It’s easy to broad brush an entire group of people based
on the actions of a few. Even people who probably fall under the technical
definition of evangelical Christian eschew the title. One bad apple ruins the
whole bunch I guess.
What does it
mean to be an evangelical Christian?
Evangelical Christians put an emphasis on the conversion
experience. There are a lot of biblical terms for the conversion experience,
but the most popular term is “born again”.
Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God.
John 3:3
Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38
For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13
These are three of the better known verses
concerning the conversion experience. In John3:3, Jesus tells a religious
teacher that a conversion experience is required to have eternal life. In Acts
2:38, Peter tells a crowd of people what is involved in the conversion
experience. In Romans 10:13, Paul says that the conversion experience is a
simple act of calling on the Lord in faith.
Essentially, the Bible says that there should be an act
of conversion in order to become a Christian.
But the natural man receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can
he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14
How then shall they call on him in
whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they
have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they
preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of
them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Romans 10:14-15
The Bible also teaches that a person who hasn’t had a
conversion experience can’t have one without someone to guide them. In Paul’s
day, literacy wasn’t as widespread as it is today, so hearing how to experience
conversion required preaching and teaching. Now, there are all kinds of ways a
person can receive this instruction. In addition to personal preaching and
teaching, there are books, flyers, websites, and blogs like this, just to name
a few.
In order to understand why a person needs to have a
conversion experience, the Bible says a person needs to understand the gospel. The
word gospel is an Old English word that simply means “good news”. It is
translated from the Greek word, ευαγγελιον (evangelion) which also means “good
news”. The word evangelical also comes
from the same Greek word.
So, an evangelical Christian is a person who believes a
conversion experience is central to the Christian experience, that hearing the
gospel helps people understand why conversion is necessary, and is focused on
sharing the gospel with as many people as possible in order that as many people
as possible might share in eternal life. That's it. You don't have to be white, Republican, capitalist or rich in order to be an evangelical. If you are concerned about sharing the gospel, you can be a Native American, Democrat, communist, and poor and still be an evangelical Christian. It is and should be doctrine that unifies Christians, not ethnicity, political affiliation, economic philosophy, or economic station.
The Gospel
In my next posts, I will go into more detail and
explanation about the gospel, but for now, here is a summary of the gospel
message.
·
All people are sinners.
For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
·
Sin is an inherited trait.
Wherefore,
as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed
upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Romans 5:12
·
God requires us to keep the moral law.
Therefore
shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 22:31
·
Because of our sin nature, we cannot keep the
moral law.
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth
not.
Ecclesiastes 7:20
·
Even when we try to do good, our good deeds are
tainted by our sin nature.
But
we are all as an unclean thing, and all
our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and
our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Isaiah 64:6
·
Even though we cannot perfectly keep the law, we
know when we have broken the law.
For
when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in
the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves
Romans 2:14
·
Because our conscience tells us not to break the
law, God holds us accountable for our actions.
For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 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: because that,
when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but
became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:18-21
·
Because we cannot keep the law, without God’s
intervention, we would be condemned.
For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already,
because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:17-18
·
That condemnation is comes in the form of
eternal death.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
·
Eternal death means a conscious eternity in hell.
And
death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire.
Revelation 20:14-15
·
In order to avoid condemnation, there must be
sacrifice.
And
almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of
blood is no remission.
Hebrews 9:22
·
Because of our sin nature, we cannot sacrifice
for ourselves or others.
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a
ransom for him.
Psalm 49:7
·
Because of the extent of the effects of sin, the
sacrifice of animals cannot pay the penalty.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take
away sins.
Hebrews 10:4
·
God loves us in spite of our sin and sent Jesus
to die in our place.
But
God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.
Romans 5:8
·
In order to pay the penalty of sin, the
sacrifice had to be sinless. Jesus Christ met that requirement.
For
he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
·
Jesus Christ’s sacrifice provides payment for
the penalty of sin.
In whom [Jesus] we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his
grace
Ephesians 1:7
·
Jesus Christ’s resurrection gives us hope of
eternal life.
For
as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:22
·
In order to have a conversion experience and be
guaranteed eternal life, you must believe the gospel message, repent of your
sin nature, and confess Christ as your Lord and Savior.
He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall
be damned.
Mark 16:16
Then
Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38
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; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not
be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the
same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:8-13
·
Calling on the Lord is as simple as a prayer. It’s
not the prayer that saves you. It is your faith in Jesus Christ alone that
saves you.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
·
Here is a sample prayer.
God, I know that I have sinned. I know that cannot perfectly keep the
Law and without You, I am condemned to an eternity in hell. I believe that you
love me and want me to spend eternity with you in heaven. I believe that Jesus
died in my place, shed his blood to forgive my sins, and rose again to give me
eternal life. I now turn from my sin to follow you and put my trust only in the
death, burial, and resurrection of Christ alone for my salvation. Please come
into my life and save me. Amen.
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