"Presenting the basics of Christianity" (Study 13)
We looked at John 4:27-42 and noted that the passage did not say much about the theological points mentioned in the study material. There is certainly Jesus' claim that He was 'sent' (v. 34) and that He was acknowledged as 'Saviour of the world'. But like all of Jesus' interactions with individuals in the gospels, the full range of gospel truth is not presented.We read instead of how Jesus was impressed with the faith of individuals, or that they testified to His work in their lives (e,g " once I was blind but now I see"). It seems that they were attracted to the Person of Christ.That is something worth remembering when we share the gospel - we are not getting people to agree to a set of facts. We are introducing them to Jesus as One who is infinitely lovely and worthy of being followed unconditionally. The Samaritan woman evangelized by saying, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did" (v.29). She introduced her village to a Person. Jesus is the core of the gospel. The truths of the gospel are context for Him. I think that this would imply that those who know Him best will then share about Him the most, and most effectively.
This is not to say that no truth is required to receive Jesus.The villagers believed "because of the woman's testimony" (v.39), but also because Jesus spent two days with them, teaching them "his word (v.42). So there must be some basic truth about Jesus. In 1 Cor 15:3-4 Paul's idea of the core facts about Christ was that i) He died for our sin ii) He was raised to life iii) according to the Scriptures (i.e. he asserted Scriptural authority). But I felt the weakness of the Engel's scale is that it suffices for someone to come to Jesus trusting fully in Him, and having a fuller understanding of the gospel subsequently revealed by the Spirit. As such there is no fixed body of facts needed for a 'proper decision' to 'accept Christ'. The aged, young and mentally incapacitated cannot always apprehend the whole truth of the gospel. The question is whether they have a saving faith in Christ.
We also said that the study erred in trying to make the point that an adequate understanding of the gospel helps people to make a proper decision and 'go on to become strong disciples of Jesus'. On the contrary, The parable of the sower (or parable of the soils) in Matt 13:18-23 does not show that a good intellectual understanding gives people a better chance of spiritual endurance. By nature, the soils are fixed in their ability to receive the word, which is scattered to all. So the parable teaches the reverse - that the ability to produce spiritual fruit depends on the nature of the recipient manifesting in attitude and endurance. In the same way, Jesus' warnings to would-be followers in Lk 9:57-58 are to discourage them from following Him without first counting the cost (c.f LK 14:25-33). Those that can endure are those who have already counted the cost and followed. This does not speak directly about their extent of intellectual understanding. It speaks rather of their depth of committment.
2 Ti 4:2 is more about the importance of preaching at times convenient and inconvenient to the
preacher, rather than a call to evangelise people at any time, whether convenient to them or not. The better verse for readiness to evangelise is 1 Pe 3:15. We must have a rational faith and to be prepared to defend it. And we should always be sensitive to the situation and yet eager to share our testimony to Christ because we do not know how prepared others may be.
This is not to say that no truth is required to receive Jesus.The villagers believed "because of the woman's testimony" (v.39), but also because Jesus spent two days with them, teaching them "his word (v.42). So there must be some basic truth about Jesus. In 1 Cor 15:3-4 Paul's idea of the core facts about Christ was that i) He died for our sin ii) He was raised to life iii) according to the Scriptures (i.e. he asserted Scriptural authority). But I felt the weakness of the Engel's scale is that it suffices for someone to come to Jesus trusting fully in Him, and having a fuller understanding of the gospel subsequently revealed by the Spirit. As such there is no fixed body of facts needed for a 'proper decision' to 'accept Christ'. The aged, young and mentally incapacitated cannot always apprehend the whole truth of the gospel. The question is whether they have a saving faith in Christ.
We also said that the study erred in trying to make the point that an adequate understanding of the gospel helps people to make a proper decision and 'go on to become strong disciples of Jesus'. On the contrary, The parable of the sower (or parable of the soils) in Matt 13:18-23 does not show that a good intellectual understanding gives people a better chance of spiritual endurance. By nature, the soils are fixed in their ability to receive the word, which is scattered to all. So the parable teaches the reverse - that the ability to produce spiritual fruit depends on the nature of the recipient manifesting in attitude and endurance. In the same way, Jesus' warnings to would-be followers in Lk 9:57-58 are to discourage them from following Him without first counting the cost (c.f LK 14:25-33). Those that can endure are those who have already counted the cost and followed. This does not speak directly about their extent of intellectual understanding. It speaks rather of their depth of committment.
2 Ti 4:2 is more about the importance of preaching at times convenient and inconvenient to the
preacher, rather than a call to evangelise people at any time, whether convenient to them or not. The better verse for readiness to evangelise is 1 Pe 3:15. We must have a rational faith and to be prepared to defend it. And we should always be sensitive to the situation and yet eager to share our testimony to Christ because we do not know how prepared others may be.
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