dominate the Christian marketplace. The gospel proclaims the TRUTH, not of contingent eternal salvation based on one’s conditional response to the message, but of unconditionally ACCOMPLISHED eternal salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ alone on behalf of his people. It tells those who believe this truth that they are his people and that the only reasonable response to this truth is to walk as obedient disciples. Stated plainly, the gospel does not impart eternal life to men. It brings life and immortality to light by informing those with the ears to hear of the saving, finished work of their merciful savior (II Timothy 1:9-10).
Thank you for your thoughtful questions. I want to encourage you in your commendable pursuit of the truth. It is a rare quality in this Laodicean age full of distractions and carnality. Continue to press into the word of God for answers that are non-contradictory and I believe the Lord will reward your efforts, indeed has he not promised to do so? (Matthew 7:7-8) While you may not come to see eye-to-eye with me on every aspect of theology, I can assure you that you will find much that will be enormously profitable to your Christian walk in your efforts to seek the Lord through his word.
May God bless our studies and understanding of his word,
- Elder Daniel Samons
FOLLOW UP QUESTION
Many thanks for the time taken to explain these scriptures in the light of the whole counsel of God. You were right about my mistake with the Acts reference! Although I have been a Christian 50 years, and have been a lay-preacher for about 40, I have puzzled over how to reconcile a call to the unregenerate to 'acts of discipleship' (like the Rich Young Ruler) whilst declaring that Christ has done it all. I now want to work through all the scriptures I love with a fresh desire to correctly divide the word of truth (interestingly, my father who baptized me aged 13, gave me the Bible verse 2 Timothy 2:15). I do remember hearing a sermon by R T Kendall many years ago, where his theme was "Saving Faith is the persuasion that what Christ has done is all that God demands of me". I still like that. You? God richly bless you. (Anonymous)
ANSWER
My response follows:
Many thanks for the time taken to explain these Scriptures in the light of the whole counsel of God.
No worries. It was my pleasure. It is a great source of encouragement to me when I encounter others who desire to seek God by pouring themselves into the study of his word. I just love that.
You were right about my mistake with the Acts reference!
It happens, more frequently to me the further I go down this road, I must admit.
Although I have been a Christian 50 years, and have been a lay-preacher for about 40, I have puzzled over how to reconcile a call to the unregenerate to 'acts of discipleship' (like the RYR) whilst declaring that Christ has done it all.
I believe we would be hard pressed to demonstrate definitively that the Rich Young Ruler was either regenerate or unregenerate, though in the interest of full disclosure I believe he was. Enthusiasm for religious practice is no ironclad proof of regeneracy (Matthew 7:21-23), neither is disobedience and unbelief ironclad proof of unregeneracy (Matthew 16:16-17,22-23). That said, I think such admonitions are clarified by observing that SONSHIP (eternal salvation) is ever and always beholden to the actions of the father and NEVER has ANYTHING to do with the actions of the son; whereas DISCIPLESHIP (walking in obedience) is a matter which requires the willing obedience to the precepts and discipline of the father on the part of the son.
I now want to work through all the Scriptures I love with a fresh desire to correctly divide the word of truth (interestingly, my father who baptized me aged 13, gave me the Bible verse 2 Tim 2:15!!).
Your father gave you a great and life-long charge with that verse, brother! Amen!
I do remember hearing a sermon by R T Kendall many years ago, where his theme was "Saving Faith is the persuasion that what Christ has done is all that God demands of me". I still like that. You?
While I do not use the term “saving faith” as a result of the many ways that I feel that term is improperly used among evangelicals, I can certainly agree with the notion that “being persuaded that what Christ HAS DONE (love that) is ALL that God demands” is precisely what it means to understand that our salvation is ALL of God’s grace and “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” (Titus 3:5). Stated another way, we are saved by an INTERCESSORY work performed by our substitute. When we understand and embrace that truth, we can begin to see with clarity the role of our obedience in discipleship. It is a logical response to grace, a “reasonable service” as Paul puts it (Romans 12:1), but it make NO contribution to the work that brought us eternal salvation –none whatsoever. It is a lagging indicator of grace, not a prerequisite.
God richly bless you.
And you as well, my brother!
- Elder Daniel Samons