Why is it wrong to use the expression “Receive Christ” in evangelism?

John 1:12 states that “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” Notice that the word “even” is italicized. In the KJV, italicized words are not in the original but were included to make the translation into English more readable and grammatical. The word “even” in its italicized form occurs 56 times in the New Testament. It has two uses:

1. as an identification or definition; or
2. as an explanation or discussion.

For examples, “even” used to identify or define:

[1] Matthew 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

Who is the Master? Christ.

[2] John 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

Who is the one that accuses? Moses.

[3] John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Who is the Comforter? The Spirit of truth.

For examples, “even” used to explain or discuss:

[1] 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

How are we changed? By the Spirit of the Lord.

[2] 1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

What is the end of our faith? The salvation of our souls.

In John 1:12, the emphasis should not be on “receive” but on what comes after the word “even” which is “believe”. To whom did Christ give power to become the sons of God? To those who believe in his name.

When people use John 1:12 in evangelism, they then follow it up with Revelation 3:20. With these two verses, they wrongly interpret the word “receive” to mean “you must pray and ask Christ to come into your heart”. The interpretation is wrong for two reasons:

1. The stress should be on “believe” and not “receive” in John 1:12; and
2. Revelation 3:20 is not an evangelistic verse since it was addressed to the church in Laodicea.

Complete listing of verses where ”even” is used in the New Testament:

1. Matthew 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
   
2. Matthew 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
   
3. Matthew 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
   
4. Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
5. Mark 12:44 For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
6. Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
7. Mark 14:30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
8. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
9. John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
10. John 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
11. John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
12. John 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
13. John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
14. John 14:17 even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
15. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
16. Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
17. Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
18. Acts 5:37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
19. Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
20. Acts 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
21. Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
22. Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
23. Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
24. Romans 9:10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
25. Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
26. 1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
27. 1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
28. 2 Corinthians 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
29. 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
30. 2 Corinthians 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
31. Galatians 4:14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
32. Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
33. Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
34. Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
35. Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
36. Colossians 1:26 even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
37. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
38. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
39. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
40. 1 Timothy6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
41. 2 Timothy 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
42. Titus 1:12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
43. Hebrews 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
44. Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
45. Hebrews 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
46. James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
47. 1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
48. 1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
49. 1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
50. 1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
51. 1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
52. 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
53. 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
54. 1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
55. 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
56. Revelation 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Please read the following:

• Getting John 1:12 Right: Should You Invite Jesus Into Your Heart? by Jim Elliff, Christian Communicators Worldwide and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Scriptural Evaluation of Salvation Invitations, by AWANA Clubs International (non-lordship salvation view)
• Beyond the Sinner’s Prayer: The Power of the Gospel of a Promise-Keeping God (Acts 13:38-43), by Ptr. Russell Moore, Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, on Vimeo
  
• Ten Reasons Not To Ask Jesus Into Your Heart, by Todd Friel
• Ask Jesus into your heart? by Hank Lindstrom (Calvary Community Church, Tampa, Florida)
• Seven Reasons NOT To Ask Jesus Into Your Heart, by Dennis M. Rokser, Duluth Bible Church, Minnesota
• Revelation 3:20 and the Offer of Salvation, by Daniel B. Wallace (professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary; his book “Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics” is currently used as a standard textbook in seminaries throughout the United States.)
• “What it means to accept Christ” by A.W. Tozer (That Incredible Christian)
  

The study of God (essential truths of the Christian faith)

The study of God; general and special revelation

[1] Theology: from the Greek words theos, meaning God, and logos, meaning study.

[2] Theology begins with the study of God. Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 1:1; John 1:1

[3] God reveals himself in two ways – general revelation or special revelation.

[4] In general revelation, God reveals himself:

to all men (Matt. 5:45; Acts 14:17)

everywhere (Psalm 19:2)

at all times (Acts 17:24-28)

through creation (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-23)

and conscience (Romans 2:14-15).

[5] In special revelation, God reveals himself through supernatural methods, including scripture, to believers. The only true knowledge about God is from the Bible (John 1:18; 1John 4:12).

[6] Knowing God, by J.I. Packer

“We are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it. The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know about God. Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfold, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.”

Sources: (1) The Great Doctrines of the Bible by Rev. William Evans; (2) Bible Doctrines from Bible Broadcasting Network; (3) Theology from Galyn Wiemers’ Generation Word

Note: Surf to the index of essential truths of the Christian faith (doctrinal devotional)

Divine names are given to Christ, from “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Evans

Notes: (1) “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Rev. William Evans, Ph.D., D.D. is a well-respected reference material for Bible students, pastors, missionaries and laymen. You can read the entire book from Google (click the picture of the book cover), or download the complete zipped e-book. (2) Surf to the index of lessons and online quizzes from Evans. (3) The most important ideas and statements from this part of Evans’ book are listed in the “Basic truths” section below.

THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST.

1. DIVINE NAMES ARE GIVEN TO HIM.

a) He is Called God.

John 1:1--“The Word was God.” Heb. 1:8--“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever.” John 1:18--“The only begotten Son (or better “only begotten God”).” Absolute deity is here ascribed to Christ. 20:28-“My Lord and my God.” Not an expression of amazement, but a confession of faith. This confession accepted by Christ, hence equivalent to the acceptance of deity, and an assertion of it on Christ’s part. Rom. 9:5--“God blessed forever.” Tit. 2:13--“The great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” 1 John,5:20--“His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God.” In all these passages Christ is called God.

It may be argued that while Christ is here called God, yet that does not argue for nor prove His deity, for human judges are also called “gods” in John 10:35--“If he called them gods unto whom the word of God came.” True, but it is then used in a secondary and relative sense, and not in the absolute sense as when used of the Son.

b) He is Called the Son of God.

The references containing this title are numerous. Among others see Matt. 16:16, 17; 8:29; 14:33; Mark 1:1; 14:61; Luke 1:35; 4:41. While it may be true that in the synoptic Gospels Jesus may not be said to have claimed this title for Himself, yet He unhesitatingly accepted it when used of Him and addressed to Him by others. Further, it seems clear from the charges made against Him that He did claim such an honor for Himself. Matt. 27:40, 43--“For he said, I am the Son of God.” Mark 14:61, 62 --“Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed” (Luke 22:70--“Art thou then the Son of God? And Jesus said, I am.” In John’s Gospel, however, Jesus plainly calls Himself “the Son of God” (5:25; 10:36 11:4). Indeed, John's Gospel begins with Christ as God: “The Word was God,” and ends with the same thought: “My Lord and my God” (20:28). (Chapter 21 is an epilogue.)

Dr. James Orr says, in speaking of the title Son of God as ascribed to Christ: “This title is one to which there can be no finite comparison or analogy. The oneness with God which it designates is not such reflex influence of the divine thought and character such as man and angels may attain, but identity of essence constituting him not God-like alone, but God. Others may be children of God in a moral sense; but by this right of elemental nature, none but He; He is herein, the only Son; so little separate, so close to the inner divine life which He expresses, that He is in the bosom of the Father. This language denotes two natures homogeneous, entirely one, and both so essential to the Godhead that neither can be omitted from any truth you speak of it.”

If when He called Himself “the Son of God” He did not mean more than that He was a son of God, why then did the high priest accuse Him of blasphemy when He claimed this title (Matt. 26: 61-63)? Does not Mark 12:6--“Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son,” indicate a special sonship? The sonship of Christ is human and historical, it is true; but it is more: it is transcendent, unique, solitary. That something unique and solitary lay in this title seems clear from John 5:18--“The Jews sought the more to kill Him....because he....said....also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”

The use of the word “only begotten” also indicates the uniqueness of this sonship. For use of the word see Luke 7:12; 9:38; John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9--“The only son of his mother.” 9:38--“For he is mine only child.” This word is used of Christ by John in 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9, and distinguishes between Christ as the only Son, and the “many....children of God” (John 1:12, 13). In one sense Christ has no brethren: He stands absolutely alone. This contrast is clearly emphasized in John 1:14, 18--“only begotten Son,” and 1:12 (R. V.)—“many....children.” He is the Son from eternity: they “become” sons in time. He is one; they are many. He is Son by nature; they are sons by adoption and grace. He is Son of the same essence with the Father; they are of different substance from the Father.

c) He is Called The Lord.

Acts 4:33; 16:31; Luke 2:11; Acts 9:17; Matt. 22:43-45. It is true that this term is used of men, e.g., Acts 16:30--“Sirs (Lords), what must I do to be saved?” John 12:21--“Sir (Lord), we would see Jesus.” It is not used, however, in this unique sense, as the connection will clearly show. In our Lord’s day, the title “Lord” as used of Christ was applicable only to the Deity, to God. “The Ptolemies and the Roman Emperors would allow the name to be applied to them only when they permitted themselves to be deified. The archaeological discoveries at Oxyrhyncus put this fact beyond a doubt. So when the New Testament writers speak of Jesus as Lord, there can be no question as to what they mean.” --Wood.

d) Other Divine Names are Ascribed to Him:

“The first and the last” (Rev. 1:17). This title used of Jehovah in Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12. “The Alpha and Omega” (Rev. 22:13, 16); cf. 1:8 where it is used of God.>

Basic truths

[1] “Jesus Christ is called God.” John 1:1, 18; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; Tit. 2:13; 1 John 5:20

[2] “Christ is called the Son of God.” Matt. 16:16, 17; 8:29; 14:33; Mark 1:1; 14:61; Luke 1:35; 4:41; Matt. 27:40, 43; Mark 14:61, 62 Luke 22:70; John 5:25; 10:36 11:4. “The use of the word ‘only begotten’ also indicates the uniqueness of this sonship.” Luke 7:12; 9:38; John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9

[3] “Christ is called the Lord.” Acts 4:33; 16:31; Luke 2:11; Acts 9:17; Matt. 22:43-45

[4] Other divine names are ascribed to Him:

“The first and the last” (Rev. 1:17; Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12

“The Alpha and Omega” (Rev. 22:13, 16); cf. 1:8 where it is used of God

Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Study guides and online quizzes in Christology (interim curriculum)

The articles on Christology from “Jesus: A Biblical Defense of His Deity” by Josh McDowell and Bart Larson are part of the interim curriculum. We have prepared these study guides which you can use in two ways: (1) Read the study guide first so you can have an overview of the article; and (2) After reading the article, try answering the study guide questions to test your comprehension. Online, interactive quizzes with automatic scoring are also available.

Index of study guides

1. Appendix
2. Jesus Christ Is God
3. Jesus Christ Possesses the Names and Titles of God
4. Jesus Christ Possesses the Attributes of God
5. Jesus Christ Possesses the Authority of God
6. God Became Man in Jesus Christ
7. We Have the Witness of the Early Church
8. What Are Some Common Objections to the Deity of Christ?
9. Is Jesus Christ Your Lord?
10. How the Authors Discovered New Life in Jesus Christ

[2] Materials by John F. Walvoord

• The Person and Work of Christ — Part I: The Incarnation of the Son of God
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part II: The Person of the Incarnate Christ
• The Incarnation of Christ — Part III: The Person of the Incarnate Christ
• The Person of Christ — Part IV: The Earthly Life of the Incarnate Christ
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part V: The Ministry of Christ in His Life on Earth
• The Humiliation of the Son of God
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part VII: The Impeccability of Christ
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part VIII: Christ in His Suffering and Death
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part IX: Redemption
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part X: Propitiation
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XI: Character and Results of Propitiation
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XII: Reconciliation
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XIII: Reconciliation
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XIV: Christ in His Resurrection
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XV: Christ in His Resurrection
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XVI: Christ in His Resurrection

[3] The Person of Christ, by Charles T. Buntin , M.S., M.A.R. (also available in Spanish)

[4] Christology: Jesus Christ, by Greg Herrick Th.M., Ph.D.

[5] Figuring out the “Firstborn” in Colossians 1:18, by Andrew Perrin


Sermons on John 1:14 (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] The Critical Chapter, by Douglas James Wilson

[2] Baby, Creator, Savior, Lord, and King! By Phillip W. Mansfield

[3] Logos, by Timothy Grant

[4] John #05 Became Flesh, by James (Jim) L. Goforth, Jr, New Life Baptist Church

[5] #3 Showing God's Light, by Matthew Starin, Baptist World Mission

[6] Beginning at the Beginning 2 - Salvation on the Heels of Rebellion, by Richard DeRuiter

[7] Before the Beginning, by Charles Leman Eldred

[8] Christmas According to John, by Michael Stark, New Beginnings Baptist Church

[9] The Centrality, Supremacy, and Superiority of Jesus Christ, by Daniel Radke

[10] The Word of God - Jesus is God, by Tom Daugherty, Trinity Theological Seminary

[11] Positive Identification, by Charles Leman Eldred

[12] Once In an Eternity, by Pastor Jeremy Stephens, Southview Baptist Church

[13] The Deity/Humanity of Jesus, by Robin Fernandez

Sermons on Philippians 2:6 (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Incomparable Supremacy, by Pastor Jeremy Stephens, Southview Baptist Church

[2] A Stranger at the Door, by Joe Vinson, Southeast Baptist Church

[3] The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ, by Sam Jones

[4] Humiliation Before Exaltation, by Marvin L Jackson

[5] 122407 Christmas Eve Reason for Season 3 Cradle Cross Crown, by Donald L Hardaway

[6] Why God Became Man, by Randy D. Starkey, East Bend Baptist Church

[7] Sermon illustrations on the Kenosis

[8] Master Violinist Goes Unrecognized, by Bruce W. Logue


Note: This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials.

Index of lessons and online quizzes from “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Rev. William Evans

“The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Rev. William Evans, Ph.D., D.D. is a well-respected reference material for Bible students, pastors and missionaries. You can read the entire book from Google (click the picture of the book cover) or download the complete zipped e-book. We are posting lessons and online quizzes with automatic scoring from this book. Listed below are the currently available quizzes and lessons.

Online quizzes

1. Index of quizzes
2. Arguments for the Existence of God (flashcards; matching type quiz)
3. Deity of Christ (gap-fill)
4. Divine Attributes of the Holy Spirit (gap-fill)
5. Emblems of the Holy Spirit (flashcards; matching type quiz)
6. God’s Moral Attributes (gap-fill)
7. Holy Spirit does things that only God can do (gap-fill)
8. Names of God in the Old Testament (flashcards; matching type quiz)
9. Names of the Holy Spirit (gap-fill)
10. Natural Attributes of God (gap-fill)
11. Offenses against the Holy Spirit, Part A (multiple-choice quiz)
12. Offenses against the Holy Spirit, Part B (flashcards; matching type quiz)
13. Seven symbols used to illustrate the Word of God (multiple-choice quiz)

Lessons 

A. The Doctrine of God

1. Existence of God a fact taken for granted
2. Universal belief in the existence of God
3. Cosmological argument for God
4. Teleological argument for God
5. Ontological and anthropological arguments for God
6. Congruity argument for God
7. Argument from Scripture
8. Spirituality of God (part 1)
9. Spirituality of God (part 2)
10. Personality of God vs. Pantheism
11. God’s personality as proved by His relation to the universe and men
12. Unity of God vs. Polytheism
13. Doctrine of the Trinity vs. Unitarianism
14. Omniscience of God
15. Omnipotence of God
16. Omnipresence of God
17. Eternity and immutability of God
18. Holiness of God
19. Righteousness and Justice of God
20. Mercy and Loving-kindness of God
21. Love of God

B. The Doctrine of Jesus Christ

1. The Person of Christ
2. The Humanity of Christ
3. Divine names are given to Christ

C. The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

D. The Doctrine of Man

E. The Doctrine of Salvation

F. The Doctrine of the Scriptures

G. The Doctrine of the Angels

H. The Doctrine of Satan

I. The Doctrine of the Last Things


Note: This ministry does not necessarily endorse everything that Evans taught. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials.

Are you for or against the altar call and sinner’s prayer ?

(Note: You can read excerpts from the articles cited below in my “Baptist churches in the Philippines” blog.)

For the altar call

• Rescuing the Perishing: A Defense of Giving Invitations, by Ken Keathley, Assistant Professor of Theology, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
• Evangelistic Invitations, by Dr. Edward Watke Jr., Revival in the Home Ministries
• In Defense of the Invitation / Altar Call, by Kevin Jackson (Society of Evangelical Arminians)
• NO, NO I WON’T GO! Is it time to drop the altar call? by Keith Drury
• Finney’s Altar Call and the Quest for Efficient Evangelism, by Gerardo Marti
• A Case for Altar Calls, by Regina Shands Stoltzfus
• What does the Bible say about altar calls? Are altar calls biblical?
• Differences Between Reformed and Southern Baptist Churches: Altar Calls vs No Altar Calls, by Les Puryear

Against the altar call

• Altar Call Evangelism, by Paul Alexander, Capitol Hill Baptist
• The “Altar Call” Is it helpful or harmful? by Fred G. Zaspel, published by Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, PA
• Are Altar Calls Biblical? from Trinity Baptist Church, Burlington, Ontario
• Why We Don’t Use The Altar Call, by Laurence A. Justice, Victory Baptist Church
• The Corrupt Root and Bitter Fruit of Altar Call Evangelism, by Daryl Wingerd
• Decisional Regeneration, by James E. Adams
• The Dangers of the Invitation System, by Jim Ehrhard
• “Saving Faith In Focus” by Bob Wilkin, Grace Evangelical Society (Note: GES is a non-lordship salvation ministry)
• D. Martin Lloyd-Jones on the Altar Call
• A Close Look at Invitations and Altar Calls, by Carey Hardy
• In Defense of Refusing to Heed an Altar Call, by Sandy Fiedler
• Altar Call, by G. I. Williamson
• How to Botch an Altar Call, by Way of the Master
• 21 Flaws of the “Altar Call” by Pastor David Wooten
• Altar Calls Examined: The Invitation System (MP3), by James M. Harrison, Red Mills Baptist Church (New York); panel composed of Jim Elliff, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Ptr. Gary Scott, New Heights Park Baptist Church, Long Island; Ptr. Jim Harrison, Red Nose Baptist Church, New York; Ptr. David King, Presbyterian Church of America
• Why doesn’t The Village do altar calls? (Highland Village First Baptist Church)
• “What is an Invitation?” by Dr. James Galyon
• “On Altar Calls And Gospel Proclamation”
• Our pastor recently stopped doing an altar-call / invitation at the end of the services. Is this biblical? by Bob Deffinbaugh (pastor-teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel, Richardson, Texas)
• The Altar Call: Twelve Questions, by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, Franklin Road Baptist Church, Indianapolis
• “What About Altar Calls?” by Thabiti Anyabwile, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman

Middle ground on the altar call

• Four Reasons Not to Give an Altar Call, by Dr. R. Larry Moyer, President and CEO EvanTell, Inc.
• Walk the Aisle, by Douglas A. Sweeney and Mark C. Rogers

For the Sinner’s Prayer

• The Sinner’s Prayer, from Bible-Knowledge.com
• What is the sinner’s prayer? and What is the prayer of salvation? from Got Questions.org
• Sinner’s Prayer for Children by Jerry Gaffney Ministries
• Differences Between Reformed and Southern Baptist Churches: Altar Calls vs No Altar Calls by Les Puryear

Against the sinner’s prayer, and reasons not to ask Jesus into your heart

• “Animism and the Sinner’s Prayer” by Karl Dahlfred, church planting missionary in Thailand
• Romans 10:9-14: Sinner’s Prayer for Salvation? An Exegesis and Application for Soulwinning Churches and Christians, by Thomas D. Ross (Master of Arts degree in Bible from Fairhaven Baptist College, a Master of Divinity degree from Great Plains Baptist Divinity School and a Master of Theology degree from Anchor Baptist Theological Seminary, Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Reclaiming Regeneration: Declaring war on the Sinner’s Prayer by Paul Washer
  
  
• The Magic Prayer, Is The Sinner’s Prayer Effective? (listen to mp3) and Baptism and Belief, by Greg Koukl (Stand To Reason)
• Closing with Christ, by Jim Elliff, Christian Communicators Worldwide
• Charles H. Spurgeon’s sermons on Romans 10:9-10 in which he did not equate “confession with the mouth” with the sinner’s prayer for salvation:
  
  1. Romans 10:9 Heart and Mouth (Sermon no. 1898)
  2. Romans 10:10 Faith First, Confession Following (Sermon no. 3011)
  3. Romans 10:10 Confession with the Mouth (Sermon no. 520)
  4. Romans 10:9 Believing with the Heart (Sermon no. 519)
• Repentance Blacklist by Dr. Dan Botterbrodt, Independent Baptist Institute, Fort Dodge, Iowa
• If You Sincerely Say ‘The Sinner’s Prayer’ Are You Saved? (MP3) by Dr. David Downs, Cornerstone Baptist Church of Orlando, Florida
• Testimony - The Sinner’s Prayer Only Hurts People (MP3), by Mason Vann, Grace Community Church, San Antonio, Texas
• Romans 10:9-15, from Jamieson-Fauset- Brown Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
• Paul’s Discourse of Righteousness; The Method of Salvation, from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible Unabridged
• Praying the prayer, by Steven Hall © 2000 Living Waters Christian Fellowship (a look at what someone at each stage of the Engel Scale might “look like” in terms of the seven understandings and willingnesses and what the “sinner’s prayer” might actually mean to someone like this)
• “Some Simple Difficulties of Salvation” by Roy L. Aldrich, Bibliotheca Sacra 111:442 (Apr 54) p. 158-169
• “The Gospel And Water Baptism: A Study Of Acts 22:16”, by Lanny Thomas Tanton, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Lincoln Park, MI; Editorial Board, Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society (Note: GES is a non-lordship salvation ministry)
• “Why Confess Christ? The Use and Abuse of Romans 10:9-10,” by John F. Hart, Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society 12:2, Autumn 1999 (Note: GES is a non-lordship salvation ministry)
• Questions Answered About Repentance, by David Cloud, Way of Life Literature
• “The Sinner’s Prayer”, by Michael D. O’Neal, Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia
• Resources by Thomas D. Ross (Master of Arts degree in Bible from Fairhaven Baptist College, a Master of Divinity degree from Great Plains Baptist Divinity School, and a Master of Theology degree from Anchor Baptist Theological Seminary, Salt Lake City, Utah)
  Will I Be Saved if I Ask Jesus to Come into my Heart or Repeat the Sinners Prayer?
  Evangelism Video: How to Proclaim the Gospel and do Biblical Soulwinning
  How to Proclaim the Gospel: A Guide to Personal Soulwinning
  The Sinners Prayer: A Historical and Theological Analysis, Chitwood
• What it means to accept Christ, by A.W. Tozer (Part 2; Part 3; Part 4)
  
  
• Getting John 1:12 Right: Should You Invite Jesus Into Your Heart? by Jim Elliff, Christian Communicators Worldwide and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Scriptural Evaluation of Salvation Invitations, by AWANA Clubs International (non-lordship salvation view)
• Ten Reasons Not To Ask Jesus Into Your Heart, by Todd Friel (Way of the Master Radio)
• Ask Jesus into your heart? by Hank Lindstrom (Calvary Community Church, Tampa, Florida)
• Seven Reasons NOT To Ask Jesus Into Your Heart, by Dennis M. Rokser, Duluth Bible Church, Minnesota
• Why NOT To Ask Jesus Into Your Heart, by Carol Brooks
• “Saving Faith In Focus” by Bob Wilkin, Grace Evangelical Society (Note: GES is a non-lordship salvation ministry)
• The Other Jesus: Justification by Faith vs. Asking Jesus into one’s Heart, by Pastor Ovid Need Jr., Linden Baptist Church, Linden, Indiana
• Revelation 3:20 and the Offer of Salvation, by Daniel B. Wallace (professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary; his book “Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics” is currently used as a standard textbook in seminaries throughout the United States.)

Middle ground on the sinner’s prayer

• Beyond the Sinner’s Prayer: The Power of the Gospel of a Promise-Keeping God (Acts 13:38-43), by Ptr. Russell Moore, Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky
  
  
• The “Sinner’s Prayer” – To Pray or Not To Pray? from The Evidence Bible (page 316)
• Is the “Sinner’s Prayer” Essential to Salvation? by Dr. Larry Moyer, President/CEO, EvanTell, Inc.
• What Must I Do to Be Saved? by John R. Rice
• The Sinner’s Prayer (from Sayings Not Found in Scripture, Blue Letter Bible)
• “One Way, One Cross, Many Journeys, Thinking Again about Conversion” by Dr. David Greenlee, Operation Mobilisation (pages 22 to 24)
• Biblical Assurance of Salvation, by Greg Wright

Backgrounder on Charles G. Finney, by Dr. Kevin T. Bauder, Central Baptist Theological Seminary

• Part One: Finney’s System
• Part Two: Finney’s Influence

Note: (1) You can read excerpts from the articles cited above in my “Baptist churches in the Philippines” blog. Jump to For the altar call; Against the altar call; Middle ground on the altar call; For the sinner’s prayer; Against the sinner’s prayer and Reasons not to ask Jesus into your heart; Middle ground on the sinner’s prayer; (2) Some ministries whose works are cited in this post are described as holding a “non-lordship salvation” view. This ministry uses the term “Lordship salvation” based on A.W. Tozer’s discussion in his essay “No Saviorhood without Lordship” and in “What is Biblical repentance?”

Church planting materials and resources (mp3 and pdf)

Church Planting Village: Free One-Stop Shop for Church Planting resources; available in Spanish, Korean, French, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Russian, Vietnamese, Portuguese (NAMB/SBC)

Church planting sermons by Dr. Dan Botterbrodt, Independent Baptist Institute:

1. Origin of the First Church
2. The Lord’s Commission, Matthew 28, verses 18-20
3. The Master Church Planter, 1 Peter 2, verses 21-24
4. The Master Church Planter 2, 1 Peter 2, verses 21-24
5. Church Planting Movement 1, Acts 9, verse 31
6. Church Planting Movement 2, Acts 5-8
7. Church Planting Movement 3, Acts 8-13
8. Church Planting Movement 4, Acts 9-20
9. Church Planting Movement 5
10. Motives for Church Planting
11. Preparing for an Increase
    

Churches Planting Churches, by Dr. Dennis Leatherman (Mountain Lake Independent Baptist)

Building A Solid Foundation for Church Planting, by Voddie Baucham (Grace Family Baptist Church)

Materials from Church Planting Conference ’10, College Park Baptist Church, Cary, North Carolina

1. Dealing With Difficult People, by Pastor Dayton Walker
   
2. God’s Work is Never Worthless, by Pastor Jeff Kelly
   
3. The Elijah Syndrome, by Dr. Fred Moritz
4. Building Churches on the Mission Field, by Dr. Fred Moritz
5. Bud Calvert on Church Planting
   
6. Tim Sneeden on Church Planting
   
7. The Right Focus, by Pastor Larry Hobbes
   

Church Planting in France, by Tim Ross (First Baptist Church of Parker)

A Macro View of Church Planting, by Charles A. Bonadies (Suber Road Baptist Church)

Church Planting, by Michael Crawford (Immanuel Baptist Church)

Materials from 2005 ARBCA Church Planting School

1. Theology of Church Planting, by Jim Renihan
2. Cultivating Men for Church Planting, by Steve Martin
3. Practical Matters of Church Planting, by Jim Renihan
4. Legal and Financial Matters of Church Planting, by Mike McKnight

Church Planting, by Stephen Gambill (Reformed Baptist of Nashville)

Church Planting, by Jeremy Smith (Calvary Baptist Tabernacle)

Materials by Stacy A. Johnson (First Baptist of San Jacinto)

1. Are You a Candidate for a Church Planting Team? Pt.1
2. Are You a Candidate for a Church Planting Team? Pt.2
3. Are You a Candidate for a Church Planting Team? Pt.3

Materials by Boon-Sing Poh (Christ Reformed Baptist Church)

1. The Biblical and Theological Basis of Church Planting
2. The Method and Application of Church Planting
3. The Urgency and Need of Church Planting

Church Planting, by Douglas Van Dorn (Reformed Baptist of N. Co.)

Church Planting, by Jeremy Van Delinder (Thompson Road Baptist Church)

Cross Roads Church Planting, by Missionary Tim Heinrich (Calvary Baptist Tabernacle)


PDFs on church planting

Getting A Church Started, A student manual for the theological foundation and practical techniques of planting a church, by Elmer L. Towns (148 pages, 543Kb)

Starting new churches is the genius of Christianity. As the population explodes and another community comes into existence, new churches are needed. As old churches lose their fervency and slip into liberalism, new churches are needed to take their place.

Wendell Belew of the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board plans over 500 new churches in America every year. Someone asks, “What method do you plan to use to plant 500 new churches a year?” He replies, “For 500 churches, we need 500 methods.”
Every community has different needs, and every group of people reflects a different composite personality. Each pastor must minister according to his spiritual gifts, hence there is a different application of Biblical principles in every new church.

New churches are successful in rural, small towns, city and metropolitan areas. Men use a different formula in building each church. Yet, many patterns are similar because certain timeless principles transcend space and culture. These grow out of the nature of the church and the principles in the New Testament.

Some churches have grown faster than others. No church is perfect - like young children they are growing through the pains of childhood. But even in youth, there is something compelling about a child. Each church, as reflected in each of its pastor-founders, has different strengths. Hence, each is a different example to guide those building a church.

Some will not be able to follow the principles of this book and start a successful church -because they have different concepts about the church. The end product always determines the process. The end product in this book is a soul-winning, Bible-teaching church that stands for purity, obedience to the Great Commission, and separation from apostasy. Therefore, if this is not the type of church a man wants to build, all of these principles will not apply to his situation. But, in fact, not all of these principles will apply in any situation. They must be read in light of Scripture, applied in relationship to the community, and integrated by the man of God.

The church is close to the heart of God (Eph. 5:25), and those who start a church have a special place in God’s affection. When preaching on the doctrine of the church, I often ask for charter members of that congregation to raise their hands. These, I note, have a special place in God’s love for the sacrifice, vision, and labor that brought a church into existence. One of the greatest privileges in life is to help bring a candlestick (Rev. 2:1,5) into existence.

Church Planting Movements (NAMB/SBC); download David Garrison’s 1999 CPM booklet in English, simplified Chinese, Turkish, Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish, French, Israeli English, Hebrew)

What is a Church Planting Movement? A simple, concise definition of a Church Planting Movement (CPM) is a rapid and multiplicative increase of indigenous churches planting churches within a given people group or population segment.

There are several key components to this definition. The first is rapid. As a movement, a Church Planting Movement occurs with rapid increases in new church starts. Saturation church planting over decades and even centuries is good, but doesn’t qualify as a Church Planting Movement.

Secondly, there is a multiplicative increase. This means that the increase in churches is not simply incremental growth - adding a few churches every year or so. Instead, it compounds with two churches becoming four, four churches becoming eight to 10 and so forth. Multiplicative increase is only possible when new churches are being started by the churches themselves–rather than by professional church planters or missionaries.

Finally, they are indigenous churches. This means they are generated from within rather than from without. This is not to say that the gospel is able to spring up intuitively within a people group. The gospel always enters a people group from the outside; this is the task of the missionary. However, in a Church Planting Movement the momentum quickly becomes indigenous so that the initiative and drive of the movement comes from within the people group rather than from outsiders.

If this definition isn’t enough, we might also clarify what a Church Planting Movement is not. A Church Planting Movement is more than “evangelism that results in churches.” Evangelism that results in churches is a part of a Church
Planting Movement, but the “endvision” is less extensive. A church planter might satisfy himself with the goal of planting a single church or even a handful of churches, but fail to see that it will take a movement of churches planting churches to reach an entire nation of people.

The Process of Church Planting, by Danie Vermeulen, Dawn Africa (75 pages, 1.02 MB)

After twenty-two years of pastoral experience and having been involved in 38 church plants during this time, I have been confronted on so many occasions with the question, “How does one go about planting a church”? I have never felt adequately informed to write something in this regard but lately the Lord has burdened my heart to share on this topic from my experience, specifically within an African context.

This morning at the breakfast table I was telling my family about the new training manual I am writing on church planting. My twelve-year-old son, Danie Jr. casually remarked, “but Dad, is it really necessary? It is so basic! All you do is get a few people saved and build a building and there you go.” Needless to say after we all had a little chuckle I said to him, “You are right son, it is rather basic. It is rather basic for a married couple to have children and if we are the Body of Christ it should be rather basic for this ‘body’ to reproduce itself.” Very proud of himself he said, “So what’s the big deal.” My explanation satisfied him when I said, “Son, suppose you were unaware of the fact that one day, when you got married, you could reproduce, would you do it?

Most churches are unaware that it is actually basic that they should reproduce themselves into many other churches and that is why I feel the urgency of writing this manual.” I want every pastor and every church to know that you don’t need a special gifting to plant a new church. It is natural!

I believe that I will be able to lay a foundation for my conviction from the Scriptures to help you understand that church planting is not a good idea but rather a Biblical basis for the fulfilment of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19. I am not a theologian but I do believe with all my heart that it should be Father’s heart and vision that would motivate us and spur us on to complete the work He has given us.

Resources for Churches and Church Planters, by Roger McNamara (copyright by Baptist Mid-Missions)

Where Have All The Leaders Gone? pdf file (653 kb) is a 92-page guide for moving people from conversion, to spiritual growth, maturity, ministry, and lay leadership through a four-phase discipleship program. Each level focuses on what you want the people to know, what changes you want to see in their lives, and what you want them to be able to do at that level. A well-balanced discipleship process is the key to developing lay leaders in the church. People flounder and don’t grow unless you have an effective discipling process in place.

Checklist for Church Planters pdf file (252 kb)

Church Child Safety Guidelines pdf file (626 kb) contains 99 pages of valuable information on how to protect your church and its ministry from accusations of child abuse. Many churches are grossly negligent in this area because they think “it could never happen here.” This manual explains what constitutes “child abuse” and describes in detail the steps your church should take to minimize the possibility of it happening. Helpful information includes screening guidelines and practical steps your church can take to protect itself.

Biblical Principles of Stewardship pdf file (1.91 mb) is one of the keys to developing a healthy church plant. It enables churches to grow spiritually as well as financially. Stewardship is really about life management – how people use their time, talents, treasure, and testimonies. Biblical Principles of Stewardship grapples with the purpose, principles, parameters, promises, period, and programs of a biblical approach to stewardship. This 92-page manual will provide you with information, suggestions, and samples that will help you build stronger believers and a healthier ministry.

How to Write a Church Constitution pdf file (411 kb); Sample Church Constitution pdf file (105 kb)

STARTING THE JOURNEY – Discipleship 101 pdf file (579 kb) – the first of a series of discipleship lessons designed to help believers move from the new birth to spiritual maturity to ministry involvement and to lay leadership. This introductory set of six lessons was written for new believers, perspective members, and people who want to explore the claims of Christ. It exposes them to some of the elementary truths of Scripture that anyone wanting to be a follower of Christ should know.

CATCH THE VISION – Discipleship 102 pdf file (937 kb) – the second in a series of discipleship lessons designed to help people grow spiritually. These eight lessons focus on the local church. They serve as a get-acquainted course for those who want to know more about your congregation. They can also be used as a pre-membership for those who are thinking of uniting with your church. You will find yourself evaluating your own ministry as you move through each session, and will be challenged to improve the way in which you “do church.”

Saturation Church Planting

The Alliance for Saturation Church Planting attempts to facilitate church planting in the 27 countries of post-communist Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Alliance-related Facilitation Teams resident in 14 of these countries seek to identify, envision, train and mobilize existing and emerging churches to plant new churches. So that the gospel is available to every person, these teams desire to facilitate church multiplication. Facilitation efforts exist in Central Asia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia&Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. Alliance partners are also employing saturation church planting elements in Albania, Belarus and Bulgaria.

Omega Course - a five volume set of manuals on church planter training with each manual offering 26 hours of instruction on spiritual character, inductive Bible study, leadership, mentoring and vision; designed for modular instruction in a working seminar format, the training schedule can be adapted for work/ministry realities of your trainees.

Prayer Book - a 160 page book called “Prayer that Strengthens and Expands the Church” by Glenn Livingston that examines the question “what does the prayer life of a disciple of the Lord look like?”

Prayer Care - a brochure designed to stimulate believers in their own prayer life and in their ministry.

Essential Vision - a 67 page book outlining the concept of saturation church planting and the elements involved.

Mentoring Manual - a 125 page book by Bob Martin, the manual is a practical tool that helps leaders understand the role of mentoring in helping church planters to be faithful to God’s call.

Church Planting Prayer Strategy, NAMB/SBC (65 pages, 386 Kb)


Note: This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials.

Study guides for Apologetics (interim curriculum)

The articles from “A Ready Defense” by Josh McDowell are part of the interim curriculum. We have prepared these study guides which you can use in two ways: (1) Read the study guide first so you can have an overview of the article; and (2) After reading the article, try answering the study guide questions to test your comprehension.

Index of study guides

1. Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in history
2. How can you believe the miracles in the Bible?
3. What about all those contradictions?
4. Is the New Testament filled with myths?
5. Was Jesus born of a virgin?
6. The historicity of Jesus
7. The resurrection of Jesus
8. The Trilemma: Lord, Liar or Lunatic?
9. Is Jesus both Messiah and God?
10. Questions About God
11. Questions About Faith and Reason
12. Is the Christian experience just a delusion?
13. Did you hear what happened to Saul?

Chapter 06 - Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in history

1. What is one of the unique and fascinating aspects of the Bible found in no other religious literature?
2. What do Isaiah 44:28; 54:1 prophesy about Cyrus? What was significant about this prophecy at the time Isaiah recorded it in 700 B.C.?
3. What is Daniel’s Seventy Weeks all about? What will happen at the end of 69 weeks?
4. What were several commandments, or decrees, in Israel’s history which have been suggested as the end of the 483 years?
5. Based on Hoehner’s Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ, what is the only logical day for Christ’s crucifixion?
6. After the termination of the 69 weeks and before the commencement of the 70th week, what two events had to occur?
7. What was the prophecy or seven predictions about Tyre in Ezekiel 26 (592-570 B.C.)?
8. What part did Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander the Great play in these predictions about Tyre?
9. What was the prophecy about Sidon in Ezekiel 28:22-23 (592 - 570 B.C.)? According to Floyd Hamilton, how was this prophecy fulfilled?
10. What was the prophecy about Samaria in Hosea 13:16 and Micah 1:6? How was this fulfilled?
11. What was the prophecy about Gaza-Ashkelon in Amos 1:8 (775 - 750 B.C.) Jeremiah 47:5 (626 - 586 B.C.) Zephaniah 2:4,6 (640 - 621 B.C.)? How was this fulfilled?
12. What were the prophecies regarding Petra and Edom by Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel? How were these prophecies specifically fulfilled?
13. What were the prophecies regarding the Jewish people?

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 10 - How can you believe the miracles in the Bible?

1. What is the so-called “Hume hangover”?
2. What is Hume’s argument against miracles?
3. What did Dr. Lawrence Burkholder, chairman of the Department of the Church at the Harvard Divinity School, say about Hume’s arguments against miracles?
4. What did Professor Clark Pinnock say about Hume’s methodology?
5. What did C. S. Lewis say about Hume’s arguments against miracles?
6. What did Merald Westphal, in his review of “The Historian and the Believer,” say about the experiences of the first explorers in Australia with regard the platypus?
7. What is the basis for believing in the miraculous?

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 11 - What about all those contradictions?

1. “How can you believe a Bible that is full of contradictions?” What does this question assume?
2. What constitutes a contradiction? What is the law of non-contradiction?
3. What is important to remember when facing possible contradictions?
4. “Matthew relates how two blind men met Jesus, while both Mark and Luke mention only one.” Is this a contradiction?
5. What is the supposed contradiction in the account of the death of Sisera in the Book of Judges?
6. What is the reason why two passages can sometimes appear contradictory?
7. What was the supposed contradiction in the story of Paul’s conversion in the Damascus road in Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9? How does Greek scholar W. F. Arndt refute this supposed contradiction?
8. “Doesn’t Matthew make a mistake by attributing a prophecy to Jeremiah when it actually was given by Zechariah?”
9. How do Dr. J. E. Rosscup of Talbot Seminary and John N. Cool explain this supposed error by Matthew?
10. “How would you explain the inaccuracy between Judas ‘went away and hanged himself’ in Matthew 27:5 and ‘falling headlong, he burst open’ in Acts 1:18?”
11. “How could Jesus have remained in the tomb three days and three nights if He was crucified on Friday and rose on Sunday?”
12. Don’t the resurrection accounts repeatedly contradict themselves?
13. What did Sir Norman Anderson, the Director of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies at the University of London, say about apparent conflicts in the testimony of different witnesses?

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 14 - Is the New Testament filled with myths?

1. Did the early Christians turn a human Jesus into a supernatural figure by borrowing supernatural elements from the mystery religions?
2. What was the taurobolium? What are several reasons why the taurobolium cannot be the source for any Christian doctrine or practice?
3. Did the early Christians copy their rite of baptism from pagan religions around them?
4. What was the resurrection story in the early Egyptian cult of Isis and Osiris? How is the resurrection story of Jesus different from this Egyptian myth?
5. “Others also have claimed that the concept of rebirth is central to the mystery religions and that Christianity depended on them for its doctrine of the new birth.” Explain and refute.
6. What are the six differences between the deaths of the so-called savior-gods and that of Jesus, according to Nash?
7. What are the fallacies of Linking Christianity with mystery religions?
8. What do Acts 14:11-13 say about the refusal of the early Christians to borrow from the mystery religions?
9. What is the fallacy of combinationalism or universalism?
10. What is the fallacy of “coloring the evidence”?
11. What is the fallacy of oversimplification?
12. What is the fallacy of “Who’s Influencing Whom?”
13. What does Walter Kunneth, professor of systematic theology at Erlangen University in Germany, state concerning the exclusiveness of the gospel?
14. What did Adolf von Harnack, the most influential German church historian and theologian of his day, say about rejecting comparative mythology?

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 17 - Was Jesus born of a virgin?

1. What are several reasons why the virgin birth was a necessity? What was the prophecy in Jeremiah 22:28-30 about King Jeconiah?
2. “A common objection to the virgin birth is that it is a biological impossibility, acceptable only because of people’s ignorance of these things.” How did C.S. Lewis answer this objection?
3. Could the story of virgin birth have been borrowed from Greek or Babylonian mythology?

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 18 - The historicity of Jesus

1. What did Journalist Louis Cassels write in 1973 about books trying to debunk Jesus?
2. “What collateral proof is there in existence of the historical fact of the life of Jesus Christ? Why aren’t there more nonbiblical historical accounts of the resurrection of Christ?”
3. Why didn’t Pontius Pilate report to Rome about Christ?
4. What did Justin Martyr, writing in approximately A.D. 150, inform emperor Antoninus Pius about the fulfillment of Psalm 22:16?
5. “How much nonbiblical material on any subject actually survived from the first century?”
6. What common device did a writer of antiquity do to discredit someone?
7. ‘“If the biblical description of Jesus’ activities is accurate, wouldn’t Jesus have attracted sufficient attention to be mentioned in first century writings?”
8. “Is absence of evidence evidence of absence?”
9. What did ancient secular writers like Cornelius Tacitus (born A.D. 52-54), Lucian of Samosata, Flavius Josephus (born A.D. 37), Suetonius (A.D.120), Plinius Secundus, Pliny The Younger, Thallus, the Samaritan-born historian, Phlegon, a first-century historian, say about Christ or the Christians?
10. What does the rabbinic literature ay about Christ or the Christians?
11. How does “The Jewishness of Jesus” prove his historicity?
12. What examples does David Biven, the director of the Jerusalem School of Synoptic Studies, give which illustrate the deep Jewish roots of Jesus’ learning and teaching styles?
13. How was Jesus different from the rabbis who preceded Him?

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 20 - The resurrection of Jesus

1. “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon people, or it is the most important fact of history.” Explain.
2. What are the positive historical, literary and legal testimony supporting the validity of the resurrection? How did scholars like Professor Thomas Arnold, B.F. Wescott, Dr. Paul L. Maier, Lord Caldecote (Lord Chief Justice of England), Dr. Simon Greenleaf (Royall Professor of Law at Harvard University), lawyer Dr. Frank Morrison, say about the resurrection of Jesus?
3. What were the prophecies about the resurrection?
4. “The resurrection of Jesus Christ and Christianity stand or fall together.” Explain.
5. Why is “historical/biblical Christian faith an intelligent faith”?
6. What does the word “tekmerion” used in Acts 1:3 by Luke mean?
7. What were these “security precautions” all about: The Trial; Death by Crucifixion; Solid Rock Tomb; Jewish Burial; Very Large Stone; Roman Security; and Roman Seal?
8. What are these seven facts to be reckoned with regards the resurrection: Broken Roman Seal; The Empty Tomb; Large Stone Moved; Roman Guard Goes AWOL; Grave clothes Tell a Tale; Appearances of Christ Confirmed; Women Saw Him First?
9. What is an important principle to remember when studying an event in history?
10. What does Dr. Ewin M. Yamauchi, associate professor of history at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, say about Paul’s statement to the Corinthians that there were five hundred witnesses of Christ’s resurrection still alive?
11. What did Professor Merrill C. Tenney of Wheaton College say about the variety of locations and people involved in Jesus’ appearances?

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 21 - The Trilemma: Lord, Liar or Lunatic?

1. What did C. S. Lewis, who was a professor at Cambridge University and once an agnostic, say about the foolishness of saying that Jesus was simply a great moral teacher?
2. If Jesus’ claim to be God was false, what are the two alternatives?
3. What did William Lecky, one of Great Britain’s most noted historians and a dedicated opponent of organized Christianity, and historian Philip Schaff write about the impact and influence of Christ on men and women down the centuries?
4. Was Jesus a lunatic? What did Clark H. Pinnock, psychiatrist J. T. Fisher, C.S. Lewis and Philip Schaff say about this view?

For further explanation of the trilemma diagram, please read the books “Evidence That Demands A Verdict” (chapter 7) and “More Than a Carpenter” (chapter 2) by Josh McDowell.

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 22 - Is Jesus both Messiah and God?

1. Did Jesus Think He Was Messiah?
2. Was Jesus the Messiah?
3. Did Jesus Really Believe He Was God?
4. Was Jesus the God He Thought He Was?

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 40 - Questions About God

1. How do you know God exists?
2. Is God different in the Old and New testaments?
3. Isn’t there more than one way to God?
4. Is belief in the Trinity belief in three Gods?
5. Why does a good God allow evil to exist?

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 41 - Questions About Faith and Reason

1. What about all the hypocrites in the church?
2. What about those who have never heard the Gospel?
3. Isn’t it enough just to be sincere?
4. Is Christianity merely a psychological crutch?
5. I'm a good person; won’t God accept me?
6. Can you prove Christianity scientifically?

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 42 - Is the Christian experience just a delusion?

1. What is the objective reality or basis for my subjective experience-a changed life?
2. How many others have had this same subjective experience from being related to the objective reality, Jesus Christ?
3. What did E. Y. Mullins write about Christianity being a delusion?

Back to index of study guides


Chapter 43 - Did you hear what happened to Saul?

1. In what four ways was Paul’s life affected by his Damascus road experience?
2. What was Paul’s offense with the Christian message according to Jacques Dupont?

Back to index of study guides