The familiar caricature of the evangelistic tent revival depicts the preacher attempting to whip up a sense of sinfulness in the audience so that it will “come to Jesus” for mercy and forgiveness. The discussion here makes precisely the opposite point. If a congregation is led to an understanding of salvation, the sense of sin will come as a consequence — and then the knowledge that the danger is already past will result in profound and sincere repentance. That is the proper time to start talking about sin.
