Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Blog
    • Su Gracia Gratuita (Spanish Blog)
    • Graça sem limites (Portuguese Blog)
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Home
→
Journal Articles
→
Book Reviews
→
Blessed Calvary: A Full Color Visual Presentation of Salvation Invitations

Blessed Calvary: A Full Color Visual Presentation of Salvation Invitations

Posted in Book Reviews

Blessed Calvary: A Full Color Visual Presentation of Salvation Invitations. Streamwood, IL: AWANA Clubs International, n.d. 23 minute video. $14.95.

Dave Breese, head of Christian Destiny, Inc., narrates this excellent training video. It is used by AWANA Youth Ministries to train those who work with children and young people in how to share the Gospel clearly. (AWANA is a Free Grace ministry which currently ministers to 450,000 youth in the United States and thousands more in 71 foreign countries.)

The video discusses 16 common Gospel invitations today. Examples of invitations which are found to be misleading are: “Will you give your heart to Christ?” “Will you surrender your life to Christ?” “Are you willing to forsake all your sins to obtain salvation?” and “Right now ask Jesus to come into your heart.”

Examples of clear invitations are: “Will you accept the Lord Jesus and trust Him as your own personal Savior?” “Will you believe that Jesus took your place on the cross?” “Christ died for your sins. Believe and trust Him personally, and you will be saved,” and “Right now believe that Christ paid the price in full for your past, present, and future sins.”

An explanation is given as to why each of the misleading appeals is wrong. The appeal, “Will you surrender your life to Christ?” draws this criticism on the video: “Surrender implies ‘giving everything’ to the Lord, while salvation is accepting the work of Christ on our behalf as a free gift. This invitation is the reverse of scriptural teaching. We are saved by receiving rather than by giving (John 1:12). The appeal of surrender is fitting only for a believer to yield his life to obedient service to the Lord. Such an appeal cannot be used for salvation. The expression ‘yield’ in Romans 6 and ‘present’ in Romans 12, both of which apply to believers, are calls to obedience and the need for dedicating one’s life to God’s will. Do not confuse these expressions and concepts with accepting and believing for salvation.”

This video is powerful. It is not only an excellent training tool for Christian workers. It is also a fine evangelistic tool for the religious unbeliever.

While there may be a few fine points with which some of our readers will take exception (e.g., faith as accepting the facts of the Gospel plus trusting in Christ), JOTGES readers will very much appreciate this video.

Robert N. Wilkin
Associate Editor
Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Irving, TX

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
Bob Wilkin

by Bob Wilkin

Bob Wilkin is Executive Director of Grace Evangelical Society and co-host of Grace in Focus Radio. He lives in Highland Village, TX with his wife, Sharon. His latest book is Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance.

Cart

Recently Added

January 21, 2021

Recompensado com uma boa reputação (Mateus 5:19)

“Portanto, todo aquele que quebrar um dos menores destes mandamentos e assim ensinar aos homens, será chamado o menor no reino dos céus; mas o...
January 21, 2021

Doesn’t True Faith Need to be Demonstrated? (Part 2)

In todays episode, Bob and Shawn are continuing their discussion on the relationship between faith and works, which was started in our last show. The...
January 21, 2021

Did John’s Readers Lack Assurance? Re-Examining 1 John 5:13

Someone recently challenged the idea that assurance is of the essence of saving faith by quoting 1 John 5:13. That question has been answered before...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Best of Zane Hodges - 2 DVD Set $40.00 $15.00
  • GES 2021 National Conference Registration $0.00 – $65.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • Luke: The Life of Imitating Jesus - Volume 1 $8.95 $2.50
  • The Gospel Under Siege: Faith and Works in Tension $16.00 $7.00
Grace Evangelical Society
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

Tweets by GESwebmaster