Two Sides to Every Coin
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These coins are a great tool for evangelism. Everybody loves them, whether you hand them out, leave them for people to find or tactfully place them around town (ATM's a personal favourite). On one side of the coin is imprinted the 10 Commandments with James 2:10 engraved around the edge ("For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all"). On the other side is written the good news of Christ with John 3:16 engraved around the edge ("For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life"). Together they make up the full gospel. We should always present the full gospel - both sides of the coin.
Ephesians 2:14-18
This verse states that the law is our tutor, to bring us to Christ. Its purpose is to show us how sinful we are so that we may cling to the forgiveness of Christ.
When telling others about Christ we must be sure to give them both sides of the coin, not just one side. However, we must also pray for wisdom and good judgement that we approach people from the right side of the coin first.
What is the purpose of the law? As stated, it is to humble us so that we may jump into the arms of our Saviour and be saved from the grips of sin. James 4:6 says "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." To receive God's grace we must humbly accept Him and realise that we cannot find forgiveness by our own way. If we are proud to this fact, we will not be able to accept His great gift.
Which brings us back to us needing to know which side of the coin to preach. If you are speaking to a proud person, which is usually somebody who appears to have everything in order in terms of relationships and money, then 9 times out of 10 you can be sure that you need to approach that person law side-up. These guys don't care about the love of Jesus. Not because they are against it, but simply because they don't think they need it. They think they get by just fine by themselves. We musn't approach these guys in a 'turn or burn' hell fire and brimstone type way, but in a loving way to show them that although it seems like they have it all figured out, they fall way short of Gods standards and that this life won't last forever. Take them through some of the commandments and they will start to realise the impossible standards God requires. Then, when they realise they need a Saviour, build them up with the good news and the love of Christ.
On the other hand, if you are approaching broken and downtrodden people, you don't want to remind them of how low they have fallen. Usually, they will already know! Myself and a few guys go out each week to speak with the homeless people. We don't lecture them on sin because they already know that they are sinners. They know first hand about sin. Instead, we approach them with the grace side-up of the coin and tell them about the love of Christ. These guys usually have poor self-esteem. They are already humble and ready to receive God's gift of grace.
We should make sure we preach both sides of the coin. But use your wisdom, sometimes your approach will depend upon who you are speaking to.
-BACChristian
Ephesians 2:14-18
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Ephesians 2 (and the whole of the New Testament, pretty much!) tells us that it is through the grace of God and the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ that we can be forgiven. However, people need to know what they are being forgiven from!
Galatians 3:24 states"24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
When telling others about Christ we must be sure to give them both sides of the coin, not just one side. However, we must also pray for wisdom and good judgement that we approach people from the right side of the coin first.
What is the purpose of the law? As stated, it is to humble us so that we may jump into the arms of our Saviour and be saved from the grips of sin. James 4:6 says "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." To receive God's grace we must humbly accept Him and realise that we cannot find forgiveness by our own way. If we are proud to this fact, we will not be able to accept His great gift.
Which brings us back to us needing to know which side of the coin to preach. If you are speaking to a proud person, which is usually somebody who appears to have everything in order in terms of relationships and money, then 9 times out of 10 you can be sure that you need to approach that person law side-up. These guys don't care about the love of Jesus. Not because they are against it, but simply because they don't think they need it. They think they get by just fine by themselves. We musn't approach these guys in a 'turn or burn' hell fire and brimstone type way, but in a loving way to show them that although it seems like they have it all figured out, they fall way short of Gods standards and that this life won't last forever. Take them through some of the commandments and they will start to realise the impossible standards God requires. Then, when they realise they need a Saviour, build them up with the good news and the love of Christ.
On the other hand, if you are approaching broken and downtrodden people, you don't want to remind them of how low they have fallen. Usually, they will already know! Myself and a few guys go out each week to speak with the homeless people. We don't lecture them on sin because they already know that they are sinners. They know first hand about sin. Instead, we approach them with the grace side-up of the coin and tell them about the love of Christ. These guys usually have poor self-esteem. They are already humble and ready to receive God's gift of grace.
We should make sure we preach both sides of the coin. But use your wisdom, sometimes your approach will depend upon who you are speaking to.
-BACChristian
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