We Are Not In a Position to Bargain

Will Metzger has written a tremendous "training manual on the message & methods of God-centered witnessing called Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel to the Whole Person by Whole People. I would commend this resource to anybody desiring to take their study of personal evangelism significantly deeper.

[Jesus] is a master (king) and a teacher (prophet). . . . Can you have only the Savior (sin-bearer) Christ in your heart? No, it is impossible to divide Christ. If he truly comes into your life, all of him enters. The overwhelming usage of the word Lord in the book of Acts shows us clearly how Christ was presented to nonbelievers. The phrase “accept Christ as your personal Savior” is not found. Rather, “God has made . . . Jesus . . . both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36); “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5); “Believe in the Lord Jesus” (Acts 16:31).

These apostles were not preaching salvation by “making Christ Lord of your life” in a good-works fashion. He is already Lord; therefore, our evangelistic call must be to come to him as to the feet of a monarch, in submission to his person and authority. We cannot come to a king with one hand behind our backs, standing upright, signifying secret reservations and unwillingness to give over control of our lives. We are not in a position to bargain. We must bow with both hands outstretched and open. . . .

This is the picture of the true penitent’s attitude of heart (not that we are able to render perfect obedience). Because we are not whole people we can not give a holistic response. Yet God receives the part for the whole, the seed as evidence the flower will bloom. In the mercy of God, it is later in our Christian lives that we are shown the implications of our initial submission to him as king. (p. 72)