Do you ever shy away from evangelizing, because you are not sure how to make it clear to non-Christians that they are culpable to God? I know that I have. Sharing the Gospel can be scary stuff. In order to make encounters a little less frightening, here is an easy way to explain to an unbeliever what we all violate, making us all guilty before the Creator…
“The Bible says that it is sin when we do not do what we already know is good to do…
James 4:17 (HCSB)
‘So it is a sin for the person who knows to do what is good and doesn’t do it.’
Some people in church history have referred to our not doing of the right thing when we know better as being a violation of ‘natural law,’ or ‘God’s moral law.’ Others have referred to this as a violation of the ‘law of love,’ because Jesus says that the Law and the Prophets depend upon loving God and loving neighbor…
Matthew 22:37-40 (HCSB)
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.’
Therefore, when we sin, we violate natural law, or God’s moral law or the law of love. So, I have a question for you… Have you ever sinned?”
A friend of mine, Pastor Adam Staub (host of Shine as Lights Podcast) said the following about this clear and plain tactic…
“I like that simple approach… so many times (myself included) we feel like we’ve gotta ‘prove’ the sinfulness to a sinner by all these elaborate ways or questions. But scripturally, people know that they are sinners and it’s simple… ‘If you are not perfect, you’re in trouble and who among us has always done the good we know we ought to do?’”
The Affirmative Response
So, what do you say if the person you are evangelizing answers “yes” to being a sinner?
Give them hope…
“Jesus, also said this…
Mark 2:17 (HCSB)
‘Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.’
See, Jesus came for people such as you and me… sinners. That’s why we need to not only recognize and admit that we are sinners, but we also need to trust in Him (who came for sinners).
The Bible says that if we do…
John 3:15 (HCSB)
‘…everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.’
What do you think about these things?”
Now, you have a way to begin the conversation…
I hope this helps.
Godspeed, to the brethren!
*The above photo is a picture that Mike Stockwell took of me explaining the Gospel to someone, while we were evangelizing back in December of 2016.
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