Emeal Zwayne (“E.Z.”): When you look at the theological
instruction within the Epistles and within the rest of the New Testament,
the Law is used - we are encouraged to use the Law. The Law is a school master that brings us
to Christ (Galatians 3:24). By the Law is
the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20), and so on and so forth.
So, it is important for people to know that and not try to pick and choose.
Ray Comfort: So on and so forth are great fillers. E.Z.: So on and so forth [Laughs]
Ray: Why not just do it. E.Z.: Yeah, on forth and so on.
E.Z.: Alright, we are going to go now to a video clip.
Ray: I think I might have heard this before.
E.Z.: It is you! Let us roll it!
Ray: Modern evangelism therefore had to find another reason for sinners to respond to the gospel
and the issue that modern evangelism chose was the issue of life enhancement.
The gospel degenerated into Jesus Christ will give you peace, joy,
love, fulfillment,
and lasting happiness. Now to illustrate the unscriptural nature of this very
popular teaching,
we would like you to listen very carefully to this following anecdote,
because the essence of what we are saying pivots on this particular point.
Kirk: Two men are seated on a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put it on,
because it would improve his flight. Now, the guy is a little skeptical at first,
because he can not see how putting a parachute on in a plane
could possibly improve his flight. But after a while, he decides to experiment and see
if the claim is true.
And as he puts it on, he notices the weight of it on his shoulders
and the fact that he can not sit straight up, but he comforts himself with the fact
that he was told the parachute would improve his flight
and so he decides to give the thing a little time. And as he waits,
he notices that some of the other passengers are laughing at him.
And as they continue to point and laugh,
he finally can not stand it any longer, he slinks (slips) out of his seat,
unstraps the parachute and throws it on the floor! Bitterness and disillusionment
fill his heart,
because as far as he is concerned he was told an outright lie!
Ray: The second man is given a parachute,
but listen to what he was told. He was told to put it on,
because at any moment he would be jumping 25,000 feet
out of the plane. He gratefully puts the parachute on
and does not notice the weight upon his shoulders
nor that he can not sit upright.
His mind is consumed with the thought of what would happened to him,
if he jumped without that parachute.
Kirk: Now let us analyze the motive
and the result of both passengers’ experience. The first man put
on the parachute solely to improve his flight
and the result of his experience was that he was humiliated by the other passengers.
He was disillusioned and bitter towards those who gave him the parachute.
As far as he is concerned, it will be a long time before someone gets one of those
things on his back again. Now, the second man put on a parachute solely to escape
the jump to come.
And because of his knowledge of what would happened to him without the parachute,
He has a deep-rooted
joy and peace in his heart, knowing that he is going to be saved
from sure death. This knowledge gives him the ability
to withstand the mockery from the other passengers and his attitude toward those who
gave him the parachute is one of heartfelt gratitude.
Ray: Now listen to what the modern gospel says.
It says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, He will give you love, joy, peace, fulfillment,
and lasting happiness.” In other words, Jesus will improve your flight.
So, the sinner responds and in an experimental fashion
puts on the Savior to see if the claims are true. And what does he get?
The promised temptation, tribulation, and persecution.
The other passengers mock him. So what does he do? He takes off the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is offended for the Word’s sake, he is disillusioned and somewhat embittered,
and quite rightly so. He was promised peace, joy, love, fulfillment
and lasting happiness but only got the trials and humiliation.
His bitterness is directed at those that gave him the so-called,
“good news,” his latter end becomes worst
than the first - another inoculated and bitter backslider.
End