Should We Follow Ray Comfort’s Example and Begin Evangelism by Trying to Convince People They are Sinners?

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Should We Follow Ray Comfort’s Example and Begin Evangelism by Trying to Convince People They are Sinners?

Podcast: Grace in Focus
Host(s): Bob Wilkin, Ken Yates (Grace Evangelical Society)
Date: March 12, 2026
Episode Duration: 13 minutes
Main Theme:
Examining whether Ray Comfort’s sin-focused evangelism method (“getting people lost before getting them saved”) is biblical or effective, particularly from a Free Grace theology perspective.

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Episode Overview

Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates respond to a listener question about evangelism strategies, specifically whether leading with conviction of sin—à la Ray Comfort—is the best way to share the gospel. They consider if and when highlighting sin is valid, or if the focus should be on God’s grace and the offer of eternal life through faith in Jesus alone.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Description of Ray Comfort’s Approach (01:07–02:24)

• Ken Yates summarizes Ray Comfort's style:
  • Begins evangelism by walking people through the Ten Commandments.
  • Asks probing questions to get people to admit personal sin (lust, lying, cheating).
  • Aims to make the person recognize their sinful state and need for salvation (01:39–01:58).
  • Urges the person to “turn from your sin and commit your life to perfection first” to receive salvation (02:07–02:16).
• Bob Wilkin identifies Comfort’s logic as: acknowledgment of sinfulness is the necessary first step before salvation (02:16–02:20).

2. Should Grace-Oriented Evangelism Ever Use This Approach? (02:20–03:44)

• Listener David asks: Is it ever appropriate for Free Grace, grace-oriented evangelists to use Comfort’s sin-emphasizing approach—especially with people whose lives are obviously steeped in sin?
• Bob reframes David’s question: Is it ever appropriate for "grace people" to focus on sin and the coming judgment (such as the Great White Throne)? (02:24–03:44)

3. Personal Story: Evangelism with a Broken Christian (03:44–07:00)

• Ken Yates recounts a seminary evangelism outreach:
  • Approached a homeless, alcoholic man in a park.
  • The man affirmed faith in Christ alone for salvation and the doctrine of eternal security (“once saved, always saved”), though admitting his current life was a mess (05:07–05:08).
  • Yates affirms the man’s salvation but encourages him to pursue discipleship and recovery (05:08–06:24).
  • Others at seminary disagreed, insisting someone living as a “drunkard” can’t be a true Christian (07:00–07:14).

Notable Quote:

“If you do believe that by faith in Jesus you have everlasting life and you can’t lose it, then you are indeed born again. And you’re my brother in Christ, and I rejoice in that. But you also know your life’s messed up…”
— Ken Yates (05:08–05:22)

• Key takeaway: For those already aware of their sin, highlighting it does nothing productive; the issue is discipleship, not initial conversion (07:00–07:14).

4. Is There a Biblical Precedent for Confronting Sin in Evangelism? (08:12–10:13)

• Ken proposes Acts 17:27–31 as a “pre-evangelism” example:
  • Paul, speaking to Athenian philosophers, warns of a coming day of judgment, but doesn’t call for moral reform before belief (08:12–09:05).
  • Paul mentions judgment and calls people to “repent,” but the aim is to prepare them to listen, not to condition salvation on moral change (09:19–09:59).
• Bob notes even in Acts 17, Paul doesn’t tie eternal life to reformation, but to belief (10:13–10:39).

Notable Quote:

“He made the fact that they were unbelievers an issue, that they were dead and needed life an issue.” — Ken Yates (11:37–11:50)

5. Problems with Ray Comfort’s Method (10:40–12:23)

• Bob & Ken assert that Ray Comfort’s approach:
  • Shifts the focus away from faith—sometimes even denying faith in Jesus is enough if there’s no moral reformation (11:50–12:09).
  • Risks “bruising the fruit”—coming on too strong with condemnation can alienate potential hearers:
  • “Don’t bruise the fruit. I think he’s bruising the fruit.” — Bob Wilkin/ Ken Yates (10:49–10:59)
• Jesus, in His interactions (Nicodemus, the woman at the well), does not make sin the primary issue; rather, He points out their need for eternal life and faith (11:35–11:50).

Notable Quote:

“That’s the problem with the Ray Comfort method. He doesn’t talk about eternal life like that.” — Bob Wilkin (10:40–10:45)

Example:

A young man tells Ray Comfort he believes in Jesus, but Comfort insists it’s “not enough” because the man hasn’t changed his lifestyle (11:50–12:20).

6. The Main Point—What to Emphasize in Evangelism (12:23–12:40)

• At times, acknowledging sin may be appropriate, but it is never the goal.
• The central focus: Eternal life is received by faith in Jesus Christ, not by turning from sin (12:35–12:40).

Notable Quote:

“There might be times when you point out the sin of the person, but the bullseye is eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ.” — Bob Wilkin (12:23–12:35)

“It has nothing to do with us turning from our sins. It’s just believing in Jesus.” — Ken Yates (12:35–12:40)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Ken Yates’ Story: Homeless believer still assured of salvation – shows the difference between conversion and sanctification (05:08).
• Acts 17 Example: Paul uses “coming judgment” as pre-evangelism, not as a call for moral reform (08:12–09:59).
• Ray Comfort Clips: Comfort tells a professed believer that faith isn’t enough; the young man insists, "I know I'm going to go to heaven... I believed in Jesus" (11:50–12:20).

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:07 — Introduction of Ray Comfort’s sin-focused evangelism.
• 02:20 — Listener’s question reframed: Is this approach ever valid for “grace people”?
• 03:44 — Ken Yates shares a story about meeting a homeless, professing believer.
• 07:00 — Reaction from seminary peers on assurance and lifestyle.
• 08:12 — Biblical consideration: Acts 17 as “pre-evangelism.”
• 10:40 — Critique: Why Ray Comfort's method misses the target of grace.
• 11:35 — How Jesus presented the gospel—focus on belief, not sin.
• 12:23 — Final stance: Focus on faith in Christ for eternal life.

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Conclusion

Wilkin and Yates conclude:

• There may be moments when drawing attention to sin and upcoming judgment is useful—particularly as “pre-evangelism” to prepare hearts—but the biblical model (Jesus and Paul) places the bullseye on belief in Jesus Christ for eternal life.
• Repentance, in the sense of turning from sin to clean up one’s life before believing, is not the gospel’s demand.
• Assurance rests on faith alone; sanctification, while vitally important, is a follow-up issue, not a prerequisite for salvation.

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For More: faithalone.org
Next Episode Teaser: What does “let the dead bury their own dead” mean?

Transcript

[Announcer]

The following is a listener supported ministry

[Bob Wilkin]

from the Grace Evangelical Society.

[Announcer]

What things should we emphasize when we are doing evangelism? Great comfort focuses on sin, perhaps like getting the person lost before you get them saved. What about grace? What's the right balance? How should we present the Gospel to an unbeliever? Let's talk about it today. Glad you are with us. This is Grace in a Ministry of the Grace Evangelical Society. I am. Our website is faithalone.org we have a bookstore there with Bob Wilkins latest book, the Gospel is still under siege. And you can also get information about our upcoming national annual conference. This year our theme is Believe in Christ for Life and discipleship. There will also be VBS for the kids. They will be studying crowns and rewards. The dates are May 18th through the 21st. Get registered [e-mail] now with today's question and answer discussion, here is Bob Wilkin along with Ken Yates.

[Bob Wilkin]

David asked a question about how we present the gospel or how evangelicals present the gospel. He mentions Ray Comfort. Now for those who don't know what Ray Comfort does and what would you say? He's certainly one of the most well known evangelists in Christendom today.

[Ken Yates]

I think so. I think he's Australian, right? Originally.

[Bob Wilkin]

Is he?

[Ken Yates]

I think maybe not. But he doesn't sound too Australian anymore. But he has this approach to evangelism where he initially talks about their sin.

[Bob Wilkin]

The Ten Commandments.

[Ken Yates]

The Ten Commandments. He wants to say things like, have you ever lusted after a woman? Have you ever slept with someone that wasn't your wife? Have you ever lied? Have you ever cheated? And then when you say, yes, so what does that make you? And he wants them to say, that makes me an immoral person. That makes me a liar.

[Bob Wilkin]

That makes me a sinner. Right?

[Ken Yates]

Makes me a sinner. And then from there what he wants to do is say Jesus offers you

[Bob Wilkin]

salvation from your sin, right?

[Ken Yates]

From your sin and from eternal condemnation. And in order to get that, you have to turn from your sin. You have to commit your life to perfection first.

[Bob Wilkin]

You gotta recognize that's why he does it, right? You gotta recognize your sinful status.

[Ken Yates]

And I think David's question is, is that the right approach?

[Bob Wilkin]

Yeah, well really his question is when he says we, I'm assuming he means grace people. We emphasize the goodness and love of God. I would say the grace of God, right? Jesus offers you eternal life as a free gift by his grace through faith and alone. But he says, are there times when it might be appropriate to use Something like what Ray Comfort does. In other words, that there's going to come a time when you're going to give an account of your life and David actually mentions the Great White Throne Judgment. So would there be a time, for example, for those of us who are Grace people who would say something like this, you know, one day, as an unbeliever, you're going to stand at the Great White Throne Judgment and the books are going to be opened and you're going to see that you fall short. Something like, I'm assuming this is what David means. So you need to be considering about that day. Your works are going to show that you fall short, if you will. And so his question is, is there ever a time when that is a valid approach? What if you meet somebody who is really, really, really dragging the bottom of the barrel when it comes to a sinful life? You know, he's a drug addict, whatever the case may be. Would Comfort's approach be an appropriate one?

[Ken Yates]

Let me tell you a quick story, and then we'll go to some scripture. When I was at Dallas Semin assignment one chapel service where we were supposed to go out into the community around the seminary and find people to evangelize. And so I got together with a friend of mine who had been on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ with me. And he and I went to this park about a quarter of a mile or so from the seminary. And we walked up to this park bench and there was a guy laying down on the bench. We asked him, hey, could we talk to you? We got to talking to the guy, and I was. I think I was leading the conversation, and I said, if God were to say to you, this was during the time when evangelism explosion was a big thing. And I started out by saying, if God said, why should I let you into heaven, what would you say? And he said, well, you know, I'm from Oklahoma. And he said, about two years ago, I came to Faith in Christ. And I believe that by faith in Jesus, I was saved once and for all. I believe in Once saved, always saved. And so I knew that Jesus died for me. And he promised that by faith in him I would be with him forever. And so he said, the reason he should let me into heaven is because I believe in Him.

[Bob Wilkin]

Wow.

[Ken Yates]

And I know that's true, but he said, you know, I'm not living the way I should. And he said, here I am sleeping in the park, and I'm a wino and everything. I've left my wife and my kids. So I don't feel good about that. But I do know that I am secure forever. And so I said to him, look, if what you're telling me is true, if you do believe that by faith in Jesus you have everlasting life and you can't lose it, then you are indeed born again. And you're my brother in Christ, and I rejoice in that. But you also know your life's messed up and you're not living the way God wants you to live. And this isn't good for your wife or your kids or you. And I said I would urge you. You're not far from Union Gospel Mission. It's just down the way here. Go to Union Gospel Mission. They'll put you up tonight. They have a discipleship program if you want to see if they'll let you into their discipleship program. And you can live there and be discipled by them. But I would urge you to get your life together because it's not honoring to God the way you're living. So we had a prayer with him and we left. And as we got up and left, the guy started walking toward where Union Gospel Mission is now. I don't know if he went there or not.

[Announcer]

It's coming. It'll be here before you know it. What am I talking about? The Grace Evangelical Society's National Conference 2026, May 18th through the 21st at Camp Koppass, an absolutely beautiful campground in North Texas, right on lake with lots of recreation, great food, a great place to stay, wonderful fellowship and wonderful free Grace Bible teaching information and online registration [e-mail] events. First timers waive registration fees. Faithalone.org events But I believe that the

[Ken Yates]

man was born again. When we got back to Dallas Seminary and we had lunch, we were visiting with a few other friends and I told them the story. And one of my friends who had also been on staff with Crusade said, oh, that's a terrible story. That guy clearly wasn't safe.

[Bob Wilkin]

What about the guy that was with you?

[Ken Yates]

Oh, yeah, the guy was with me. They asked him and he said, I'm not convinced. But he said, bob could be right, but I don't know. He sure wasn't living the way he should be living. And so I question it. But the other guy was like, no, I'm absolutely sure the guy's not born again because you can't be a drunkard and be born again. And so I think with the question that David's asking, should we follow Ray Comfort and do that it wouldn't have helped at all because this guy already believed that by faith in Jesus, he was secure. He didn't need anybody to tell him he was a sinner. He already knew it. Now, in answer to David's question, is there ever a time. Well, biblically, there's at least one. Look at Acts 17, Ken. Verses 27 to 31. This is where Paul is speaking to the Athenian philosophers. Now, I don't believe this is evangelism. I believe this is pre event, pre evangelism.

[Bob Wilkin]

Right.

[Ken Yates]

Okay, so pre evangelism is kind of an apologetic to get people to listen. But what does he say in Acts 17:27 to the philosophers at Mars Hill in Athens?

[Bob Wilkin]

He says, so that they should seek the Lord in the hope that they might grope for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring. Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. Truly, these times of ignorance, God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

[Ken Yates]

And then he mentions coming judgment because

[Bob Wilkin]

he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world, world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained.

[Ken Yates]

Notice he calls Jesus the Man. He doesn't even try to say, this

[Bob Wilkin]

is the God man, second person of Trinity.

[Ken Yates]

Right. He's just pre evangelism here.

[Bob Wilkin]

Right. And he has given assurance of this to all by raising him from the dead.

[Ken Yates]

So he does talk about coming judgment. Obviously, if Paul could do that. I don't think there's anything wrong to tell an unbeliever about the coming Great White Throne judgment. I don't think there's anything wrong to say we're going to be judged according to our works, whether we're a believer or an unbeliever. Because at both the judgment seat of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment, we're judged according to our works. But I do think it would be a terrible mistake to say because we're going to be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment, we need to turn from our sins and clean up our life, and then we're going to be worthy to be born again. No, if you read Revelation 20:11:15, the basis of being cast into the lake of fire is if you're not found in the Book of life. And the way you get in the book of Life is by believing. So what Paul's trying to do there is to lead people to faith. And I think, doesn't it say at the end then some of them believed?

[Bob Wilkin]

Well, it says, and when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked while others said, we will hear you again on this matter. And I think that's a key here. He's talking about the resurrection of the dead. So he's not saying that if they repent, they're going to be resurrected from the dead, but he does talk about the resurrection of the dead. And so the question is, if they listened to him more, he would have said, who believe in Jesus will be resurrected?

[Ken Yates]

Absolutely.

[Bob Wilkin]

Part of his kingdom.

[Ken Yates]

Absolutely.

[Bob Wilkin]

That's the problem with the Ray Comfort method. He doesn't talk about eternal life like that. Right.

[Ken Yates]

And Ray Comfort doesn't view what he's doing as pre evangelism.

[Bob Wilkin]

Right.

[Ken Yates]

One of the things we used to say with crusade is don't bruise the fruit. I think he's bruising the fruit because even though he shows videos with him and Kirk Cameron talking to people, and a lot of these people take it well and are nice and happy, I don't know how many videos he has to do before he finds one he can use. My guess is it's probably 25 or 50 before he gets somebody that goes, oh, yeah, that's cool, this is really helpful. And you know, I grew up in the church and I'm not living the way I should. And then, you know, whatever happens, I would suggest that a lot of people, when you approach them and try to convince them they're a sinner, it's not a good thing to do. And besides that, what did Jesus do when he talked to Nicodemus? Did he talk about his sin?

[Bob Wilkin]

No.

[Ken Yates]

How about the woman at the well?

[Bob Wilkin]

No.

[Ken Yates]

How about anybody in the Gospel of John that Jesus talked to? He did not make sin the issue. He made the fact that they were unbelievers an issue, that they were dead and needed life an issue.

[Bob Wilkin]

I saw a video of Ray Comfort one time and he was interviewing a young man. I'd say he was in early 20, and he had a little bit to drink. And Ray Comfort said, well, if you died, basically, would you wait? He goes, yeah, because I believe in Jesus. And Ray Comfort said, no, no, no, that's not enough. So he denied that it was by faith.

[Ken Yates]

And the guy with the buzz on was arguing with him.

[Bob Wilkin]

Right? Yeah. Like, no, no, I know I'm going to go to heaven. He goes, I know, I'm not living the way I should, you know, but I believed in Jesus. Yeah, so which I mean, I'm laughing,

[Ken Yates]

but it's sa evangelized comfort.

[Bob Wilkin]

That's right. So to answer David's question, we would say something like, yeah, there might be times when you point out the sin of the person, but the bullseye is eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ.

[Ken Yates]

And it has nothing to do with us turning from our sins. It's just believing in Jesus.

[Bob Wilkin]

Well, thanks for the question, David. And until next time, folks, remember, keep

[Ken Yates]

Grace in Focus,

[Announcer]

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[Bob Wilkin]

The proceeding has been a listener supported

[Announcer]

ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.