Is Believing in the Forgiveness of Sins the Bullseye in Evangelism?

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Grace in Focus – "Is Believing in the Forgiveness of Sins the Bullseye in Evangelism?"

Date: May 25, 2026
Hosts: Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr
Episode Length: ~13 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode addresses a core question in Free Grace Theology and evangelism: Is the central message (the "bullseye") for salvation believing in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, or believing in Him for the promise of everlasting life? Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr examine biblical passages, particularly the Gospel of John and Acts 10, to clarify what should be the focus in gospel presentations and discuss the implications for assurance, evangelistic practice, and theological clarity.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining the Evangelistic “Bullseye”

• Listener Question (Michael): Is believing in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins a bullseye for evangelism, or is it specifically believing in Him for everlasting life? (01:02)
  • Bob Wilkin: “An archery target only has one bullseye, so there can't be two. So it's got to be one or the other.” (01:12)
  • Sam Marr: Emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between synonymous statements versus different ones. (01:41)

2. What Does the Gospel of John Emphasize?

• Sam Marr: Examines the Gospel of John to see how Jesus presents the core message.
  • Notes that Jesus never says, “he who believes in me receives the forgiveness of sins,” in an evangelistic context in John. (02:18–02:37)
  • Points out that John’s Gospel consistently centers on belief in Jesus for everlasting life.

3. Acts 10 and Cornelius’ Household: What Was Preached and Believed?

• Context: Acts 10:43 is cited (“whoever believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins”) as a possible alternative bullseye.

  • Sam Marr: Explains Cornelius’ background as a Gentile centurion and the angelic vision directing him to Peter. (03:00–04:20)
  • Bob Wilkin (reading Acts 11:14): “He will tell you words by which you and your household will be saved.” (04:22)
  • Sam Marr: Emphasizes that Cornelius understood Peter’s message as about salvation from eternal condemnation, tied to regeneration. (04:33–05:11)
  • Observation: The Spirit fell on the household “while Peter was still speaking these words,” indicating belief in what was said thus far. (05:11)

• Logical Flow: The message about the forgiveness of sins was connected with saving faith, but Sam notes: “They connected the dots and got the fact that believing in Him was the condition of being saved forever.” (05:17)

4. The Theological Significance of Acts 10

• Jew-Gentile Unity: Bob and Sam discuss that the main point of this passage is demonstrating Jews and Gentiles united in one body through salvation. (06:08)
• Peter’s Vision Recap: Sam links Peter’s vision of clean/unclean animals (Acts 9) to the reception of Gentiles into the church, reinforcing the gospel is for all. (07:14)

5. Baptism and the Order of Blessings

• The outpouring of the Spirit precedes water baptism in this case—showing Spirit baptism happens at faith, not ceremony:
  • Bob Wilkin: “...they were already Spirit baptized before they were water baptized.” (09:12)
  • Sam Marr: “Ever since Acts chapter 10, the person who believes is not only born again and sealed... but they're permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and they're baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit.” (09:12)

6. Are “Forgiveness of Sins” and “Everlasting Life” Synonymous?

• Key Distinction: Sam clarifies, “Believing in Him for the forgiveness of sins is not synonymous with believing in Him for eternal life.” (09:44)

  • Forgiveness is an attendant blessing of salvation, but not the bullseye or the content of the promise Jesus calls us to believe for eternal life.

• Concerns Over Confusion: People who focus only on forgiveness might not have assurance, as ongoing forgiveness (e.g., 1 John 1:9) can become the focus rather than secure, everlasting life. (10:46)

7. The Evangelistic Model: Stick to Jesus’ Example

• Bob Wilkin: Urges listeners to pattern gospel presentations after the Gospel of John: “If you do that, then you're going to be evangelizing just like Christ did, and you're going to be hitting the bullseye every time.” (10:46)
• Why Not Emphasize Forgiveness?
  • “I like to say Jesus forgives your sins if to you they mean the same thing. I don't understand why you'd pick the one that Jesus didn't use over the one Jesus did use.” (11:17)
  • Stick to the terminology and promise Jesus repeatedly used—everlasting life.

8. Use of Synonymous Phrases

• Bob Wilkin: Accepts that sometimes “saved forever” or “in His kingdom forever” may communicate the same idea, but warns not to use language (like “forgiveness of sins”) that could be misunderstood. (11:32–12:24)
  • “The forgiveness of sins is not synonymous, so don't use that.” (12:24)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bob Wilkin: “An archery target only has one bullseye, so there can't be two. So it’s got to be one or the other.” (01:12)
• Sam Marr: “Never once does Jesus say, he who believes in me receives the forgiveness of sins. Not once. That should be quite telling.” (02:37)
• Sam Marr: “When they heard the forgiveness of sins... they connected the dots and got the fact that believing in Him was the condition of being saved forever.” (05:17)
• Sam Marr: “Ever since Acts chapter 10, the person who believes is not only born again and sealed... but permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and they're baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit.” (09:12)
• Bob Wilkin: “Stick to the Gospel of John. Stick with what we know to be the bullseye and not stray into other areas and make an argument for, well, maybe this could be it.” (11:18)
• Bob Wilkin: “The forgiveness of sins is not synonymous, so don’t use that.” (12:24)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:02 Listener Question Introduced
• 02:18–02:37 Lack of “forgiveness of sins” evangelism in John’s Gospel
• 04:22 Acts 11:14: The message brought to Cornelius
• 05:11–05:17 The Spirit falls upon Cornelius’ household during Peter’s speech
• 06:08 Main point of Acts 10: Jew-Gentile unity
• 07:14 Peter’s vision and theological implications
• 09:12 Order of blessings: Regeneration, indwelling, baptism, sealing
• 09:44 Defining what is truly synonymous with “everlasting life”
• 10:46 Appeal: Follow the Gospel of John’s model
• 11:17–12:24 On using the language Jesus used vs. alternative terms

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Conclusion & Takeaways

• Central Evangelistic Bullseye: For effective evangelism and clear assurance, present the message that Jesus explicitly and repeatedly offered: belief in Him yields everlasting life.
• Forgiveness of sins is an important attendant blessing but not the core promise Jesus asked the lost to believe for eternal life.
• Evangelistic Clarity: Avoid substituting phrases that may cause confusion about assurance or the nature of what is received at salvation.
• Practical Advice: Pattern evangelistic messages after Jesus’ offers in the Gospel of John for theological consistency and assurance.

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For more teaching and resources, visit faithalone.org.

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Transcript

[Host]

The following is a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society believing for eternal salvation. Is it believing that sins are forgiven or believing that a promise is kept and a gift is given? What is the bullseye for belief and for evangelism? Thank you friend for joining us today. This is Grace in a Ministry of the Grace Evangelical Society. Find [e-mail] or go there to find about our online seminary with full scholarships available for students maintaining good academic standing. Application and registration windows are open now for our fall semester starting September 16th. We would love to have you study with us and we're thankful for our generous donors who make this possible. Get all the information you [e-mail] seminary now. Today's discussion is just ahead with Bob Wilken and Sam Marr.

[Bob Wilkin]

Alright, Bob, we've got a question from Michael. This question is GES teaches that believe in Jesus foreverlasting life is the bullseye in evangelism. Isn't believing Jesus for the forgiveness of sins another bullseye since Cornelius and his household were saved by believing that message? It's an interesting question. It is, but I can give you the answer right now. Okay, give me answer. An archery target only has one bullseye, so there can't be two. So it's got to be one of the other. Michael, thanks for the question. Thanks for coming everybody. And that's about it.

[Sam Marr]

But is the bullseye big enough? More than one arrow can hit it.

[Bob Wilkin]

Well, every bullseye is big enough for that.

[Sam Marr]

That's right. I've seen dart throwers and you know, they can throw more than one dart in there. Okay, so great question and great comment there too. There's just really one bullseye. So the real question would be, is believing in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins synonymous with. With believing in him for everlasting life? Because there's only the one bullseye. So are those two different ways of saying the same thing? Let's look at this. First of all, from the Gospel of John. How many times does Jesus speak of the forgiveness of sins in John's Gospel?

[Bob Wilkin]

I think it's zero.

[Sam Marr]

Well, no, there is one, but never evangelistically and never before his resurrection after he rises from the dead. In John 20, he says, Whoever sins you retain will be retained and whoever sins you forgive will be forgiven.

[Host]

That's it.

[Sam Marr]

And that is not talking about the forgiveness that a person gets when they're born again. He's talking about fellowship, forgiveness in terms of church discipline. In other words, he's saying if you retain the sins of someone, then they're going to be undergoing church discipline. But never once does Jesus say, he who believes in me receives the forgiveness of sins. Right? Not once. That should be quite telling. But what Michael's asking about is Acts 10:43, right? In Acts chapter 10, Peter is coming to the household of Cornelius. And Cornelius was a centurion. A centurion. We get the word century from centurion. You think of someone over 100 troops, but it wasn't exactly 100 troops. It could be slightly less than that, but it could be all the way up to like 600 troops for a centurion. But in any regard, this was a high ranking person. And we're told in the opening verses that this is a God fearing Gentile who was a devout man and his prayers and alms ascended to God. So God sent an angel to him and, and the angel told him to send for Simon Peter. Now we're not told until Acts 11:14. The angel told him what Peter would be telling him. All we're told initially is send for Simon Peter and he'll come and give you God's message, but not what God's message is. For in Acts 11:14. Can you read 11:14? This is where Peter is telling what Cornelius had told him.

[Bob Wilkin]

The Last part of 13 is, it starts the quote, send men to Joppa and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and your household will be saved.

[Sam Marr]

So he was told in advance that Peter is going to tell you and your household words by which you must be saved. And clearly he didn't understand that as any other kind of salvation, but salvation from eternal condemnation. He. He understood this as regeneration. So when Peter is preaching in Acts chapter 10 and he gets to the part about his message that all the prophets say, that whoever believes in him receives the forgiveness of sins, we know Peter is not finished with his message because what does the next verse say?

[Bob Wilkin]

Verse 44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the Word.

[Sam Marr]

So, so while Peter was still speaking, it's like he finished saying, whoever believes in him receives the forgiveness of sins. And he's starting into. And before he can even get. And they get the gift of everlasting life, the gift of God, which is everlasting life. He doesn't even get that out because they get it because they were told that he's going to give you words by which you must be saved. And so they understand that one of the attendant blessings that goes along with salvation is the forgiveness of sins. And so when they heard the forgiveness of sins, and it was by those who believe in him, they connected the dots and got the fact that believing in him was the condition of being saved forever.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yeah. And it's important to note that the reason why this account is included in Acts is to explain why the Jews and the Gentiles are now one body in Christ. They're no longer separated. Because this was a big event for Peter, too, when Peter received a vision and God tells him that all things are clean or all things that have been clean are clean. I don't think in that account he mentioned anything about, go teach Cornelius how he can have everlasting life.

[Host]

The Grace Evangelical Society's recently published old testament commentary volume one is now available. Find [e-mail] store. It's where you can also find Bob Wilkins latest book, the Gospel Is Still Under Siege, as well as many other titles by Grace Evangelical Society authors. Please come by and have a look today. You'll find the GES store at our website, faithalone.org that's faithalone.org store. Now, back to today's topic.

[Sam Marr]

What's interesting. That's Acts, chapter nine. And he has this vision of this sheet that comes down from heaven with various unclean animals on it. And he's told to take and eat. And he says, no, Lord. How many times did he see that same vision with the sheet coming down? Three times. And immediately after the vision, how many men come to him? From Cornelius, Three men. And are these three men Jews or Gentiles?

[Bob Wilkin]

Gentiles.

[Sam Marr]

They're three unclean men. And what are they telling him? To go to the household of an unclean man to talk to him about Christ. And so this passage is about Peter and the other apostles. Recognizing the church is not just for proselytes. Peter could have held the view that, look, anyone who believes in Jesus has everlasting life. But to be part of the church, they've got to not only believe in Christ, but they've got to be baptized and they've got to be circumcised. So they might think full participation in the church required more. Because in Acts 2, Peter was present when a group of Jews came to faith. But they didn't yet receive the forgiveness

[Bob Wilkin]

of sins, and they also didn't receive the Holy Spirit until they repented and were baptized. And that's the historic event. Here is verse 44. While he's still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon them.

[Sam Marr]

Okay, great.

[Bob Wilkin]

That's the emphasis.

[Sam Marr]

And what Does Peter say about baptism right after this?

[Bob Wilkin]

Then he says 47. He says, can anyone forbid water? That these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?

[Sam Marr]

We tend to think of baptism as something which we're imposing upon people. Peter is viewing baptism as. As a privilege.

[Bob Wilkin]

They're just like us. We were baptized. You know, why would we forbid them to be baptized?

[Sam Marr]

Right. But he's thinking that the Jewish believers who are with him might want to forbid them from being baptized. And he's saying, no, no, we can't forbid them because they've received the Spirit just as we have. You see, in Acts 10:43,48, we have the condition that exists today. I remember it from ribs, regeneration, indwelling, baptizing, sealing at the moment of faith. Ever since Acts chapter 10, the person who believes is not only born again and sealed, the R and the S, but they're permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and they're baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. In other words, they were already spirit baptized before they were water baptized. So in terms of Michael's question, believing in him for the forgiveness of sins is not synonymous with. With believing in him for eternal life. It's just that they recognized that you're not going to receive the forgiveness of sins unless you're also receiving everlasting life. But that doesn't mean then that we can just quote Acts 10:43 and people are going to get it, because people can think that I have the forgiveness of sins by faith in Christ, and. And yet in order to have ongoing forgiveness, I've got to confess my sins, which is, of course, what First John 1:9 teaches. So the problem is, if you think the forgiveness of sins is what you get when you believe, you may well not believe that you're secure forever.

[Bob Wilkin]

I think the best thing you could do, Michael, is go through the Gospel of John. See how the greatest evangelist evangelized he. And look at the bullseye that he was hitting every time. If you do that, then you're going to be evangelizing just like Christ did, and you're going to be hitting the bullseye every time. So I don't see the need to. Well, I like to say Jesus forgives your sins if to you they mean the same thing. I don't understand why you'd pick the one that Jesus didn't use over the one Jesus did use.

[Sam Marr]

I like that.

[Bob Wilkin]

So I think that's the best advice we could give is stick to the Gospel of John. Stick with what we know to be the bullseye and not stray into other areas and make an argument for, well, maybe this could be it.

[Sam Marr]

Now, I would say this just as a finishing touch here. Let's say someone used something that was truly synonymous with everlasting life. Like they said, you will be saved forever and you can't lose it. You're once saved, always saved. Most people would understand that to mean I'm going to be in his kingdom forever. Or you might say you'll be in his kingdom forever. You might say a number of things which are equivalent to eternal life. But Michael, I still agree with what Sam's saying. Why would I even say that? Save forever or be with him in his kingdom forever. When Jesus rarely used the word saved in John's gospel that way, he did in John chapter 10. I think it's verse 8 and he did in John 3:17. But his repeated message was he who believes in me has everlasting life. So let's keep that the bullseye if you happen to use a synonymous term. Okay? But don't use something that's not synonymous. The forgiveness of sins is not synonymous, so don't use that. Well, thanks Michael. Thank you Sam for all your good input. And remember, let's keep grace in focus.

[Host]

Be sure to check out our daily [e-mail] they are short and full of great teaching just like what you've heard today. Find [e-mail] resources blog. We would love to hear from you. Maybe you've got a question, comment or some feedback. If you do, please don't hesitate to send us a message. Here's our email address. It's radioaithalone.org that's radioaithalone.org and when you do very important. Please let us know your radio station call letters and the city of your location on our next episode. Is belief in Jesus enough? Come back and join us again. And in the meantime, let's keep grace in focus. The proceeding has been a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.