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Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Great Bible Tracts and More!

I am a very big 'fan' of the Ray Comfort/Kirk Cameron website Living Waters, and the accompanying School of Biblical Evangelism. I know there are a lot of popular people endorsing a lot of church-oriented products, but I fully agree with the approach demonstrated in their videos and books for reaching the lost. Teaching the cross truly is foolishness to those who are perishing. It is hard for us to understand it when we have been accustomed to "church-talk" and know the truths that all sins are the same and that God requires perfection. But to many in the world, morality is about comparing. How many people have you heard say "Well, I'm a good person because I've never murdered anyone or done anything major wrong, and I try to help people all the time."?

What is wrong with this statement?

1. God's standard is perfection. It won't matter in the slightest what someone else did or didn't do when you stand before Him. all that matters is what he deems to be sin (going against His law, or Ten Commandments), the price for that sin (death), and the only way to avoid it (being covered by the blood price paid by Christ). This isn't a college entrance exam- God is not going to choose the top 5% to be His elect. He will only save those who have had their sins paid for by the only person who could afford to pay it- the sinless Christ.

2. While most of us can say we have never murdered another person, which is forbidden in the 6th commandment (Exodus 20:13), we are doing what the Pharisees did in trying to create our own standard of righteousness by taking away the essence, or the scope of the law.
"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." Matthew 5:20-22

James 2:10 also tells us that if we keep all of the law except one little part, we are guilty. The Law is a package deal, not a multiple choice list. The Law isn't just about NOT doing some things, but about DOING others. You may never kill a person's body, but if you are teaming with anger and hatred toward that person, your heart is already guilty of murder.

3. Good works are important because of what they prove. In James Chapter 2, there are examples of how "faith" without works is dead. Some may misconstrue this to mean that works are necessary to receive salvation. If you read closely, though, he is saying that real faith cannot exist without works because of the transforming nature of that faith. When we are truly saved, we CANNOT sit back and watch others in need and do nothing. The ours is a false religion, because Christ gave his very life for us when we were perishing, and if we are to walk after Him, we must be of a like mind and give everything for others. Doing good should be the outward evidence of the change inside of us, but it will not save us.

God does not take attendance, give out extra credit points, or rejoice in your help. Isaiah 64:6 tells us what we think is beautiful service to God is to him as filthy rags. What could we buy of any value with rags? And Galatians 2:16 and Ephesians 2:8-9 tell us that we are saved by faith, not by works. In fact, we are saved by the opposite of works. If we could be saved by works, we could save ourselves and not need Christ. But the necessary brokenness in salvation stems from our realization that we cannot save ourselves, and then we must rely wholly on Jesus, not on our good deeds.

The School of Biblical Evangelism is fully of meaty lessons and good self-examinations, and there is a forum for those who join the school to discuss topics and find other in the area to team-evangelize with. And on the living waters page there is a store where you can buy really good, sound Bible tracts as well as the videos and other items to help with reachign the lost. It is also obvious from the pricing that the people behind this store are not making a living at selling Bible-related items, but are TRULY committed to seeking and saving thwe lost.

www.livingwaters.com
www.needgod.com
www.wayofthemaster.com

1 comment:

lora k said...

Amy,
I enjoyed your post greatly. We have been using WOTM for four years now and have a team that hits the streets every week. It is such a blessing to see that you are following the path that all Christians are called to; sharing your faith both in season and out of season. We have a friend who has begun making tracts similar to Living Waters, and I thought you might be interested in his site, it's www.customtractsource.com