Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

The Perverted Gospel
Its Witness
Mark A. Copeland
INTRODUCTION
1. In another study, we examined the message of “The Perverted Gospel”...
a. A popular presentation of the gospel that begins with truth
b. Yet in telling the sinner what to do to receive Christ, perverts (turns around) the gospel
c. Calling for the sinner to respond with “the sinner’s prayer” instead of repentance and baptism
2. Another concern is the evidence that often accompanies “The Perverted Gospel”...
a. Not only have many changed the content of the gospel as to how to receive Christ
b. They also changed the type of evidence used to prove the gospel to be true!
[In this study, we shall consider the evidence or witness often presented along with “The Perverted
Gospel”, and its potentially dangerous consequences...]
I. THE EVIDENCE FOR “THE PERVERTED GOSPEL”
A. COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS “WITNESSING”...
1. E.g., after explaining how one receives Christ, one is encouraged to do so by telling them of
other people’s experiences in “accepting Christ”
a. This sharing of experiences of others’ conversion is called “witnessing”
b. It is used to convince one of the power of the gospel to transform lives
2. New converts are often encouraged to quickly develop their own “witness”
a. I.e., a testimony proclaiming how their lives were changed
b. E.g., their testimony or “witness” might describe:
1) Their actions and attitudes before they “accepted Christ”
2) Circumstances that surrounded their “conversion”
3) Changes that took place in life after “receiving Christ”
-- The more remarkable one’s story (witness), the better
B. THE JUSTIFICATION OFFERED FOR SUCH “WITNESSING”...
1. The New Testament speaks of people being witnesses
a. E.g., “you shall be witnesses to Me” - Ac 1:8
b. This passage taken to mean that all Christians were to “witness” for Christ
2. Yet one should consider these questions:
a. Are the “witnesses” in this passages referring to all Christians, or a select few?
b. What were they to bear witness to? Their own conversion, or something else?
-- Does this passage imply that all Christians to be “witnesses”?
[To help answer this question, let’s take a moment and examine...]
II. WITNESSING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
A. WHO WERE TO BE WITNESSES FOR CHRIST...?
1. The context of Ac 1:8 reveals it was the apostles - Ac 1:1-11
Topical Sermons 271