Worship, Evangelism, and the Assurance of Salvation
Summary
In our time together, we explored the profound nature of worship and its primary focus on the believer, while also considering the place of evangelism within the worship setting. Worship is fundamentally for the edification of believers, a time when the church gathers to glorify God and grow in faith. However, it is also a time when the claims of Christ should be pressed upon all present, including those who may not yet believe. The minister's role is to preach the gospel in a way that calls everyone to a deeper relationship with Christ, whether through discipleship or initial faith.
We discussed the traditional practice of altar calls and the sinner's prayer, questioning their biblical basis and effectiveness. The concern is that these practices can lead to false assurances of salvation, where individuals may believe they are saved through a mere act rather than genuine faith in Christ. True conversion is marked by repentance and faith, not by walking an aisle or reciting a prayer. Assurance of salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit, not something that can be conferred by human declaration.
Furthermore, we touched on the church's role in addressing cultural and political issues. While the church's primary mission is spiritual, it also has a prophetic role to speak truth to power, especially when moral issues are at stake. The church must navigate these waters carefully, ensuring that its voice is grounded in biblical truth and not merely political ideology.
Finally, we addressed the New Perspective on Paul, expressing concern over its implications for the doctrine of justification by faith alone. This doctrine is central to the gospel, and any teaching that undermines it poses a significant threat to the church's understanding of salvation.
Key Takeaways:
1. Worship is primarily for the believer's edification, yet it must also present the gospel to all, urging both believers and non-believers to respond to Christ's call. This dual focus ensures that worship remains a time of spiritual growth and evangelistic opportunity. [09:42]
2. The practice of altar calls and the sinner's prayer can lead to false assurances of salvation. True conversion is marked by repentance and faith in Christ alone, not by external acts or declarations. Assurance of salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit, not human pronouncement. [11:32]
3. The church has a prophetic role in society, speaking truth to power on moral issues. While the church's mission is spiritual, it must also address cultural and political issues when they intersect with biblical truth. This requires wisdom and discernment to ensure the church's voice remains grounded in scripture. [35:27]
4. The New Perspective on Paul challenges the traditional understanding of justification by faith alone. This doctrine is central to the gospel, and any teaching that undermines it threatens the church's understanding of salvation. The imputed righteousness of Christ is the sole ground of our standing before God. [47:10]
5. Assurance of salvation is a gift of the Holy Spirit, not something that can be conferred by human declaration. The church's role is to point individuals to Christ and the means of assurance through faith and repentance, rather than offering false assurances. [19:11]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[07:11] - Worship and Evangelism
[08:21] - Pressing the Claims of Christ
[09:42] - Worship's Primary Focus
[11:32] - Concerns with Altar Calls
[14:16] - The Role of Public Profession
[16:53] - False Conversions and Assurance
[19:11] - Assurance of Salvation
[21:31] - The Carnal Christian Doctrine
[23:41] - The Role of the Church in Society
[35:27] - Prophetic Criticism and Culture
[38:26] - Addressing Moral Issues
[42:06] - The New Perspective on Paul
[47:10] - Justification and Imputation
[48:13] - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 12:1-2
2. Matthew 28:19-20
3. James 5:16
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the primary focus of worship, and how should it also serve as an evangelistic opportunity? [09:42]
2. What concerns were raised about the practice of altar calls and the sinner's prayer in the sermon? [11:32]
3. How does the sermon describe the church's role in addressing cultural and political issues? [35:27]
4. What is the New Perspective on Paul, and why is it considered a threat to the traditional understanding of justification by faith alone? [47:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the dual focus of worship on edification and evangelism impact the way a church service is conducted? [09:42]
2. Why might the practice of altar calls and the sinner's prayer lead to false assurances of salvation, according to the sermon? [11:32]
3. In what ways can the church maintain its prophetic voice in society without becoming entangled in political ideology? [35:27]
4. How does the New Perspective on Paul challenge the traditional doctrine of justification by faith alone, and what are the potential implications for the church? [47:10]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal experience of worship. How can you ensure that your worship is both edifying and evangelistic? What changes might you need to make in your approach to worship? [09:42]
2. Have you ever participated in an altar call or recited the sinner's prayer? How did that experience affect your understanding of salvation? How can you seek assurance of salvation through faith and repentance instead? [11:32]
3. Consider a current cultural or political issue. How can you engage with it in a way that reflects biblical truth without aligning with a specific political ideology? [35:27]
4. How can you educate yourself and others about the New Perspective on Paul to ensure a clear understanding of justification by faith alone? What resources or discussions might help deepen your understanding? [47:10]
5. Think about a time when you felt pressured to conform to a particular church practice or belief. How did you navigate that situation, and what did you learn about maintaining your personal convictions? [11:32]
6. Identify a moral issue in your community. How can you and your church address it in a way that speaks truth to power while remaining grounded in scripture? [35:27]
7. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit to gain assurance of your salvation? What practices or disciplines might help you in this journey? [19:11]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship as Spiritual Growth and Evangelistic Opportunity
Worship is a sacred time for believers to gather, glorify God, and grow in their faith. It is primarily for the edification of believers, but it also serves as an opportunity to present the gospel to all, including those who may not yet believe. This dual focus ensures that worship remains a time of spiritual growth and evangelistic opportunity. The minister's role is to preach the gospel in a way that calls everyone to a deeper relationship with Christ, whether through discipleship or initial faith. This approach allows worship to be a transformative experience for both believers and seekers alike. [09:42]
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in worship this week to both grow in your faith and be open to sharing the gospel with someone who may not yet believe?
Day 2: True Conversion and Assurance of Salvation
The practice of altar calls and the sinner's prayer has been questioned for their biblical basis and effectiveness. These practices can lead to false assurances of salvation, where individuals may believe they are saved through a mere act rather than genuine faith in Christ. True conversion is marked by repentance and faith, not by walking an aisle or reciting a prayer. Assurance of salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit, not something that can be conferred by human declaration. The church's role is to point individuals to Christ and the means of assurance through faith and repentance, rather than offering false assurances. [11:32]
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your own faith journey. Are there areas where you have relied on external acts for assurance rather than a genuine relationship with Christ?
Day 3: The Church's Prophetic Role in Society
While the church's primary mission is spiritual, it also has a prophetic role to speak truth to power, especially when moral issues are at stake. The church must navigate these waters carefully, ensuring that its voice is grounded in biblical truth and not merely political ideology. This requires wisdom and discernment to ensure the church's voice remains grounded in scripture. The church's prophetic role is to address cultural and political issues when they intersect with biblical truth, speaking out on moral issues with courage and conviction. [35:27]
"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:8-9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one cultural or political issue you feel called to address with biblical truth? How can you ensure your approach is grounded in scripture rather than personal ideology?
Day 4: Justification by Faith Alone
The New Perspective on Paul challenges the traditional understanding of justification by faith alone. This doctrine is central to the gospel, and any teaching that undermines it poses a significant threat to the church's understanding of salvation. The imputed righteousness of Christ is the sole ground of our standing before God. It is crucial for believers to hold fast to the doctrine of justification by faith alone, recognizing that our salvation is not based on our works but on the finished work of Christ. [47:10]
"For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law." (Romans 3:28, ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding justification by faith alone impact your daily walk with Christ? Are there areas where you are tempted to rely on your own works for righteousness?
Day 5: Assurance as a Gift of the Holy Spirit
Assurance of salvation is a gift of the Holy Spirit, not something that can be conferred by human declaration. The church's role is to point individuals to Christ and the means of assurance through faith and repentance. This assurance is not based on external acts or declarations but on the inner work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life. Believers are encouraged to seek assurance through a deepening relationship with Christ, trusting in His promises and the work of the Holy Spirit. [19:11]
"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you seek a deeper relationship with Christ to experience the assurance of salvation through the Holy Spirit?
Quotes
I think a minister is always conscious of pressing the claims of Christ on every hearer, whether that hearer is a believer in Christ and those claims are Christ claims for discipleship or whether that hearer is an unbeliever in the congregation who has not submitted himself or herself to the lordship of Christ. [00:07:18]
The minister is always pressing those claims of Christ. Now it may well be that that person is talking about a separate invitation that would be given at the end of the service. We don't practice that especially so that people don't believe that by doing some physical act, thereby doing that physical act that's not commanded anywhere in the scripture. [00:07:43]
It's possible for them to be sitting right where they are in the Pew and do business with Christ by faith. So they're very, as you heard Derek do today in the message on servanthood, he was pressing home the claims of Christ, preaching the gospel to us even in a message to Believers on servanthood. [00:08:13]
The practice of altar calls and the sinner's prayer can lead to false assurances of salvation. True conversion is marked by repentance and faith in Christ alone, not by external acts or declarations. Assurance of salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit, not human pronouncement. [00:11:32]
We have an epidemic in the Evangelical world where people have confused the making of professions with saving Faith. Everyone who does have saving faith is called to profess that Faith, but we somehow think that the mechanics of a public profession is what gives people their salvation. [00:11:42]
Saying the sinner's prayer never justified anybody. Walking down an aisle never got anybody into the kingdom of God. Raising your hand to an evangelist has never gotten anybody the kingdom of God. The only way you're going to be saved is through faith in Christ and in Christ alone. [00:11:52]
Assurance is the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the testimony of God's spirit with our spirits that we are the children of God. It's none of my business to try and give somebody Assurance of faith. My business is to point them to the means by which they get Assurance through faith in Jesus Christ. [00:19:06]
The church has a prophetic role in society, speaking truth to power on moral issues. While the church's mission is spiritual, it must also address cultural and political issues when they intersect with biblical truth. This requires wisdom and discernment to ensure the church's voice remains grounded in scripture. [00:35:27]
God has not given us the sword, but he has given us the word. When the political, when the church, for example, when the state fails to be the state, God authorizes the state as a minister to minister Justice and gives to them the basic foundational responsibility of protecting, defending, and maintaining human life. [00:35:57]
The New Perspective on Paul challenges the traditional understanding of justification by faith alone. This doctrine is central to the gospel, and any teaching that undermines it threatens the church's understanding of salvation. The imputed righteousness of Christ is the sole ground of our standing before God. [00:47:10]
The doctrine of justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone as articulated by Luther or Calvin, the article of the standing or falling of the church, is the most crucial doctrine of all. If you were to ask yourself where would the devil most want to meddle with, the obvious answer is to create a doubt. [00:47:30]
The only way I'm going to be reconciled to that God is based upon the imputed righteousness of Jesus to me, which is received by faith. You mess with that, you've lost the gospel, and that's what the issue is here lurking under all this debate. It all comes back to the issue of imputation. [00:47:50]
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