Posted on 12/19/2023 2:24:19 AM PST by metmom
"How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard" (Heb. 2:3). Many people know the facts of the gospel but won’t make a commitment to it.
I will never forget a lady who came to my office, confessing that she was a prostitute and was desperate for help. I presented the claims of Christ to her and asked if she wanted to confess Christ as Lord of her life. She said yes and prayed, seemingly inviting Christ into her life.
Then I suggested that we burn her book of contacts. She looked at me incredulously and said, "What do you mean?" "If you want to live for Jesus Christ," I explained, "and you've truly accepted His forgiveness and embraced Him as Lord, then you need to prove it." "But that book is worth a lot of money," she said. "I don't want to burn it." After putting it back in her purse, she looked me right in the eye and said, "I guess I don't really want Jesus, do I?"
When it came to counting the cost, she wasn't ready. I don't know whatever became of her, but my heart aches for her and others like her.
I'm sure you know people like her—they know and believe that Christ is the Savior, they know they need Him, but they are unwilling to make a commitment to Him. Perhaps they even go to church and hear the Word of God. They are like the proverbial man who says he believes a boat will keep him afloat, but never sets foot in one.
Those people are the most tragic of all. They need to be warned—to be given a powerful shove toward Christ. May the Lord use you as His instrument for that purpose in the lives of many who are on the edge of a decision for Christ.
Suggestion for Prayer
Ask God to soften the hearts of people you know who understand the facts of the gospel, but haven't yet made a commitment to it.
For Further Study
Read Matthew 19:16-22. What kinds of questions should you ask of someone who appears eager to become a Christian?
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
I can’t help but wonder if MacArthur offered to help her find a source of legitimate income.
Based on her reply to his suggestion to get rid of her little black book, probably not. It was still too “valuable” to her at that point. Usually people like that don’t change unless they want to. She really didn’t want to. Seems there are many who only want Jesus if it’s easy for them.
Her reply did indicate her thoughts, for sure.
If her immediate response was that of being worried about how much it was worth, which it would be only if she continued in that lifestyle, yeah, it lend itself to an optimistic outcome.
Well, time will tell.
Hopefully a seed was sown that grew into a tree producing good grout.
Fruit!!! LOL
amen!
I salute you for your ministry!
During my fallen away period, I was married to a woman who owned a bar with her sisters.
I was surprised at the number of patrons that had religious backgrounds and upbringings, but were wandering in the wilderness the same as I.
Thank you Elsie. You understand what I saw. The other thing that stood out to me was how many bad cops are involved.
“Assurance of salvation is based on Scripture, not a *sinner’s prayer*.”
There is a distinction in the scripture between the assurance of salvation and the certainty or security of salvation. A believer can lose his or her assurance but not the security of salvation.
I John 3:18-20 NKJV
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
Our assurance has to do with our obedience. John clarifies that it is not merely based on words but also deeds (and truth, because even words and deeds can be insincere). But our security is based on God knowing us. Believers are kept by God’s power, Peter tells us.
I Peter 1:5 NKJV
who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
So the distinction between assurance and security is the difference between our knowledge versus God’s perfect knowledge.
I was taught for most of my life to base assurance on having sincerely said the sinner’s prayer. Or, at least this is how I perceived what I had been taught. But this is incorrect. John shows that our conscience bears witness based on the fruit of obedience in word and deed. Paul also speaks about the inner witness in our spirits by our awareness of the indwelling Holy Spirit. So, assurance of salvation is not merely theoretical but is also experiential.
Romans 8:16 NKJV
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
“When the Christians in Ephesus burned their scrolls, it was a choice they made and not at the demand of Paul and i doubt it happened immediately.”
Acts 19:19-20 NKJV
Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
From the passage, I think you are right about the timing. This event was the culmination of more than two years of ministry by Paul, after having thoroughly preached the Gospel to the whole surrounding region. The passage does not indicate whether these books were something baptized believers had been holding onto or if new converts burned them after having been convinced by the incident with the seven sons of Sceva and Paul’s mighty miracles.
“I’m not going to be legalistic about someone because they don’t immediately do what I think they should or what I demand.”
There have to be some minimal standards of conduct for a person to be considered to be a believer.
I Corinthians 5:11-13 NKJV
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
I Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Galatians 6:1 NKJV
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
“I wait to see the fruit. THAT is what proves the genuineness of their faith.”
How long?
And are you going to embrace and celebrate the salvation of someone who not only has not shown any evidence but is living openly in rebellion against God’s moral laws?
This woman said herself, “I guess I don’t really want Jesus, do I?”
Was MacArthur being too demanding when he suggested that this woman immediately get rid of her connections to prostitution? Isn’t this exactly the same requirement Jesus had for the woman caught in adultery?
John 8:10-11 NKJV
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
I and many others have experienced getting rid of things in our lives that were a “provision for the flesh” (as in Romans 13:14) but then later returned to the sins associated with those things. For example, if a believer is recovering from a drug addiction, he or she may get rid of the drugs, but later may fall back into drug abuse. But getting rid of these drugs is a required step in recovery. A person who refuses to get rid of them is not yet serious about quitting the drug abuse.
Repentance is essential to the Gospel. It is required of unbelievers to become believers. It is required of believers to walk with Christ. A person unwilling to repent and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus is not yet a believer. A person who professes to be a believer but stubbornly refuses to repent of known sin, and at least seek to bring his or her life into obedience to Christ, needs to reevaluate his or her faith in Christ.
It is appropriate to ask myself: Am I a genuine believer? Did I truly place my faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior? Did I understand and believe the true Gospel of the true Messiah? Examining ourselves in this regard is a command of scripture.
You obviously do not know John MacArthur. To say that he believes in salvation by works is totally wrong!
Amen, at the end of one sermon I heard he stated “ it’s all God people!”
Amen, at the end of one sermon I heard he stated “ it’s all God people!”
Perhaps rather than letting her walk out the door. The pastor may have offered to pray with her, for her protection. This was a moment of vulnerability for this young lady of the night. She faces danger every day and night. Financial problems driving her to the street. She’s trying to feed her child and pay the rent. Maybe an offer of an open door whenever she wants to come and join. A cup of coffee and share some humanity with her. A different kind of friend. Let her know that there’s human beings here who share the weakness of mankind. We meet these people every day. In the street, and in the church too. People who are broken. People who need help. Those who are in need of a word of kindness. These are the people that we’re called to reach. If you trust god, then you can watch the miracle happen as the stony human heart is melted by the power of the spirit that was introduced into her life. Be humbled, because not a small part of this miracle was wrought by the intervention of your prayer and kindness. What kind of reward is that.
That’s thoughtful isn’t it?
Thanks for your reply.
I left the IFCA in 1976, but I have followed his ministry ever since. I defended him during his controversy regarding his saying the blood of Christ does not save. He apologized acknowledging his honest mistake and learned from it.
My statement comes from my understanding of theology, as a Baptist pastor since 1978, and from my understanding of language and communication. MacArthur teaches that simple childlike faith in Christ is works unless you are caused to have it by a miraculous power. The same power, irresistible grace, which forces you to “believe” also forces you to stop sinning. MacArthur’s 5-point Calvinism is standard and unremarkable.
I’m not opposed to any of those things. I’ve been a part of Christ-centered recovery programs that take the type of approach you suggest.
However, I’d also suggest that MacArthur deserves no blame here. It’s easy to armchair quarterback. Doing the job is much harder than critiquing it.
Look at how Christ dealt with the woman caught in adultery, the rich young ruler, or those pretending to be sincere seekers while trying to trap him in His words.
Christ sent the adulteress away with a simple instruction: Go and sin no more.
When the rich young ruler went away sorrowful, without surrendering to Christ’s Lordship, it was not because Jesus failed him in some way.
I’ll suggest something else here as well. Influential pastors are targets of the Devil and his emissaries. Many pastors have fallen into temptation themselves. Perhaps men like Jimmy Swaggart fell into sin while trying to show compassion to women like this one who weren’t ready to surrender to Christ. Instead of him converting them, they converted him.
People like stories with happy endings. This wasn’t one. Maybe there is more to the woman’s story that we don’t know. Maybe this planted a seed that later produced fruit. But I suggest the instinct to second guess the pastor is the wrong one. It is the woman who made the wrong choice. She could have taken the risk of trusting God to take care of her, but she chose to cling to the false security of what was familiar. And it was the very thing that had caused her so much grief and harm.
Thank you for your reply.
“...Find fault with MacArthur’s expectation that...”
If as MacArthur does, you believe in total inability, and irresistible grace, two of the essential points of 5-point Calvinism, you must conclude that if she continues to sin, then she is not elect.
The Pharisees are totally unable to produce fruits of repentance unless they are caused to do so by the miracle power.
The rich young ruler goes away sorrowful, not because he had great possessions, but because he was not elect. He appears to be resisting the irresistible grace of God, as does this woman of the streets who came to see MacArthur.
The adulteress goes her way and stops sinning only because she is elect. Jesus says to her, “Go, and become an elect person who sins no more.”
“...as a devotional...”
I leave that up to the mods or to metmom herself, but as a Baptist pastor for over 45 years I would ask them to understand that the Calvinist interpretation is not absolute. I think the religion moderator would permit a Calvinist Caucus. I understand why metmom posts such as this and I support her efforts.
My comment goes to the very heart of what the devotional is saying. The woman here prayed the sinner’s prayer and trusted the blood of the cross, but that does not count for anything. Only burning her contact book will count, because that is how she pays the price. MacArthur feels badly for her and all such as she, while believing that she is utterly unable to do otherwise unless unconditionally elected to do so. My comment followed upon and was in response to Samurai_Jack, who should be allowed to do so.
“Salvation is a free gift that costs you everything.”
Well...it ain’t free then, is it?
“Anyone who thinks...”
Some Calvinists believe that anyone who does not hold to the Calvinist doctrine is lost. The same miracle power that causes you to believe and causes you to stop sinning would also cause you to eventually come to believe their version of “grace”. This idea is called “Doctrinal Regeneration” because it closely mirrors the logic behind “Baptismal Regeneration”. The same logic is used by Jack Hyles in his KJV only teaching known as “Incorruptible Seed”.
Maranatha brother!
BrianD
Yep!
- This was John MacArthur’s recollection of the conversation. We only hear from him.
- It’s also just obviously a very tiny selection from the conversation, the condensed version, leaving a lot of room for speculation. And there must have been considerably more said about the woman’s book than we’re told here.
- While the woman might well have said that the book was worth a lot of money, I do nevertheless have some doubts. Most people have a bit more filter than that, even in their own thoughts. If I were to speculate - which we’re left to do here - I’d say that it’s very possible that she said something
similar sounding that MacArthur took a certain way, and that “money quote” made for a clearer “lesson” in the telling afterward.
- With so little to go on, though, I think you have to consider alternatives. For example, we don’t know what that book meant to that woman. She might have been willing to part with it after going over it. When you hear about the lives of prostitutes, it often sounds like it’s not just “business” to them, but their pimp might be their “boyfriend.” A black man once told me that his parents, who raised a family together, were pimp and prostitute. This world is the “support system” for many prostitutes.
- Then there’s her remark, “I guess I don’t really want Jesus, do I?” I think there’s a lot of reason to doubt MacArthur’s interpretation of it. It’s probable that she came from a broken, unstable home with sexual abuse and substance abuse. She likely failed out of school. And she’s a failure by being a prostitute. MacArthur, as a spiritual authority that she can’t question, as she is such an open sinner, has given her a “test” to pass in order to be a Christian, and since she won’t burn the book right then, she knows he’s implicitly giving her an F. That’s likely what she’s saying because she feels like she has to say something — “I guess I failed at being a Christian.”
- Going by what’s written, it does sound like MacArthur ended up being judgmental towards her, though so little is said, it’s not clear where his heart was. As a Christian who has been in some ways part of both the upper middle class and the low income, including being homeless, I have experienced and witnessed how often someone in the upper class just doesn’t see what someone in the lower class is actually dealing with.
We all know that at any given time, our spiritual strength has its limits. As Christians, we are to allow Christ to grow our strength, but as long as we’re here, many situations will be very difficult for us. Oftentimes, though, more elder Christians, while aware of their own need for God’s mercy as they struggle to carry the their burdens, nevertheless don’t recognize that many newer Christians and those with very messed up lives often have a lot less spiritual strength.
While we can see when people struggle to carry something, until we actually see that, we tend to go by what seems heavy or light to us. Something that is light to the average man might be heavy to a woman, someone in bad health. Children can’t carry what adults can. Sometimes people are already carrying other things. With actual physical burdens, this is all easy to see. With invisible burdens, it’s not. Which is why we should be loathe to make quick judgments about people we don’t really know going by appearances, and without an attitude of mercy and humility.
Consider MacArthur and this lady. He has pastor responsibilities this woman doesn’t have, but he also has many advantages she doesn’t. I believe his father was a pastor, so he grew up in a Christian world. For all its faults, the church still functions much better overall than the world does. He has many burdens, but also a large, edifying Christian support system. By contrast, what does this woman likely have?
What I’ve experienced and witnessed is that often many Christians who have been in the church for a long time quickly judge people who are their “lessers” using appearances, when it comes right down to it.
Lots of people seem to react to the story by finding fault with MacArthur.
In fact, some seem to be more concerned with his supposed fault in asking this woman to burn her book of prostitution clients than the fact that she was prostituting.
Another possible choice could have been to turn it over to the police. (I’m not saying she should have. Just pointing out that there are more than 2 options here.)
Acts 25:11 NKJV
For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
Romans 13:3 NKJV
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
Maybe the problem was her needing deliverance from demons. Jesus did not just forgive Mary Magdelene. He cast the demons out of her.
Mark 16:9 NKJV
Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.
Maybe she just needed to go through a little more painful consequences of the life she was living.
John 5:14 NKJV
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
I’ll be glad to accept such criticism of MacArthur from someone who can honestly claim, with God as witness, that they have personally led prostitutes to Christ who completely reformed their lives, and went on to become godly wives and mothers. I would not be surprised if MacArthur has numerous such testimonies during his years of ministry.
I’ve ministered to a number of prostitutes. One I bought a meal for and shared Christ with was a very beautiful young woman, other than the track marks on her legs. She was a heroin addict. She shared that she had begun her journey into drugs and prostitution as a teenager who got pregnant and had a mother who forced her to have an abortion. She turned to drugs to cope with the pain of this. Being pretty, she had plenty of men who would help to support her addiction in exchange for sex.
I offered to put her in touch with a Christian ministry who would help her with a place to live, food, and addiction recovery. She wanted help but was unwilling at that time to accept the real help she needed. She preferred the “easy” life of working at strip clubs and prostituting.
The Bible is explicitly clear that prostitutes and the men who go in to them will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. Numerous scriptures back this up. Many warnings are given not to let anyone deceive us concerning such matters. Anyone who suggests that this woman or any woman (or man) can be a believer and also engage in prostitution is a liar, a deceiver (including the self-deceived), and a false teacher. The Bible speaks with the harshest language, of the harshest penalties in this life and the world to come for those who do not repent of this, and this means fully break from it.
I Corinthians 6:15-20 NKJV
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Ephesians 5:3-6 NKJV
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Revelation 2:20-23 NKJV
Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
I find it quite ironic that so many people ooze with compassion for the prostitute in this story and feel MacArthur is just too harsh and demanding. Yes, the woman is a victim of sin and the Devil. Yes, she needs compassion. But what MacArthur gave her is compassion. Lying to someone by telling them their sin is no danger to them is not compassionate.
Hopefully, no one here would advise a murdering, abusive, violent, drug-dealing pimp that he could receive Jesus into his life without an immediate break with his illegal and immoral lifestyle.
This woman was engaged in a life that not only destroyed herself, but it destroyed the men who were her customers, the wives of men who were her customers, and the children from the broken homes that this behavior caused.
I’ve heard people say to hate the sin and love the sinner. Fine. But don’t leave out the proper attitude toward the sin. It matters.
Jesus gave His life to save sinners like this woman and me. He didn’t give His life so we could escape the consequences of sin and yet remain living in sin.
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