Hell's Best Kept Secret? Ray Comfort

[Pastor Keith]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Keith, I have been screaming about this from the time of FCF to NFCF. Very few paid attention, and I suspect because he is not UPC and does not preach Acts 2:38

Despite that he has the RIGHT view of evangelism and repentance...one that many of us lack

Sorry I didnt realize how unique and understated his message of repentance is, yes he needs the whole thing, but we can sure appreciate what he does have and that is repentance from sin.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Seems like a modern day Apollos to me.

[J-Roc]

Let’s see the Jesus way of evangelism…what did Jesus do? Did he use hell fire to convince his crowd, did he use scare tactics to win them over?

Begins his ministry in Matthew 4 after telling the disciples come follow me and I will show you how to be fishers of men and women.

In verse 23, Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

You see, these crowds recognized that life’s baggage is tough to bear and it weighs heavy on the soul.

Then Jesus proceeds and what does he say, “FIRE FIRE FIRE, YOU WILL BURN IN FIRE”……no, no, no….that is not what he said, instead he tells them:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.


Those beatitudes sure sound like wonderful promises to me, they sure make me feel good and give me purpose!!! Jesus tells me great is my reward in heaven…he keeps painting a beautiful picture for me in heaven, he keeps alluring me with the promises of giving my soul rest, he keeps emphasizing if I do good to others then good will come my way. Does this sound like a message of hope or a message of despair? I call it hopeful….therefore, SOMEONE PLEASE POINT ME TO THE CROSS!!!

[SDG]

Originally Posted by J-Roc

Let’s see the Jesus way of evangelism…what did Jesus do? Did he use hell fire to convince his crowd, did he use scare tactics to win them over?

Begins his ministry in Matthew 4 after telling the disciples come follow me and I will show you how to be fishers of men and women.

In verse 23, Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

You see, these crowds recognized that life’s baggage is tough to bear and it weighs heavy on the soul.

Then Jesus proceeds and what does he say, “FIRE FIRE FIRE, YOU WILL BURN IN FIRE”……no, no, no….that is not what he said, instead he tells them:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.


Those beatitudes sure sound like wonderful promises to me, they sure make me feel good and give me purpose!!! Jesus tells me great is my reward in heaven…he keeps painting a beautiful picture for me in heaven, he keeps alluring me with the promises of giving my soul rest, he keeps emphasizing if I do good to others then good will come my way. Does this sound like a message of hope or a message of despair? I call it hopeful….therefore, SOMEONE PLEASE POINT ME TO THE CROSS!!!

The sermon on the mount was preached to his disciples ... Jeff ... it was not an evangelistic message to unbelievers.

1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:

[SDG]

No one is speaking about scare tactics ... but about prioritizing the message .... his promises are true ,wonderful, and for all believers ... but the primary reason a true convert will come to Christ ... will always be because he recognizes he is a sinner and that he needs a Savior.

[J-Roc]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

The sermon on the mount was preached to his disciples ... Jeff ... it was not an evangelistic message to unbelievers.

1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:

I beg to differ, Danielson...after that discourse that runs through chapter 7 we read at the end:

Matthew 7:28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

[SDG]

Same sermon ...

The Narrow Way
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14Because arrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.


You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Therefore by their fruits you will know them.


I Never Knew You
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

[SDG]

Build on the Rock
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
28And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

New King James Version: Thomas Nelson, Publisher

[J-Roc]

Mark 1:14-15 - Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"


Sounds like he is presenting heaven, not saying "look out, fire"

They ultimately get you to same place (running from hell or turning toward God) but with totally different perspective and focus...

[SDG]

Scholars debate whether Jesus actually gave the Sermon as a single discourse