The Baptist's Rosary
E.A. Johnston challenges superficial evangelistic methods, urging true repentance and faith in Christ as the only path to genuine salvation.
In 'The Baptist's Rosary,' E.A. Johnston delivers a compelling evangelistic message that challenges common but flawed methods of leading people to Christ. He emphasizes the necessity of true repentance and faith rather than relying on ritualistic acts like repeating the sinner's prayer or walking an aisle. Johnston draws from Scripture to warn against false assurance and calls for a deeper understanding of salvation. This sermon is a call to pastors and believers alike to ensure that evangelism leads to genuine transformation.
Full Transcript
In Hebrews 9.27, my Bible declares, It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. I feel sorry for the pastor who has to stand at that judgment and watch his congregation go to hell. And I feel sorry for his congregation for sitting under such a blind guide who was ignorant in dealing with the souls of men.
Your theology will determine your methodology. If you believe that God has done his part, and all that is required is for you to do your part by making yourself a Christian, then your evangelism will reflect what you believe. You'll be right at home and asking folks to walk an aisle to decide for Jesus.
You get as many as you can to join the church by repeating a prayer that you lead them in. Like I said, theology determines methodology. Walking an aisle and repeating a prayer fits your theology, which states you have within you the power to decide for Jesus.
You decide. Often, evangelists and pastors who have this theology will then ask the hearers to repeat a prayer if they want to be saved. I give you two versions of what is known as the sinner's prayer.
Would you like to be saved, friend? Then please pray this prayer right now. Dear God, I know I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is your Son.
I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord from this day forward. I pray this in the name of Jesus.
Amen. Or the sinner's prayer will go along these lines. Would you like to be saved, friend? You can get it settled right now.
Right now, pray this prayer. Dear God, I know that you love me and that you want to save me. Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God.
I believe you paid for my sin with your blood on the cross. I believe God raised you from the dead. I now receive you and trust you as my Lord and Savior.
Come into my heart, forgive my sin. Save me, Lord. I receive it by faith like a little child.
Amen. Then the pastor will tell you that you are now saved. I feel sorry for all the people I led in the sinner's prayer through the years for.
I did them a great injustice. One man in particular stands out in my mind. I was going door to door in a neighborhood, handing out tracts, and I heard an ice cream truck ring its bell.
It was summer and I was hot, and I wanted an ice cream. So I walked over to the ice cream man and picked out my flavor. Then I asked him if he'd like to go to heaven.
He said, sure. I then led him in the sinner's prayer and told him he was now saved. Oh, how I wish I could find that man and undo the damage that I had done.
I didn't know what the gospel was back in those days, for I was an unsaved worker myself, trying to get people to accept my Jesus. I know better now to tell a wicked sinner that all he has to do to be saved is just to accept Christ is not true, because God's word is plain that sinners must repent and turn from their wicked ways. That's why we have so many goats in our churches who are unsaved religious church members, because the pastor told them God loved them and Christ died for them, and all they had to do to have full pardon for all their sins and get to heaven was to just make up their mind that they would accept Christ.
The bottom line is the sinner must repent or perish, for God commands all men everywhere to repent. If you, friend, were the victim of poor evangelism and you entered the church by way of what I have described here, I'd be dead sure I got to Christ to be truly saved. Salvation is Christ.
Just believe in John 3.16 won't save you, friend. Neither will walking an aisle or repeating a prayer. I fear we have many good church members a day who join the church believing Christ died for them, rather than believing on the Christ who died.
Get to Christ, friend, and repent of your sins and get under his blood for forgiveness of sin. Doing a physical act in church won't guarantee your salvation. It just exercises your legs.
For a Baptist to repeat a prayer places him in good company with the Catholic who likes to repeat prayers on the rosary beads. The sinner's prayer is nothing more than the Baptist's rosary. Let us pray.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The reality of judgment after death
- The responsibility of pastors and congregations
- The consequences of poor evangelism
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II
- Theology determines evangelistic methodology
- Common evangelistic practices like the sinner's prayer
- Critique of decision-based salvation methods
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III
- Personal testimony of misguided evangelism
- The necessity of true repentance
- Warning against false assurance from mere rituals
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IV
- Salvation requires faith and repentance
- The danger of equating physical acts with salvation
- The sinner's prayer compared to the Catholic rosary
Key Quotes
“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” — E.A. Johnston
“The bottom line is the sinner must repent or perish, for God commands all men everywhere to repent.” — E.A. Johnston
“For a Baptist to repeat a prayer places him in good company with the Catholic who likes to repeat prayers on the rosary beads.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Examine your own understanding of salvation to ensure it includes true repentance and faith.
- Avoid relying solely on physical acts or prayers as evidence of genuine conversion.
- Encourage others to seek a heartfelt relationship with Christ rather than superficial decisions.