Deep Dive into Apologetics and Evangelism by Dr. Michael Vlach & Prof. Jesse Johnson - Proclaiming the Gospel with Wisdom and Clarity
Philip's evangelism began with divine direction, as an angel instructed him to go to a specific road, and the Spirit later told him to approach the chariot of an Ethiopian eunuch. Philip proactively ran to the chariot and initiated the conversation by asking if the eunuch understood what he was reading from the prophet Isaiah. This direct question, met with an invitation from the eunuch, allowed Philip to use the scripture as a starting point to tell him the good news about Jesus.
The eunuch was an Ethiopian court official of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, and was in charge of all her treasure. He was returning from Jerusalem where he had gone to worship, and was observed reading Isaiah 53, a passage describing the Messiah's suffering and death. His eager acceptance of Philip's explanation led to his immediate baptism and a joyful continuation of his journey.
Sin's true nature is not merely a collection of wrongdoings but a profound rebellion against God's nature and law. It involves elevating oneself above God and rejecting His perfect character, which is an "incredible sin." This leads to a fundamental separation from God in two ways: judicially, resulting in condemnation to hell as the only suitable punishment for rejecting God, and relationally, causing a spiritual death in this life where one does not experience God's grace or relationship. For many, the "real issue" is their love for sin.
Repentance means a turning away from all that dishonors God, a complete change in direction from one's sin. It involves speaking of one's sin the same way God does, identifying and turning from it. Repentance is a natural result of believing the gospel and is intrinsically linked to counting the cost of following Christ. This signifies an absolute, unconditional surrender to Christ as Lord and Savior, embracing a radical change of life and accepting potential discomfort. Repentance, alongside faith, is an essential element for genuine conversion and is frequently connected to the gospel in the New Testament.
Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian
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