Battle Log

On Monday the team decided to use the "Queens Birthday" public holiday to publicly declare the King's death, burial and resurrection. Due to the relaxed nature of the day, many Gospel conversations were had. 

One exciting conversation was had with an old friend, who was interested in asking some questions to understand what I believed as a Christian and why I lived as I did. It was encouraging to see an interest shown, not just in criticising but a willingness to listen and understand.

The questions began with why the team evangelises. It was explained that it is for three reasons, gratefulness to God, obedience to God and love for those who are perishing. Through a range of other questions, what Heaven and Hell was explained. Most importantly it was shared (although not in the greatest depth), that being a Christian is not about being a good person, so that God will love you. Rather it is about God loving and saving bad people, so that He may be glorified. 

All in all, it was a worthwhile engagement and hopefully there will be more questions asked in the future.

Another more conventional conversation was had with Caitlin. She noted that she had never thought about God before and it hadn't really even crossed her mind. She did mention that she had been to a Catholic school but that was about the extent of her time.

But this didn't stop her from hearing the Gospel. She was on her lunch break, so was limited in time but she happily engaged as she ate her sandwiches. The building builder analogy was given, she said this made sense. God's purpose in Creation was explained and how it is God's purpose for us, that we have willfully rebelled against and how God will hold us accountable for our actions.

She said this made sense and actually displayed worry on her face that she was not right with God but if she stood before Him that very night, she would be in trouble. Caitlin then asked how that she could be made right with God. The Gospel was explained, including the simple analogies clarifying repentance and faith and Caitlin said she would think about it as she finished her shift that afternoon.

It was a very similar conversation with Declan. He had never thought about it and with the same simple Gospel presentation he engaged, was willing to listen and said he too would consider what God has said.

A more lengthy conversation was had with Rose, a Catholic from Asia. Usually in a conversation with Catholics, the Gospel presentation is given then questions at the end are sustained. On this occasion it seemed right to come from the Old Testament to the New to consider and explain the differences between the two. 

Rose was asked what she thought saved people in the Old Testament. She shared that it was their good works, adherence to the law and subsequently sacrifices to pay for sins. It was pointed out that there is no sacrifice in all of the Old Testament that a Jew could do to pay for sin. Not one. There is no sacrifice that a Jew could do that could cover over a lie, theft, adultery. Except for "The Day of Atonement", which was a one a year sacrifice, for the entirety of the sins of Israel.

God in His mercy, had provided a "covering" (you can read Leviticus 16 for details) but this sacrifice, of a single goat, very clearly to everyone didn't cover for Israel's sin. As Hebrews points out, the blood of bulls and goats cannot atone for one single sin.

Rose was asked what she thought was meant by Jesus when He said He came not to abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfill them. She said that Jesus is simply the Messiah as promised by the Old Testament. It was explained that although that is definitely a part of what Jesus fulfilled, He was far more than that. The conversation was then taken to Leviticus 16, via Exodus, then to Hebrews 1. It was explained that in the design of the Tabernacle there was one piece of furniture missing. There were altars, candles, tables... but there was nothing on which to sit down. Why? Because the work of making atonement was never complete. The work of a priest was never done. Sin was not atoned for.

Then Hebrews was pointed out, that Jesus our Great High Priest and Atoning Sacrifice, "after making purification for sins, He sat down. For the first time in all of human history, a Priest sat down. The work of purification was finished!

This lengthy explanation took a little while for Rose to understand, with some other simple explanations she came to understand but still wasn't quite sure how it was relevant. Two final stresses were made about the word ransom. That it is the faithfulness of the one paying the ransom that saves, rather than the one being ransomed.

She had also mentioned that we make "reparation" or small atonements before God by denying ourselves in small ways (like not eating chocolate for a week or the like). It was really emphasised that Jesus' is the "atoning sacrifice".

Rose said she now understood the opposite nature of the protestant understand of the Gospel and what the Catholics teach. She was left to consider, which one accurately represented the Bible and was called to turn from trusting in herself, to surrendering to Christ.

Please be praying for the first two who asked questions, that the answers given would lead to more questions and a desire for God. Please pray that Caitlin and Declan will come to a saving knowledge of the truth, from this first occasion of hearing the Gospel. Please pray that Rose would intellectually understand the Gospel and desire to study God's Word seeking in it to find God's promises of salvation and then turn in reliance upon Christ.

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