Evangelism — Mervin Rosell

Incorrect Methods of Bible Study

Now, there are some incorrect methods of Bible study. Colossians 2, 18 and 23 tells us something about the mystical method of permitting only the priests and leaders of the church to explain the Bible.

I do not believe God gave us a Bible to be exclusively handled by the clergy. And that's why I'm so delighted that everybody seems to be getting hands-on Bibles these days. Then there's the allegorical method, charging that the Bible is only a riddle and we've got to sort of figure it out.

Well, the answer to that is 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17, and you'll find what God says. Then there's the rationalistic method, excluding all supernatural things. Great number of people like to follow this, nature as a standard and reason as a guide, as if man designed the book.

1 Corinthians 2, 14 has an answer to this. Then there's extreme literalism, a method accepting even the sinner's word as gospel truth. If we took the book of Ecclesiastes, for instance, which is indicative of man's wisdom and not God's judgment, God's statement of truth, and made the book of Ecclesiastes the sunnum bonum of all that God had to say on any given subject, we would certainly be missing the mark.

First John 4, 1 to 10, read it. Second Peter 2, 1 to 3, and pick up verse 9. Philippians 3, 2 to 7. Galatians 3, 3, and also pick up verse 11. And then read carefully Galatians 1, 6 to 9, and take time to look at those Bible portions.

You'll be absolutely amazed at how clearly they explain why incorrect methods will never give you a satisfying answer for God's truth in your study of the Bible. Now there are certain hindrances in Bible study.

Hindrances to Sound Bible Study

For instance, a lot of people in my earlier years used to say Mussolini was going to be the Antichrist. And, oh, the desire for applause. In order to say some exciting thing, people just guess at certain items.

The desire for applause will always hinder you in a good, solid judgment. Irregular study, just picking up hit or miss verses 3, favoritism or prejudice, or having a preconceived notion of how it ought to be.

This will destroy the inductive method of studying the Bible. And then, of course, sectarianism. If you just happen to say, well, it's going to be a Baptist way or nobody's, it's going to be a Methodist way or nobody's, it's going to be a Catholic way or nothing.

I think what you have to do is simply take your Bible, and here are some helps. Number one, common sense, a logical ear to perceive thought harmony. Two, faith in the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God.

Three, mental industry, be Bible Bereans, Acts 17, 10, and 11. Obedience, number four, Colossians 4, 16, read that. And then 2 Timothy 3, 14 to 17, obey that. You know, it's easier to be original than right.

So be careful, read exactly, don't confuse names, check the original, and follow a concordance to find out what the whole Bible says about any given subject. Well, there's so much to say, it's hard to say it in five brief minutes.

Witnessing to Others About Jesus Christ

Now, let me talk to you about winning other people to Jesus Christ. It's so simple, such a wonderful experience. Just to tell what Christ did in your own life. Don't preach, just be a good witness. You saw an accident, they wouldn't ask you to analyze the accident.

They would simply say, what did you see? And if you can't clinch the transaction in trying to lead someone to the Lord, take your prospect to the best Christian worker you know. Just get him all primed, and as you work for Christ, and win your friends, and warn your friends, and witness to your friends, day by day, have an understanding with somebody who knows how to answer some problems.

And just say, well, George, I'll be bringing you somebody very soon. I'm working on a friend of mine, and trying to lead him to a saving knowledge of the Lord. Do it now, do it today. D .L. Moody used to witness to one person every day of his life.

You see, if you'd witness to one every day, you're almost sure to win one every week, and that would be 52 deciders for the Lord this year. And if 100 people like you got busy in your church, there would be 5 ,000 and more deciders.

It would be like it is in Indonesia now. So many people believing on the island of Java that we hardly have enough evangelical ministers to perform the testimony of baptism. And I am so grateful that you are a witness.

Stay with it. The Bible says, Proverbs 11, 30, He that wineth souls is wise. And Ezekiel 3, 18, When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die. And Thou givest him not warning to save his life. The same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand.

That shakes me, that shakes me. I used to talk to young friends of mine when I was first a Christian about boxing and about racing cars and about everything else except Jesus Christ. And then when they began to die, I began to realize, year after year after year, how many of them I had missed.

I wonder what your sphere of influence is. You want to be a wise man, win people to Jesus Christ. I hope it's true that 100 ,000 or maybe a quarter of a million young men and women will be in heaven because I have told them about Jesus Christ.

But even if it were only 100 or only one, it would be a glorious thing. For that one would be there because of the witness I have made for our Redeemer. I have in front of me a picture on my desk of Tride Dowell, 16 years of age, 6 foot 3, 205 pounds, sophomore in high school, who came to me one night at 7 o 'clock and said, I just can't get the squad to come and hear you preach.

I just, I can't even get my gang to come and hear the music of this crusade. And if I have to die to get my high school to know Jesus Christ, I'd rather die than live. We got on our knees, three of us, to pray.

I wish you could have heard that young man pray, Oh God, if I have to die to get them saved, I've got to see my friends in heaven instead of hell. Well, he was in the service that meeting after I had prayed with him.

And at 10 o 'clock he was dead, a three-car collision, hopped up car that he was riding in with a friend, flipped over, and the newspapers carried the story. Tride Dowell, the hottest football star in the Imperial Valley, killed in accident.

And then the story, when they went to his home to find out the truth of the matter and what happened before, his mother said, the last thing I heard him say was that he was going down to get on his knees with that preacher.

He said he'd rather die than see his high school go to hell. What was the result? Over 500 of his friends were in that memorial service. And scores will be in glory because Tride Dowell, even in his death, became a soul winner onto eternal life.

A Definite Decision to Trust Christ

Now let me take five minutes with you, if I may, to talk to you about some of the questions people have regarding a definite decision for the Lord Jesus Christ. In the inside of the back cover of the little book called A Hundred Hours With Your Bible, I have written a contract.

Now it may seem altogether too definite for some of you who might be listening to me, not you of course, but somebody might be disturbed by it unless you realize that just as you sign in the contract for insurance or the purchase of a home, so also the definite decision to trust Jesus Christ sometimes has added value in reality and understanding when a person sees it on a page.

And so I've written a contract which simply says, you're part of the contract. After reading these pages, this is my decision. Now notice how sharply worded it is, and if you happen to have the booklet in front of you, you'll see that under almost every single word, every major word, is a scriptural reference.

And it simply says this, admitting that I am a guilty, lost, helpless, and judgment-bound sinner, but believing that the Lord Jesus Christ, on Calvary's cross, paid for my sin, took my place, and died for me, I now in simple faith receive Him to be my own personal Savior, and shall confess Him as my Lord before the world.

Then I've added a little line which says, I will begin each day with prayer and Bible study. I will immediately take my stand to serve Christ in His Church. Now let me explain why I have added this extra page in the inside of the back cover.

Simply because so many people vaguely understand the Gospel of Christ, and are hesitant about assuring their own hearts that all is well. Therefore under each of these words, like admitting that I'm a guilty, lost, helpless, and judgment-bound sinner, under the word admitting, I have Luke 18 .13.

Under the word guilty, Romans 3 .19, all the world is guilty before Him. Under the word lost, 2 Corinthians 4 .4. Under the word helpless, Romans 5 .6. Under the words judgment-bound sinner, Mark 9 .43 .48, Revelation 21 .8, which is a very serious verse.

Romans 3 .10 -19 and 23, the fact that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And then under the word believing, Acts 16 .31, Romans 4 .5, the simplicity of believing, and Philippians 2 .6 -11.

And then under the words the Lord Jesus Christ, John 5 .1 and Matthew 1 .21. And under the words Calvary's cross, Luke 23 .33 -46 and 1 Peter 2 .25. And Isaiah 53 .5 -6, how at Calvary's cross Christ paid for my sins.

Romans 4 .25, took my place, 2 Corinthians 5 .21. Died for me, 1 Corinthians 15 .3 and Galatians 2 .20. I now in simple faith, 2 Corinthians 6 .2 and Ephesians 2 .8 and 9, by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves.

It is the gift of God. I simply receive him, John 1 .12, to as many as received him. To them gave he power to become the children of God. As my own personal Savior, 2 Timothy 1 .12, Isaiah 12 .2, John 17, 1 John 5.

And shall confess him, John 10 .27 and Romans 10 .9 and 10. Confess him as Lord before the world, 1 Corinthians 12 .3. And then beginning each day with prayer, Mark 1 .35. And Bible study, Philippians 4 .6 and 7.

And take my stand to serve Christ, Acts 2 .42 and 44 in his church, 1 John 1 .3. Now that took five minutes to explain, but it is one of the most valuable sentences you will ever read in your life. You may be puzzled about how to lead someone to Jesus Christ and just what order of mental application you ought to have prepared ahead of time.

Seven Steps for Leading Someone to Christ

I have a little series of, oh, five or six or seven statements. Number one, I always pray with the seeker. Number two, I diagnose the need. Number three, I always answer with Bible. It's irrefutable. Number four, I always avoid any controversy whatsoever.

Number five, I concentrate on Christ. Number six, I clinch the decision. And number seven, I thank God that the transaction is accomplished. It's a real decision. Now let me talk to you about those seven points, if I may.

Praying With the Seeker

When you're trying to lead someone to Christ, sometimes you get into a deep argument and you discuss things that are totally irrelevant. And I can recall in Long Beach, California, a very dear friend of mine, Carl Williams, argued with a man for an hour at the end of a crusade service.

He said, Merv, this man needs the Lord, but we don't seem to come to terms. I said to the gentleman, would you like to accept Christ? He said, I sure would. I said, kneel down. We knelt down. I prayed for him.

He wept and received the Lord in great simplicity. And Carl said, I never saw anything like it. Well, oftentimes, prayer, simple, warm, elementary prayer with the one who is hungry to know God is the beginning.

And take time to pray. Just open your heart for the one you love and the one you're trying to lead to the Lord. Then second, if there are any problems, diagnose the need. Like a doctor, listen to what that person has to say.

Don't do all of the talking. Sometimes you'll find that what the person needs is reassurance. Sometimes you'll find that the person needs to know that God will forgive. And as you listen to his words in the conversation or hers, you can diagnose the need almost instantly.

You can put your finger on the one thing that seems to bother that person. And maybe it'll be the story of some misunderstanding during years gone by. So diagnose the need. Then number three, keep your Bible open.

Answering With Scripture and Avoiding Controversy

Answer with your Bible. And you don't need to quote a hundred verses. A half a dozen simple, straightforward verses will do. But let your Bible lie on your lap as you talk or on the desk as you're chatting.

And keep it in your hand so that this person will know it's not what you think but what God says. Then number four, avoid any controversy. If that person wants to talk about some denominational controversy or some doctrinal issue, don't argue.

You'll never win the person when you're anxious to win the point. It's better to win the person. And then number five, concentrate on Christ. Talk about the Lord Jesus. Get it in your own mind and heart that the Lord Jesus has come to seek and to save that one which is lost.

And the Lord Jesus is there, present as you are concerned about the one nearby. And keep driving toward a decision to receive Jesus Christ, to allow him to forgive. Don't argue about a set of words that they must say, but stay with the fact that there has to be a decision, a clean-cut decision to allow Jesus Christ right of way in the heart.

Total forgiveness, complete surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. And this will come. Sometimes you can get overwhelmed by thinking about it, but it will come. And then when the person does accept the Lord Jesus, get excited about it.

Thank God it's done. Don't be so blasé as to say, well, bless your heart, that's fine now, go on, do the best you can. Really get down to business and pray a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Heavenly Father, how glad we are that Susan has made this decision.

How thankful I am that my long-time friend Harry has finally yielded to Jesus Christ for salvation. Get excited about it. Thank God it's done. And in these simple seven points, you'll find an outline that you can follow in directing people to a definite decision for Jesus Christ.

Hermeneutics and the Discipline of Bible Study

Do it today, will you? Now today we're going to begin what I call hermeneutics, one of the most exciting studies that ever captured and captivated my mind a few decades ago when I was in the seminary.

I had some Bible teachers that were just merely men, but fantastically yielded Bible students. The great teachers like Dr. Robert L. Moyer who got up and read his Greek New Testament at five o 'clock each morning and then carefully and practically taught us Bible.

Dr. William B. Riley, the great debater that was so respected that William Jennings Bryan said he was the greatest pulpit orator of his day. And then, of course, men like Dr. Arno C. Gaebelein, Dr. Harry Rimmer, Dr. Gray of the Moody Bible Institute, Dr. Norman B. Harrison.

Oh, the names run on. The days of my boyhood gave me a chance to hear men like Beterwolf. And, of course, the teachings, the elegant teachings of the theologians, Lewis Perry Chaffer and many others. And we thank God for solid Bible-based beginnings.

And I often say what a pleasure it is to look back and say, theologically, we have never had to clean up a single paragraph we have preached or taught or written in all of these decades. And it's not because of my intelligence, but because we had very good and cautious Bible teachers.

Now, one of the great studies of my younger years was the study of hermeneutics. Dr. Robert L. Moyer organized it for us. Later on, it was taught and carefully taught by his successor, Dr. J. Edwin Hartle.

And if you'd like a very deep study on it, I would say that you should buy the book called Principles of Biblical Hermeneutics by Dr. J. Edwin Hartle. And you'll receive that through the Zondervan Publishing House.

I merely want to go into my little book here. I've listed a few of these principles. And then let me talk to you as if we were studying the Bible on the basis of its principles together. Now, hermeneutics is a science, simply the science of interpreting the Bible.

The words derive from a Greek god, Hermes, who was the messenger and herald of the gods and the interpreter of Jupiter. And biblically, as we study these principles, we find out how to interpret and how to use the terminology which is proper in understanding the Bible.

Our aim is to make known the different principles of Bible study which must be followed if you're going to be a true and worthy student of the word of the living God. And you've got to rightly divide the word of truth, as the scripture says.

Principles for Interpreting the Bible

Now, let me just pause long enough to say that there are certain principles. I have listed some of them in page 12 here of 100 hours with your Bible. The context principle. God gives light on every subject through near or remote passages, bearing on the same theme.

The first rule in solving a puzzling statement anywhere in the Bible is to analyze the verses or paragraphs surrounding it, then examine every portion relating to it. Never lift a verse from its context.

1 Corinthians 2, 12, and 13. And this is a rule, a great rule, of Bible study. I'll deal with it more in just a little while. The application principle also obtains personal application of truth should be made only after correct interpretation has been determined and declared.

See the narration, interpretation, and application of, let's say, 2 Samuel 9, and Kings 5, and Joshua 2, and you will begin to realize how these things can be applied. Then there's the direct statement principle, the agreement principle.

Oh, I could name a great number of others, and I think we ought to deal with some of these principles as we read this book. The ethnic division principle, the discrimination principle, the predictive principle, the typical principle, the principle of human willingness and illumination, first-mention principle, full-mention principle, these amazing principles of Bible study.

Well, let's study them together, just as the great scholar Dr. Moyer gave them to us years ago. Well, we're studying hermeneutics, Bible study principles, or laws that sort of govern our understanding of the Bible.

Correct Bible divisions to protect against false teachings, to explain seeming contradictions, to promote sound understanding, to assure spiritual growth. Distinguish these divisions and you'll understand the Bible.

Biblical History, Redemption, and the Covenant Principle

Here's an interesting little summary. This earth created perfect by God, Genesis 1 .1. Visited by Satan, who'd been cast down from heaven, Ezekiel 28. Blurred by sin, retouched by God, was made for and by Jesus, the Son of God, Colossians 1, 16, 19, Hebrews 1, 1 and 14, John 1, 1 to 10.

And this Jesus later took the form of man, Philippians 2, 6 to 8, died the death of the cross, Matthew 27 or John 19, that God, through Jesus Christ, should reconcile a lost humanity, Romans 3, 19 to 28, John 3, 16, and through the infinite workings of a gracious divine plan, Jesus shows man God's love.

Isn't that beautiful? I don't think we'd argue about dispensations or administrations or stewardship or order or economy if we simply put it on the basis that God has everlastingly sought after the soul of man.

And God has wanted to make a covenant with man again and again. There is a covenant principle throughout the Bible. Actually, the definition is an agreement or a contract between men and between men and God, usually.

God, in grace, undertaking to do things for men, sort of a compact or a fetter which binds them together. And again and again, in fact, there are entire groups of people in the world who call themselves covenanters, some of the great Bible scholars who say if we obey God and follow his formula, then God will do certain things for us.

You remember Exodus 19, 5 and Genesis 9, 11. Now, one was conditional and the other one was unconditional, but it was God's formula. And, of course, we have the Noahic covenant and the sign of the rainbow, the Mosaic covenant, sign of the Sabbath, the Abrahamic covenant, the sign of circumcision, which was unconditional, the Davidic covenant, the sign of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

And then we can come down through the years, the Edenic covenant. You remember God's covenant in the Garden of Eden with all of its implications. Man is responsible to replenish the earth, to subdue the earth, to have dominion over the earth, to restrict himself, to dress the garden, to keep the garden.

Conditions of the covenant were so clear to abstain from eating of the tree. Failure to do this resulted in physical death. And then, of course, the conclusion of this whole affair described in Genesis 1, 28 through 30 and 2, 15 through 17 was the expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

So there's the Edenic covenant, a majestic study of, should we say, application for our own hearts and lives. Then there's the Adamic covenant. We read about it in Genesis 3, 14 to 19, the constitution of this covenant made with Adam in Eden before the expulsion, unconditional.

It consists of a curse and a promise, and God has given us description of it in verse 14 there, the curse, and the judgment in verse 16, the judgment of the woman there, and in 17, the judgment of the man, and in 18, the curse of creation.

Most amazing, these covenants that God has made with men, the Noahic covenant. God made a covenant with Noah, Genesis 8, 20 through 9, 17. The Abrahamic covenant, Genesis 12, 1 to 3, and all the way through the most amazing implications which, of course, have marked history.

And then finally the Mosaic covenant described in our Bible so clearly not only in the Old Testament but also in the New Testament, Deuteronomy 28, 49, 50, and 53. Deuteronomy 28, 37 particularly there should be read, and how God would make them an astonishment all over the world.

I haven't time to study this with you but we ought to mention the Davidic covenant, 2 Samuel 7, 8 to 19, and then the Palestinian covenant, Deuteronomy 30, 1 to 10, and finally the new covenant, the resurrection, eternal completeness in Christ, Jeremiah 31, 31, and Hebrews 8, 8, and Jeremiah gives us the background story, and Hebrews 8, 8 to 12 tells us the whole story of what this means to us.

A new covenant, the promise of sanctification, a promise of the knowledge of God, and the whole conclusion running beyond the millennium into a new heaven and a new earth. Oh, we have taken more than five minutes on this one.