Hell's Best Kept Secret (French) — Ray Comfort

Christian ministries around the world have come together to create the International Curriculum. These teachings are to help the Church in different nations and to equip Christians in the comprehension of their faith in order to become active servants of Jesus Christ.

Personal Evangelization and the Problem of Shallow Decisions

This teaching is entitled Personal Evangelization. This is the first session taught by Ray Comfort. My name is Ray Comfort. I'm going to share a teaching with you called Hell's Best Kept Secret. Hello, my name is Ray Comfort and I'm going to talk to you today about Hell's Best Kept Secret.

In the 1970s, God opened an itinerant ministry to me. And when I traveled, I discovered with horror that up to 80 of those making a decision for Christ were falling away from the faith. Let me bring it up to date for you.

In 1991, a major denomination was able to obtain 294 ,000 decisions for Christ. They could only find 14 ,000 in fellowship. In other words, they couldn't account for 280 ,000 of their decisions. This is normal, modern evangelical results.

I discovered this way back in the 70s. So I made it a matter of prayer and began to study the gospel proclamations. I began to study in the Bible what was the reason or what was the difference with their evangelization proclamations.

And what was the difference with Charlotte Spurgeon in England or John Wesley? And how God used them in a powerful way in the world. And I discovered that there was a principle there that is practically ignored by the evangelization that we do now in our society.

The Law Makes the Gospel Good News

And the Bible tells us that the law of the Lord is perfect. That it converts the soul. And to illustrate what the law of God accomplishes, let's look at the Civil War. Imagine that I say to you, I have good news for you.

Someone has just paid a $25 ,000 speeding fine on your behalf. You'd probably react by saying, that's not good news. Because it doesn't make sense. Because I don't have a $25 ,000 speeding fine. That would be foolishness.

But more than that, it would be offensive to you. Because I'm insinuating you've broken the law when you don't think you have. But if I put it this way, it may make more sense. On your way to this meeting, the police, the law, clocked you at going 55 miles an hour through an area set aside for a blind children's convention.

There were 10 clear warning signs stating that 15 miles an hour was the maximum speed. But you went straight through at 55 miles an hour. What you did was extremely dangerous. It was a $25 ,000 fine. The law was about to take its course when someone you don't even know stepped in and paid the fine for you.

You are very fortunate. Can you see that telling you what you've done wrong first actually makes the good news? If someone paying the fine for you makes sense, if I don't clearly bring instruction that you've violated the law, then the good news will seem foolishness and offensive.

If I clearly bring instruction that you've violated the law, then that good news will become good news indeed. Now in the same way, if I approach an impenitent sinner, someone whose understanding has darkened, and say, Jesus Christ died on the cross for you, it'll be foolishness to him, and offensive to him.

Foolishness because it won't make sense. The Bible says that. It says the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness. And it'll be offensive to him because I'm insinuating he's a sinner when he doesn't think he is.

As far as he's concerned, there are a lot of people worse than him. If I follow in the footsteps of Jesus, it may make more sense. If I take up the time to open up the divine law, to open up the ten commandments, and show the sinner precisely what he's done wrong, then what he becomes, as James says, convinced of the law as a transgressor, the good news will not be foolishness, it will not be offensive, it will be the power of God unto salvation.

The Law Reveals Sin and Leads to Christ

Now with those few thoughts in mind, by way of introduction, let's look at Romans 3 verse 19. We're looking at God's word to see what it says about the law in Romans 3 verse 19. Now we know that lots of the things the law says says to everyone under the law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world, not just the Jews, but all the world may be found guilty before God.

So one function of God's law is to stop sinners' mouths and leave them guilty before God. Following verse, Romans 3 verse 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall be no delight to be justified in His sight.

For by the law is the knowledge of sin. So God's law tells us what sin is. 1 John says sin is transgression of the law. Now let's look at Romans 7 verse 7. Romans 7 verse 7 says Paul speaking. What shall we say then?

Is the law sin? God forbid. No, I had not known sin but by the law. Paul says he didn't know what sin was because I had not known transgression until the law told him. And over in Galatians 3 verse 24 says these words.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith. So the law acts as a schoolmaster to bring us to Jesus Christ that we might be justified through faith in His blood.

The law doesn't help us leaves us helpless doesn't justify us just leaves us guilty before the judgment of our Almighty God. Now the tragedy of modern evangelism is that around the turn of the century when it forsook the law and its capacity to drive sinners to Christ modern evangelism 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 and fulfillment and illustrate the unscriptural nature of this very popular teaching.

The Parable of the Two Parachutes

I want you to listen very carefully because the essence of what I'm saying pivots on this next story. Two men were seated in a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put it on because it will improve his flight.

He's a little skeptical at first because he can't see how bringing a parachute in a plane could possibly improve the flight. After a time he decides to experiment and see if it remains true. As he puts it on he notices the weight upon his shoulders.

He finds he has difficulty in sitting upright. However he consoles himself because he was told the parachute would improve the flight. So he decides to give the thing a little time. He notices that some of the other passengers are laughing at him because he's wearing a parachute in a plane.

He begins to feel somewhat humiliated as they begin to point and laugh at him. He can't stand it no longer. He slinks in his seat and straps the parachute and throws it to the floor. Disillusionment and bitterness fill his heart because as far as he was concerned he was told an outright lie.

The second man with a parachute listen to what he's told. He's told to put it on because at any moment he'll be jumping 25 ,000 feet out of the plane and he'll put his parachute on. He doesn't notice the weight upon his shoulders.

Not that he can't get up with difficulty because his mind is consumed by a thought when he jumps out of the plane with his parachute. Notice the motivation and the results of each passenger's experience.

The first motivation for the first person to put on the parachute was the following. It was simply to improve his flight. The result of his experience was that he was humiliated by the other passengers.

He was disillusioned and somewhat bitter towards those who gave him the parachute. As far as he's concerned it'll be a long time before anyone gets one of those things on his back again. The second man with the parachute solely to escape the jump to come and because of his knowledge of what would happen to him without it he has a deep-rooted joy and peace in his heart knowing that he's saved from sure death.

This knowledge gives him the ability to withstand the mockery of the other passengers. His attitude towards those who gave him the parachute is one of heartfelt gratitude. Now listen to what the Mother of God will say.

She says, put on the Lord Jesus Christ. He'll give you love, joy, peace, fulfilment and lasting happiness. So the sinner responds in an experimental fashion puts on the Saviour to see if the claims are true.

And what does he get? The promise of temptation, tribulation and persecution. The other passengers mock him. So what does he do? He takes off the Lord Jesus Christ. He's offended for the word's sake. He's disillusioned and somewhat unbidded.

And quite rightly so. He was promised peace, joy, love, fulfilment and lasting happiness. And all he got was trials and humiliation. His bitterness is directed at those who gave him the so-called good news.

His latter end becomes worse than the first. Another inoculated and bitter backslider. Saints, instead of preaching that Jesus improves the flight we should be warning the passengers that they're going to have to jump out of the plane.

Repentance, Judgment, and the True Motive for Faith

That it's appointed a man once to die and after this the judgment. And when a sinner understands the horrific consequences of breaking God's law then he will flee to the Saviour so that he can escape the wrath that's to come.

And if we're true and faithful witnesses that's what we should be preaching. That there's wrath to come. That God commands all men everywhere to repent because he's appointed a day in which he'll judge the world in righteousness.

You see, the issue isn't one of happiness it's one of righteousness. It doesn't matter how happy a sinner is how much he's enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season. Without the righteousness of Christ he'll perish on the day of wrath.

Scripture says riches profit not on the day of wrath but righteousness delivers from death. Peace and joy are legitimate fruits of salvation. But it's not legitimate to use these fruits as a drawcard for salvation.

If we continue to do so sinners will respond with an impure motive lacking repentance. Now, can you remember why the second passenger had joy and peace? It was because he knew that parachute was going to save him from sure death.

And as a believer I have joy and peace in believing because I know that the righteousness of Christ is going to deliver me from the wrath that's to come. Now, with that thought in mind let's take a close look at an incident on board the plane.

Perseverance Through Trials

We have a brand new stewardess. She's carrying a tray of boiling hot coffee. It's her first day. She wants to leave an impression on the passengers. And she certainly does. Because as she's walking down the aisle she trips over someone's foot and slops that boiling hot coffee all over the lap of our second passenger.

What's his reaction as that boiling liquid hits his tender flesh? Does he go, phew, that's hot? Oh yeah, he feels the pain. But then does he rip the parachute from his shoulders throw it on the floor and say, the stupid parachute?

No. Why should he? He didn't put the parachute on for a bit of flight. He put it on to save him from the jump to come. The very thing, the hot coffee incident causes the cling tights of the parachute and he won't fall into the jump.

If you and I put on the Lord Jesus Christ for the right motive to flee from the wrath that's to come the tribulation strikes but it's like it's bumpy we won't get angry at God we won't lose our joy and peace.

Why should we? We didn't come to Jesus for a happy lifestyle we came to flee from the wrath that's to come and if anything, tribulation drives the true believer closer to the Savior. There's literally a multitude of professing Christians who lose their joy and peace when the flight gets bumpy.

Why? Because they're the product of modern evangelism and they came lacking repentance without which you cannot be saved. You see, there's no way I'm going to take a cure unless I first admit I've got the disease.

Why should I take a cure if I don't believe I've got the disease? The law convinces me I'm diseased so they'll accept the gospel. Now, biblical evangelism is always law to the proud and grace to the humble.

Law to the Proud and Grace to the Humble

Never will you see Jesus giving the gospel the cross the grace of our God to a proud, arrogant, self-righteous person. No, the law, he breaks the higher heart and with the gospel, he heals the broken heart.

Why? Because he always did those things that pleased the Father. God resists the proud and his grace to the humble. Everyone who is proud of heart is an abomination to the Lord. Jesus told us through the gospels.

He said, the spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has appointed me to preach the gospel to the poor the broken hearted the captives and the blind and their spiritual statements. The poor means those who are poor in spirit.

The broken hearted are the contrite ones those that mourn. The captives are those of whom Satan has taken captive and the blind are those whom the God of this world has blinded. Only the sick need a physician and only those who are convinced of the disease will accept the cure.

Now, Luke 10 .25 we see Jesus doing this giving the law to the proud. Now, let me paraphrase this somewhat for you. In Luke 10 .25 a certain lawyer stood up and came to Jesus. Here we have a professing expert in God's law standing up and tempting the Son of God.

He was proud, arrogant and self-righteous. So Jesus gave him the law and said, what is your law? What is your reading of it? And he said You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and you shall love your neighbour as yourself.

And then Jesus said This do and you shall live. And then the Bible says. But he willing to justify himself said to Jesus. Who is my neighbour? The living Bible brings out more clearly the effect of the law on that man.

The man wanted to justify his lack of love for some kinds of people. So he said to Jesus. Which neighbours? See, he didn't mind Jews but he didn't like Samaritans. So Jesus told him the story of what we call the good Samaritan who was not good at all.

When he loved his neighbours himself he merely obeyed the basic requirements of God's law. And the effect of the essence of the law the spirituality of the law of what the law demanded in truth was to stop that man's mouth.

He didn't say another word because he didn't love his neighbour to that degree. Remember the law was given to stop every mouth and leave the whole world guilty before God. We read a similar thing in Luke 18 verse 18.

We won't turn to it for the sake of time. But the rich young ruler said he had kept the commandments. So Jesus used the first of the ten commandments. I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.

To show this man that his God was his money. You cannot serve God and mammon. So we see the Lord of the proud. Then we see grace being given to the humble. In the case of Nicodemus who was a humble Jew who acknowledged the deity of the Son of God.

He was a teacher in Israel. So he obviously knew the law. And the law was a schoolmaster to bring this godly Jew to Christ. Same with the case of Nathanael and John 1. He was an Israelite Brought up under the law.

He was an Israelite indeed Not just in words. And there was no deceit in his heart. And the law was a schoolmaster to bring this godly Jew to Christ. Same with the Jews on the day of Pentecost. These were devout Jews From every nation on the earth.

So therefore they drank and slept God's law. And the law was a schoolmaster to bring 3 ,000 to Christ. In 1 Timothy 1 verse 8 Tells us once again what God's law is used for. 1 Timothy 1 verse 8 says. But we know that the law is good If it is used lawfully.

For the purpose for which it was designed. What was the law designed for? The following verse tells us. It says the law was not made for the righteous But for sinners. It even lists the sinners. Homosexuals.

Porn-haters. If you want to bring a homosexual to Christ Give him the 10 commandments. Show him his sins against God Despite his perversion. If you want to bring a Muslim to Christ Muslims accept Moses as a prophet.

Give them the law of Moses. And strip them of their self-righteousness. Show them that God requires truth in the inward parts. The Bible is filled with examples Of the law doing its work in evangelism.

Think of the woman caught in the act of adultery. The law called for her blood. Her only avenue was to fling herself at the feet of Jesus. And that's the function of God's law. Paul spoke of being shut up under the law.

But just so you can't condemn sinners. They are already condemned. He that believes not is condemned already, Scripture says. Now, normally in this teaching I go through the 10 commandments. But it may be more practical for you.

Practical Evangelism and the Ten Commandments

If I share with you how I share my faith. I'm a strong believer in following the example of Jesus. Give a notice to John chapter 4. When Jesus approached the woman at the well. He spoke in the net of the woman.

He spoke in the natural realm first. So that's what I do. I go up to someone and say, hi, how are you doing? What do you do for a job? And then I say, did you get one of these? Maybe I give them a gospel tract.

And then I carry in my pocket pennies with the 10 commandments pressed into them. But you don't really need one of these, all you need is something Christian. And when they say it's Christian, or you say it's Christian.

You just say, do you think you've kept the 10 commandments? And this is usually what happens. Oh, pretty much, I've got a little bit of everything. Oh, pretty much, I haven't killed anyone. I say, have you ever told a lie?

He says, yeah, one or two. I say, what does that make you? He says, a sinner. I say, more specifically, doesn't it make you a liar? He says, oh, I'm not a liar. I say, well, how many lies do you have to tell to be a liar?

Ten. And suddenly a bell rings. One lie makes you a liar, isn't that right? He says, yeah. I say, have you ever stolen something? He says, no. I say, come on, you've just told me you're a liar. He says, have you ever stolen something, even if it's small?

I say, yeah. I say, what does that make you? He says, a thief. I say, do you know Jesus said, if you look at a woman and lust after her, you commit adultery with her in your heart? I say, have you ever done that?

He says, yeah, plenty of times. I say, from your own admission, you're a lying, thieving adulterer at heart. And you have to face God on Judgment Day. And we've only looked at three of the Ten Commandments.

If you hate someone, you commit murder in your heart. And as you go through the commandments They leave us all guilty. And the wonderful thing that happens. Is that the work of the law is written in their hearts.

It says it in Romans 2, verse 15. The conscience bears witness. Conscience means with knowledge. Con means with. And science is knowledge. So whenever he's lied or stolen or lusted He's known in his heart, but he's done wrong.

So on the day of judgment, he will be without excuse. So the law brings the knowledge of sin. You may identify with this, some of you ladies. You dust your table down in the morning. It's a clean table.

Then you draw back the curtains. And let in the early morning sunlight. What do you see in the distance? Dust. What do you see in the air? Dust. Did the light create the dust? Oh no, the light only exposed the dust.

And when you and I take the time to draw back the curtains of the Holy of Holies. And when you take the time to open the curtains of the Holy of Holies. And let the light of God's law shine upon the sinner's heart.

So he can see himself in truth. Commandment is a lamp. And the law is light. That's why Paul says, by the commandment Sin became exceedingly sinful. In other words, the law showed him Sin in its true light.

The Cross, Substitution, and Grace

And some who have this knowledge Can now understand That God is angry at them That His wrath abides upon them. They can see their weight in the balance Of eternal justice. That they found wanting. And they can therefore understand Why Jesus had to die.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. He became a curse for us. God commanded His love towards us. And the while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

God ordered His love towards us In the sense that He allowed While we were sinners Jesus to die for us. We broke the law. He paid the fine. The moment we repent and accept What He did on the cross We are free from the wrath of God.

Charles Spurgeon A great preacher from a hundred years ago Said they will never accept grace. Until they tremble before a holy and just law. They will never take the cure Unless they first convince they have the disease.

The law works. It converts the soul. It makes a man a new creature in Christ. He puts his hand at a flower. And he doesn't look back. Because it is good for the kingdom. So why don't you find yourself a sinner.

Calling Sinners to Repentance

And experiment on them. Just try it out. See if it works. Jesus gave us examples. Follow it. If someone comes to you and says I'm just a terrible sinner I committed adultery. I got lust burning in my heart.

I'm filled with jealousy and hatred. Give them grace. But more than likely You'll find people saying I'm really a good person. A lot of people worse than me. They go about to establish their own righteousness Being ignorant of the righteousness Which is of God.

So you must give them that life. God doesn't want you to get decisions. He wants people to be saved. And for that they need repentance. And they will not repent. But they don't know what sin is. So as I said Try it out.

But as you do Remember this one story. You're sitting on a plane. You're enjoying the flight. And suddenly you hear This is your captain speaking. I have an announcement. As the tail section has just fallen off this plane.

We're about to crash. We're 25 ,000 feet in the air. There's a parachute under your seat. So we'd appreciate if you put it on. Thank you for your attention. And thank you for flying with this airline.

You put your parachute on. Boy, am I glad to be wearing a parachute. You look next to the guy next to you Watching a movie. He says, excuse me. Didn't you hear the captain? Put the parachute on. He turns and says I don't think the captain means it.

Besides, I'm quite happy as I am, thanks. Well, don't turn to him. He says, please Put the parachute on. It'll be better than the movie. It doesn't make sense. If you tell him to put the parachute on Because it'll improve the flight.

He'll tell him to put it on for a wrong motive. If you want him to put it on and keep it on. Tell him about the jump. Excuse me. If you jump without a parachute Splat. I'm sorry, I beg your pardon. I said, if you jump without a parachute Law of gravity On the ground.

He says, goodness me I see what you're saying. Thank you very much. And as long as that man knows As long as he has knowledge To face the consequences Of breaking the law of gravity. There's no way you're going to get That parachute off his back.

Because his very life depends on it. If you look around, you'll find there are Multitudes of passengers enjoying the flight. They're enjoying the pleasures of sin For a season. He says, excuse me Did you hear the command From the cat of our salvation.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. He turns to you and says I really don't think God means it. God is love. Besides, I'm quite happy as I am, thanks. Don't turn to him with zeal, without knowledge. And say, please Give your heart to Jesus.

He'll give you peace, joy, love, fulfillment. Fill the God-shaped vacuum in your heart. He'll give you marriage. He'll cure your alcohol problem. He'll take away your loneliness. Just give your heart to Jesus.

No, you'll give him a wrong motive For his dedication. Instead of saying, God, give me courage And tell him about the jump. Say, if you die without the Savior It's appointed a man once to die. And after that, the judgment.

If you've lusted, you've committed adultery. If you've hated someone, you've committed murder. If you've told one lie, you're a liar. And the day of wrath The fist of eternal justice will come down upon you And grind you to pieces.

Genuine Conversion and Gratitude for Mercy

God bless you. Now, I'm not talking about hellfire preaching. Hellfire preaching will produce fear-filled converts. Using God's law will produce tear-filled converts. This one comes merely to escape the fires of hell.

And because the law wasn't used to show him he deserves hell. He doesn't appreciate God's mercy. There's no gratitude in his heart. But this one comes knowing he's sinned against heaven. He's violated the law of a holy God.

On the day of justice God must allay all his sins as evidence of his guilt. Almighty God in his holiness Could pick him up as an unclean thing And cast him into hell. But instead, he's given him heaven.

He's commended his love toward him. And what is he to say? He's like a dead man. He falls on his knees In the blood-sodden soil of Calvary's cross And cries, oh God, if you do that for me, I'll do anything for you.

And says, I delight to do your will, oh my God. Your law is written upon my heart. And like the man who knew he had to pass through the door And face the consequences of breaking the law of gravity. Would never take the parachute off because his very life depends on it.

So he who comes to the Savior Knowing he has to face the holy God on the day of wrath. Never to thank the righteousness of God in Christ. Because his very life depends on it. Such converts become soul winners Not pure warmers.

Laborers Not layabouts Heirs Not liabilities. For the local church Let's bear in prayer as we close. Father, we pray that we'd be as the Bereans And search the scriptures to see if these things are so And that we'd examine ourselves To see if we're in the faith.

And Father, if we're not Let us make our calling and election sure By crying out, God, forgive me, I'm a sinner By exercising repentance towards God And faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. In his name we pray Amen.