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Commentary on "Evangelism and Witnessing as a Lifestyle"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 2: Sunday, April 22, 2012 - Silent Sermons

 

Overview

The title for today, 'Silent Sermons’, brings out an important point. The way we live our 'unguarded’ lives has far more impact on those around us than anything else we can say or do.

The Quarterly then redirects the focus somewhat with the following statement:

"Read John 13:35. According to Jesus, what is one special way His followers are identified? What does that mean in practical terms?"

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 ESV)

 

Observations

In practice Adventist evangelists violate this key mark of a disciple of Jesus Christ in the following way:

An evangelist who is a follower of Christ will preach the pure simple and complete gospel of Jesus Christ for the remission of a sinner’s sin with nothing added to it that is not part of the gospel, Gal. 1:9 & 1 Cor. 15:3-5. Specifically, things such as the eating of certain food, the practice of Sabbath Keeping or joining a remnant church have no place in preaching on what you must believe or do to join the kingdom of God. You cannot even add these things in as an 'attachment’ at a later date as additional salvation requirements and keep the gospel intact as the gospel.

When attachments are imposed upon the gospel, there is an obvious lack of love being displayed by those who otherwise claim to be followers of Christ. Clearly, somebody in such a situation just described is not showing the mark of Christ’s disciples, that of showing love for the others who preach the gospel message.

In John 13:35 you need to focus on the phrase 'if you have love for one another’ to see the root of the problem. The love of Christians for each other is a natural consequence of being "family" because we are all within the kingdom of God. This godly love is also what leads to our having compassion for the unsaved, our theme for tomorrow.

 

Summary

  1. Evangelist and ambassadors for Christ will have love for one another regardless of their background. This love for others is a godly love that didn’t exist prior to a person joining the kingdom of God.
     
  2. Since it is the message being preached by Adventist evangelists that separate them from others who preach the gospel message of Jesus Christ and is the primary point of contention, it is this message that should be examined to determine who is and who is not displaying the love of Christ.
     
  3. The source of godly love is centered on the atoning blood of Jesus Christ proclaimed by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sin.

 

GO TO DAY 3

 

Copyright 2012 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised April 17, 2012. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Camp Verde, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

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Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 4

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