Sermon Tone Analysis

How Traditional Methods Evolved

Doctrine the Essence of Denominationalism

Trying to understand the traditional approach to evangelism, I suppose one would need to recognize that especially since the days of the reformation, the existence of various denominational persuasions has necessitated an evangelistic approach built on doctrinal argument.

Only in this fashion could they convert others to their faith.

It seemed necessary to justify denominational entities.

The rise of the Seventh-day Adventist church in the mid-nineteenth century made such a doctrinal approach more necessary because of it’s unique beliefs.

Early Adventists United by Doctrinal Agreement

Since they came from a wide spectrum of denominational persuasions, they could only experience unity through the catalyst of doctrinal agreement.

This union was hammered out in early Bible conferences held by the pioneers.

These historical facts resulted in looking to the doctrinal pillars held in common as the essence of the message, leaving the fundamental good news of salvation to be taken for granted.

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Many SDA’s had already experienced conversion, so to most of these people salvation through Christ was a living experience before they accepted the distinctive truths of Adventism.

As years went by, hundreds either lost sight of, or others came into the faith without having an experimental knowledge of Christ.

There began to be a lack of emphasis on salvation by ministers and evangelists until they had become “dry as the hills of Gilboa.”

This led Sis.

White, particularly in 1887 and in 1888 to warn the church against legalism, and exhorting to accept Christ by faith.

Doctrinal Approach Effective in Christian Community

Doctrinal Approach Effective in Christian Community

Doctrinal Approach Effective in Christian Community

So evangelism had become largely a process of explaining to others doctrinal truth, the assumption being that when one understood what church was teaching the “faith once delivered to the saints” in terms of doctrinal truth he would be compelled to embrace the message.

This assumption was valid because most people were already persuaded of the basic claims of Christianity.

This approach worked and it bore fruit.

Those who were already evangelical Christians in their experience, regarded it as a forward step in their Christian life.

Those who were backslidden from their Christian up-bringing and principles, upon being revived in regard to the great truths of the Bible were often brought to conviction and rededicated their hearts to the Lord simultaneously with their acceptance of the truth.

No Longer Effective

The present problems arise from the fact that several generations ago, this ceased to be a valid staging from which to launch the thrust of the three angel’s messages.

Beliefs of Population Have Changed - Limits Potential - Soul-Winning Approach Must Change

In the first place, such a concept of our work limits the target group with whom we propose to work, to those who are already truly Christians or have latent Christian convictions.

That target group probably constituted a majority of the population here in the United States until well into the twentieth century, but several generations ago, this kind of target group dwindled until today it probably constitutes a very small minority.

Consequently the methods we have used have become less and less productive.

Our approach is nearly irrelevant to an ever-growing majority of the population.

What difference can it make which day you keep to one who doesn’t even believe the Bible?

What significance is the 2300 days or the Millennium to one who doesn’t believe in prophecy?

Of what concern is the judgment or standards of Christian conduct to one who isn’t sure there is a God?

The appropriate question now is “Where is the best place to begin with today’s majority?”

The Eternal Gospel is the Forgotten Message of the First Angel!

Everlasting Gospel Must Come First - Assurance of Salvation Basic - Masses are Responsive to Provisions of Gospel

Review and Herald, Feb. 22, 1887, “There are many who want to know what they must do to be saved.

They want a plain and clear explanation of the steps requisite in conversion.… to especially make plain the way that sinners may come to Christ and be saved.

They should point them to Christ, as did John, and with touching simplicity, their hearts aglow with the love of Christ, say, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’

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SOP Urged this New Emphasis - “Without Me You Can Do Nothing”

The entire concept was put into book form in Steps to Christ.

How slow we have been to realize that a saving relationship with Christ is best arrived at just in the way it is put in this book: first understanding God’s love and His mercy and grace, then man’s lost condition and the sinner’s need, followed by what Jesus did to meet that need and the salvation He purchased for us on Calvary and then the assurance of eternal life and the sonship with Christ, which comes with consecration and faith and acceptance.

If the book Steps to Christ, says anything at all, it says that this is the most winning approach to lost men and women.

Only after these steps do we find presented it’s chapters on the duties of the Christion life and the tests of discipleship.

Should we be surprised that the results of our evangelistic endeavors are so meager, when we have first persuaded men and women of doctrinal truth, then urged upon them every idealistic duty of Christian living; and after building the platform so high, invited them to come up on it in one giant step, by surrendering to Christ.

Without first having Christ’s power in the life and the assurance of salvation through Jesus, one could scarcely find the courage to accept the high calling which we espouse.

Without the hope that a saving relationship with Christ brings to the heart, the requirements of church membership can lead often to despair.

The Great Need Today is the Simple Gospel

“Bring the people right to Jesus Christ, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered.…

presenting it in a simple style …”

“There are more souls longing to understand how they may come to Christ than we imagine.

Many listen to popular sermons from the pulpit, and know no better than before they listened, how to find Jesus and the peace and rest which their souls desire.… the people are more ignorant in regard to the plan of salvation, and need more instruction upon this all-important subject, than upon any other.”

“The very first and most important thing is to melt and subdue the soul by presenting our Lord Jesus Christ as the sin-pardoning Saviour.”

Assurance Before Membership

Some question the propriety of teaching an assurance of salvation before there is reformation and church membership.

Let’s study this question.

In the light of the clear mandate we have above, why have we insisted on putting a study of salvation far down the list of subjects, after teaching reformation of life?

Could it be the fact that if you present Jesus first, you should invite the person to accept Him.

And if you did, he just might receive Him!

And then you would have to believe that he was a child of God and has eternal life!

(John 1:12; 6:47; 1 John 5:9–13).

And this could be a real problem if you have believed that righteousness by faith was only for good church members!

Where is Motivation for Growth and Obedience - Love is a More Powerful Motive

Some may ask: If an unbeliever merely receives Christ as His Saviour and claims pardon and eternal life in such a brief presentation of the gospel, would this not stifle motivation for further growth and reformation of life?

The answer is most emphatically “no”.

Love and acceptance are far stronger motivations for reformation of life than fear or rejection.

Have you ever noticed the miraculous change in grooming habits when a teen “falls in love”?

All the bribes or threats were of no avail!

But when there is a new love experience, PRESTO!

“Some seem to feel that they must be on probation and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed before they can claim His blessings.”

“There are conscientious souls that trust partly to God, and partly to themselves.

They do not look to God, to be kept by His power, but depend upon watchfulness against temptations, and the performance of certain duties for acceptance with Him.

There are no victories in this kind of faith.

Such persons toil to no purpose; their souls are in continued bondage, and they find no rest until their burdens are laid at the feet of Jesus.

“God will accept every one that comes to Him trusting wholly in the merits of a crucified Saviour.

Love springs up in the heart.

There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there is an abiding, peaceful trust.

Every burden is light; for the yoke which Christ imposes is easy.

Duty becomes a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure.

The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness becomes bright with beams from the Sun of Righteousness.

This is walking in the light as Christ is in the light.”

“… lead them to behold Christ in His loveliness; then they will turn away from everything that would draw their affections away from Him.

This is the principle of the Saviour’s dealing with men; it is the principle that must be brought into the church.”

Seeing is Believing

More importantly, if we were accustomed to witnessing the transformations and miracles of victory that follow a simple trust in Jesus as Saviour, we would not even suggest that assurance of salvation destroys motivation for spiritual growth and obedience.

The only way to gain confidence in this kind of work is to see it actually happening in all of its mystifying power.

Christ Gave Assurance First

Think it through, at what point in his Christian life is it proper for one to have assurance of salvation?

None would doubt that those who are well along the Christian pathway may claim assurance.

Yet even after we become stabilized members of the church, we are still far from the ideal of Christlikeness.

We still need motivation for victories and reformation!

So if insecurity were essential to growth, assurance would never be the Christian birthright, as the scriptures declare it to be.

And if an individual is ever to have a right to the assurance of God’s love and acceptance, if he is ever to possess the assurance of eternal life, he has that right from the moment he receives Christ as His Saviour, as well as at any other moment of growth along the way.

The assurance of eternal life is based upon a relationship with Christ and not on a stage of growth, as witness Bible examples: the thief on the cross, the delivered demoniac of Gadara, the adulterous woman …, etc.

The Bible teaches that we may rejoice in the assurance of salvation all along this growing way.

Righteousness by faith is not just for better church members.

It is for every believer, from the moment he comes to Christ.

(The second chapter covers this subject more thoroughly.)

So the first secret of a new and more successful approach to witnessing will be found in presenting first the first message of the first angel—the eternal gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, bringing the believer to the assurance of eternal life.