Responding to the behavior of unbelievers

  • 1 Corinthians 5:9 – 13
    • God judges the morality of outsiders, not us.
    • On earth, we always will be surrounded by ungodly behavior.
    • Examples of appeals: Acts 2:40, 3:17, 8:30, 14:15, 17:29
    • The need of outsiders is to recognize that their ethics have failed to provide what they seek.
  • Colossians 4:5 – 6  Wisdom, grace, and wit
  • Ephesians 5:1 – 14  (focusing on the parts that relate to outsiders)
    • 5:1 – 2  Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us (Romans 12:1 – 2)
    • 5:3 – 7  Do not be partakers with them
    • 5:8 – 14  Be light to them so that they may see successful ethics.
  • Ephesians 5:15 – 21
    • Walk in wisdom
    • Repurpose time
    • Be filled full with the Spirit
    • Sing about spiritual things
    • Be known as a thankful (happy) person
    • Submit to one another as an illustration of your ethics (John 17:20 – 26)
  • 2 Timothy 2:24 – 26
    • Gentle, patient, humble
    • Able to teach, not quarrel
    • Our correction only works if God first does His part
    • What is the meaning of “if God perhaps will grant them repentance”?
  • 2 Corinthians 3:16 – 6:10  Ethics of evangelism
    • 3:16 – 4:1  Because we are being transformed, we do not loose heart
    • 4:2  Commending ourselves to every man’s conscience
    • 4:6  God shines out of us to light their way
    • 4:10 – 11  The life of Jesus may be manifested through us
    • 4:13  I believed, therefore I speak
    • 5:11 Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men
    • 5:14  The love of Christ compels us
    • 5:16  We regard no one according to the flesh
    • 5:18 – 20  He has given us this ministry of reconciliation
    • 6:4  But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God (how?)

What Do the Scriptures Say Should Be the Attraction of the Gospel to Outsiders?

  • Romans 2:4  …the goodness of God leads you to repentance
  • Acts 14:3, 20:24 The gospel of grace
  • 2 Peter 1:2  …who called us by glory and virtue
  • 1 Peter 2:12  …having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
  • Romans 2:15  Their conscience also bearing witness
  • Romans 7:15  What I am doing I do not understand.
  • Ecclesiastes (many times)  All is vanity and chasing after the wind
  • Acts 2:40  Be saved from this perverse generation
  • Matthew 11:5, Luke 4:18, 7:22  The poor have the gospel preached to them
  • Romans 1:1 – 6, 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 4, 1 Thessalonians 1:5  The gospel of reality
  • Ephesians 6:15  Life is not intended to be a struggle with God, with others, and/or with yourself, but a life of peace.