CHAPTER IV - The Messenger

 by Dr. A. Ray Stanford

Your Testimony

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men” Tit 3:8). 

The Bible says to BE CAREFUL to maintain good works. You can be sure that Satan will “pull every trick” to get you to ruin your testimony. Scripture says, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may DEVOUR” (1Pe 5:8). 

You will have to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:11 ). 

Many times when a Christian is sound doctrinally and determined to witness, Satan will “sneak around the back door” and ruin that Christian's effectiveness because he wasn't CAREFUL in his testimony. 

This is so important! God warns us, “Giving no offense in any thing, that the MINISTRY be not blamed!” (2Co 6:3) We should do what is proper in every situation because people will use our poor testimony to criticize Christian work. 

If people find that you lie, cheat, steal, speak in an uncouth manner, gossip, are inconsiderate of others, etc., you will not be liked, and you will do GREAT HARM to your ministry. People will look at your life and say, “If that is an example of Christianity, then I don't want it.” 

The Lord cautions us to “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1Th 5:22). Some things might be perfectly harmless for you to do, not sinful to you in any way, except that some Christians would consider it a poor testimony for one reason or another. God says, in that case, to abstain from it. Just don't do it. It isn't worth it. Your ministry-what you are trying to accomplish in your life for the Lord-is too valuable for you to risk its losing any effectiveness. God knows your heart, and He will bless you for your faithfulness.

The Apostle Paul was in a situation similar to this. In his day it was common for meat which had been offered to idols afterwards to be placed in the market for sale. He knew the meat was neither blessed nor cursed by the idol (1Co 8:8). But there were Christians who thought Paul should not eat that meat. 

Could Paul have eaten the meat? Yes. Did he? No! Why? He said, “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak” (Ro 14:21). “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend” (1Co 8:13). In Christian work you cannot offend people . . . and neither can you let yourself be offended. If you allow people to hurt your feelings, you will not be able to have the ministry with them in their lives that you need to have. 

Paul disciplined his own life in order to serve and help others. 

As a soulwinner, you will probably “give up” things that the average Christian wouldn't even question-not because you have to-but because you love the Lord so much that you wouldn't want anything in your life to keep people from trusting Christ as their Saviour.

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1Co 6:12). 

It is not a question of “Can you do this or that and still be saved?” And it wasn't that question in Paul's case. He knew the law could not affect his eternal life. But he kept himself from becoming enslaved by sin in his daily life (Ro 6:15-16) so he could be more greatly used for the Lord. 

“For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Ga 5:13 ) .

To be a fruitful witness for the Lord you must voluntarily discipline your life to carry the correct testimony for your Lord and Saviour. If you tell people about Christ and don't honor Christ in your life, people won't respect you and will not listen when you witness.

However, don't go to the opposite extreme either. Some Christians get so introspective that they spend all their time trying to be “holy,” spend hours in “prayer and meditation,” but neglect to tell the lost about Christ. They live “good lives” before others, but no one ever hears the gospel from their lips. If you live a good life but don't witness, you will get all the glory instead of Christ, to whom all glory belongs (1Co 1:31). 

It is amazing what high standards even the world sets for Christians, and truly we should live the best possible life and testimony. You will be labeled as a “fanatic” if you witness without a life to back it up. A good testimony and a good witness go hand-in-hand. You must have both really to glorify the Lord. They are not in competition. 

Satan will deceive anyone who will accept his “line,” whether that person be saved or unsaved. Joh 8:44 says Satan is a liar and the father of lies. Satan tries to get the lost to live good lives, deceiving them that this would help them get to heaven. Satan tries to keep the saved from living good lives, because he knows that this will keep the lost from accepting the gospel when it is presented. 

I Thessalonians, chapter two, mentions many qualities Paul had as a soulwinner. As you study this passage, you will notice that he (1) was bold in his witness, (2) used no deceit or trickery, (3) fulfilled his trust and pleased God, (4) was honest, (5) didn't seek the praise of men, ( 6 ) was gentle, ( 7 ) had great love and concern, ( 8 ) labored diligently, (9) carried a good testimony, and (10) taught them to live for the Lord. 

If you want to be a great soulwinner, you must be a great servant. “. . . whosoever will be great among you, shall be your MINISTER” (Mr 10:43) . 

The Apostle Paul is a wonderful example of a really dedicated Christian. Listen to his own words in 1Co 9:1,19. “Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” 

Do you realize the extent of the dedication of the Apostle Paul? Yes, he witnessed night and day for three years straight, publicly and privately (Ac 20:20-21,31). But what was he willing to give up to lead a soul to Christ? 

Money? Position? Spare time? Sports? Home? Health? Life itself? 

Did you know that he was willing to have given his OWN SOUL that others could be saved? 1Th 2:8 tells us, “So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also OUR OWN SOULS, because ye were dear unto us.” Paul cared so much for souls that he was willing, if it were possible even to go to hell himself, if that would help his fellow Jews to be saved (Ro 9:3). 

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Some things aren't even a poor testimony in themselves, but they “bog” you down, they are “weights,” they take up valuable time which you should be using for the Lord. Heb 12:1 says to “lay aside every weight.”

Your life can become filled with so many “good” things of this life that you haven't the time to do much for Christ. If you really want to join in this battle for souls, heed the Scripture which says, “No man that warreth entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2Ti 2:4). 

No one can tell you how to run your life . . . what to include in your schedule, and what to leave out. You could probably rationalize and excuse any activity which you wanted to. But between you and the Lord you must decide what is best for your service to Him.

Your time is your life. You do not know how much you have. How you spend your time each day will determine the total worth of your life. Your future is being determined by what you do each day. If your life is made up largely of sports, money, pleasure, television, clubs, etc., then your life will come and go-and not much will be accomplished for Christ in it. 

Paul said that for him to live was “Christ.” He spent his time on things that were valuable to Christ. How do you spend your time? Mostly on yourself, or mostly for Christ? Can you say, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”? (Php 1:21) If your time is spent for Christ, dying truly will be gain for you, for you will have much reward in heaven. 

Your Bible

God says in 2Ti 3:15, “. . . the holy Scriptures . . . are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Ro 10:17). 

God exalts His Word even above His own Name (Ps 138:2). With such high recommendation from God Himself, we certainly should know the Bible WELL, for our own personal comfort and exhortation and to bring the gospel message to the lost. 

In many parts of the world today the governments will not allow Bibles to be printed, and Bibles have to be smuggled into the country. If there is one printed copy of the Word of God in the entire congregation, the people consider themselves fortunate . . . and this one Bible is passed from family to family, who eagerly copy portions by hand, so that they may have some of the precious Word of God written down for use in their homes. Today in America we sometimes don't stop to realize how fortunate we are with our open Bibles.

The familiar verse, 2Ti 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” should be taken very seriously. 

Yes, it is possible to win souls with very little knowledge of Scripture. A baby is not expected to have the knowledge of a college graduate. But when a baby remains infantile all his life, it is certainly a great tragedy. 

God says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may GROW thereby” (1Pe 2:2). Those who desire to be FRUITFUL soulwinners should be “ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh (him) a reason of the hope that is in (him) . . .” (1Pe 3:15). 

Paul said he was “. . . READY to preach the gospel . . .” (Ro 1:15). To be ready to preach the gospel in such a way that will answer people's questions will require that you spend time MEMORIZING Scriptures on salvation and studying thoroughly the passages which answer people's questions. 

GOD'S WORD IS POWER! Knowledge of God's Word and how to best present it is your greatest “weapon” in witnessing. “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12) . 

Even when you are talking to someone who says he doesn't believe the Bible, don't stop using it. A soldier doesn't throw down his sword just because the opposition doesn't think it will work. The lost will never see salvation without the Word of God. It is the entrance of God's Word that gives light to the lost (Ps 119:130). 

Yes, there are times when a person needs a lengthy explanation of something, and you will need more than a verse of Scripture to adequately answer his question. But be watchful that you don't embark upon a philosophical discussion of no profit to the man's salvation.

The Apostle Paul was highly educated by the finest instructors of his day, and yet he said of his witnessing, “My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of MAN'S wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of GOD” (1Co 2:4-5). 

Paul was concerned that his children in the faith might not always keep their message simple and Christ-centered, and warned them of Satan's tactics, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his SUBTILTY, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2Co 11:3). 

Satan won't say to you, “Hello, this is Satan speaking, and if you just simply present the gospel, most people will accept it, but I want people to go to hell, so please complicate the gospel by using technical words, or having a philosophical discussion, or by adding man's good works and righteousness for salvation, so they won't receive Christ as their Saviour.” 

NOT AT ALL! 

Satan comes in with a sweet, quiet voice and might say, “Look, Christian, this person is a very moral, intelligent, up-to-date citizen. If you start talking to him about the Bible, sin, Jesus' blood, and having faith, etc., he will think you are absolutely NUTS. 

“So what you should do is to approach this person on an intellectual plane, so he will think you are educated and on his level. Tell him how good he is, how wonderful it is to be broadminded. Don't offend him by talking about the blood of Christ, but rather, discuss the love of God and the wonderful achievements of modern man and society today, and you could slowly turn his thoughts toward religion and a belief in God.” 

MANY people are fooled by this trickery of Satan. Don't fall for Satan's lie. DON'T BE FOOLED! Give out the gospel purely and simply. 

USE THE SCRIPTURES! 

Even some students in Bible college, who really love the Lord and His Word, are blinded by Satan into thinking they could effectively win souls through some “philosophical approach” rather than by using the Word of God, depending upon the Holy Spirit. Paul also said, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and NOT AFTER CHRIST” (Col 2:8).

It cannot be emphasized too strongly that the GOSPEL is the power God uses to save people. Now I do not mean by this that you do not adapt your illustrations and examples to interest the particular person you are witnessing to. You should witness with his background in mind. For instance, you would use the scientific-statements in the Bible to interest a chemistry major in college, or astronomical or medical statements in the Bible with those interested in astronomy or medicine, etc. 

Use the things in your own testimony that would establish rapport between you. For instance, when I talk to a Jewish person, I usually mention that I am part Jewish and attended synagogue for two years. When I talk to a Catholic, I might mention I took a six-month catechism course in a Roman Catholic church. When talking to a Protestant, I can mention that I spent three years attending different Protestant churches. All these things are true, and yet they would not all interest every person to the same degree. So I try to think in terms of the other person's background and establish some common ground between us.

This does not mean a compromise on DOCTRINE, but it allows me to have an empathy established, which is very helpful in witnessing. Think back upon your own life and you will be amazed to discover what interesting things have happened to you (they MUST be true) that you can profitably use in witnessing. And then, DO use them. People are usually interested in what has happened to someone else. It doesn't seem to put THEM on the “spot.” This helped Paul's witnessing, too (1Co 9:19-23). 

But it is the SCRIPTURES, it is the GOSPEL that will save-not your wisdom. Because of man's natural pride, it will be very easy to fall into this snare of Satan's of using too much of your own philosophy and not enough of the Word of God.

How To Study Your Bible 

If at all possible, it is wise to set aside a special time for your Bible study and not to let Satan sidetrack you to do something else during that time. You will never “find” time to study, pray, or witness-you must “make” time. People usually manage to have time for whatever is really important to them. To study your Bible so that you have a thorough working knowledge of it is important to you as a soulwinner for many reasons: 

(1)   It is God's command to you (2Ti 2:15).
(2)   God's Word brings faith (Ro 10:17).

It will not only bring to the lost the knowledge of salvation, but it will also strengthen  your own faith. 

(3)   You will use the Word to edify, exhort, guide, and comfort Christians under your care (2Ti 4:2).
(4)   The Bible is your own guidebook for every situation of life, and you will want to have what God says at your “finger-tips” (Mt 4:4) .
(5)   The Word of God is part of your defensive weapon against Satan's attacks upon you (Eph 6:17). Remember how Christ rebuked Satan by using Scripture (Mt 4:10-11).

Below are some hints toward successful Bible study. 

A. Read with the INTENTION OF REMEMBERING what you read. 

B. GO OVER what you have read until it is clear in your mind. 

C. MAKE NOTES on the things that impress you as you read. 

D. COMPARE SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE to understand the passage in its proper relationship with the rest of the Word of God. 

E. ANALYZE the verse:

1) Who wrote it?
2) To whom was it written?
3)  What general topic is being discussed? (Consider the context.)
4) What does it NOT say?
5) What things COULD it mean?
6) Eliminate the possible meanings by comparing it with other Scripture until you feel you have the right one.

F.   If you still do not understand a passage:

1 ) LOOK UP WORDS which are unclear to you in a concordance. A good one is Strong's Concordance, published by Abingdon Press, which lists every word in the English Bible and gives the Hebrew or Greek word and its translation. It is the work of over one hundred scholars. 

2) LOOK UP THE PASSAGE in other good translations of the Bible. Some are:

American Standard
Williams
Amplified

3) STUDY the passage with the help of GOOD COMMENTARIES. Some are: 

   DeHann 
   Ironside 

G. Campbell Morgan
Spurgeon
Woodbridge

4) Discuss the passage with another Christian and get his viewpoint of the Scripture. 

G. KEEP A NOTEBOOK. When you are satisfied with a particular explanation, write down your conclusion and file it under a topical heading. After a while you will have collected much good information that will help you greatly in your private study and public teaching ministry in the future. 

H. REFERENCE YOUR BIBLE. When a verse stands out in your mind as the key verse on a given subject, use that verse as a place to list the references of other verses on that subject in the margin right beside it. 

I. SELECT A BIBLE WITH CLEAR PRINT. We like the Scofield Reference Bible, which is a King James translation and has notes and references which are very helpful in study. Get the Bible with the best cover and paper that you can afford because it will last the longest. 

Treat your Bible with care. When a cover becomes too shabby, you might want to have it rebound rather than to transfer your notes into a new Bible. If you do get a new Bible, try to get the same kind where the same passage is found on the same place on the page. This is good because much of your memory is “sight-oriented.” You will automatically find yourself looking for the verse where you are accustomed to seeing it on the page. 

J. As you study, memorize the plan of salvation in a brief outline form, maybe just seven points . . . for instance: 

1) All sinners-Ro 3:23
2) Result-death-Ro 6:23
3) Heaven perfect-Re 21:27
4) Cannot earn-Eph 2:8-9
5) Christ paid and gives righteousness-2Co 5:21; Php 3:9
6) Only believe-Joh 3:16
7) Know you have eternal life-1Jo 5 :13 

This will be extremely valuable when you witness . . . not that you will quote it verbatim as you witness . . . but your mind will then be free to start right in with the gospel even when you are nervous and may perhaps otherwise be caught tongue-tied for lack of knowing what to say. 

Memorizing the main points of what one wants to cover has been a successful procedure in business where person-to-person contact is required in any type of sales or persuasion. The soulwinner should use any Scriptural methods and techniques that work as an aid in his witnessing. 

Your Love

In Ro 1:1 Paul says he is a “servant” of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for servant is “doulos” and means “slave.” Paul served the Lord with a voluntary love. A person in love feels compelled to please the one he loves and yet is not forced to. No law says the young man must be courteous and kind to the girl he loves . . . he does not have to, but he finds he wants to. What girl would want flowers if the boy felt he had to bring them? What girl would want a gift of candy or perfume if her boy friend felt he was obliged to give her a present? When you are in love, you desire only voluntary expressions of it. Force would take away any meaning it might otherwise have had. 

God did not choose to make us puppets that would act as He manipulated them, bowing when He pulled one string, speaking when He pulled another. Our loving God is the per-son who wanted us to have a great capacity to love-to love Him-and to love others . . . but love must be voluntary, or it isn't really love at all. 

One of the many serious flaws of communism is that it can never bring satisfaction to its subjects because there is no place for love in its system. God created us with an enormous capacity and craving for love. No human being can completely fill the need of another for this love. One philosopher, Pascal, said well, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in every man, and only God can fill it.”

It was verses like Joh 3:16, which tell of God's great love, that caused me to accept Christ as my Saviour. It does something to me when I realize that the God who made everything in the entire universe actually loves me. I do not understand how this could be, but I believe it and do so respond to His love that it has changed my whole life. 

Something about my make-up causes me to want to please someone who really loves me. I cannot be indifferent to a person who loves me. Can you? 

It is not always easy to analyze why we love someone, but when it comes to our love for the Lord, the reasons are abundant. A Christian cannot read his Bible for very long without finding so many characteristics of our Lord that just compel us to love Him more and more. 

The more you serve the Lord, the more you “put on the line” for Him, the more your love for Him will grow. Many Christians express a desire to feel closer to the Lord. Reading His Word will help greatly, but one sure way is actually to get out and SERVE the Lord with your whole heart. Working “hand in hand” with the Lord forms a great bond of sweet and conscious fellowship that is very satisfying. I believe this is part of what the Apostle Paul was bringing out in Ga 5:22, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. . . .” The result of letting your life be controlled by the Spirit, obeying God's leading, really brings love into your life-love for the Lord . . . love for the lost . . . and love for Christians, too. 

This love for the Lord is not some “gushy” love. It is a very practical love that causes Christians to do many things for the Lord, some of which can even be unpleasant things in themselves. 

A mother who gets up in the middle of the night to take care of her sick child is not doing so because she just “loves” to lose sleep, and just “loves” to be around vomit . . . but because she has a real, deep LOVE and CONCERN for her child. 

Can you imagine what Christian service would be like if God had kept us under law, and not under grace, for us to live by? Because we are saved as a gift of God's grace, we feel such an overwhelming debt of gratitude to the Lord that just anything we can do for Him is a real pleasure. How could we possibly begin to repay God for what He has done for us?

In Lu 7:47 Christ explains that one who has been forgiven of much sin will certainly love God much; haven't we, therefore, much capacity to love Him? 

It is a very sad thing to hear of seemingly sincere members of various religions living lives of terrible, physical and mental torture, thinking this would somehow please God. If only they would believe God when He says over and over again in the Bible that He does NOT delight in our “sacrifices and offerings” for salvation, and that furthermore, it is the “love of Christ” that should constrain us to serve Him, not fear. Yes, fear will. But God would so much prefer that we serve Him because we love Him. 

Stop and think . . . 

God saved you by His grace,

God keeps you saved by His grace,

God leads and guides you by His grace,

God enables you to serve Him by His grace,

God rewards you with love, joy, and peace in this life for serving Him by His grace,

God rewards you in heaven for having served Him on earth . . . SUCH GRACE!

Surely, God is good, and with the Psalmist we must say, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” (Ps 116:12)

I love the Lord, don't you?

CHAPTER III - Chastening and Rewards

by Dr. A. Ray Stanford

Yes! Eternal life is guaranteed to all believers, but never make the mistake of thinking Christians can live as they please. They cannot. They can try, but God will not allow it. This should be made very clear as you witness. This is very important because failure to make this clear can keep a person from wanting to trust Christ as his Saviour. 

When you are saved, you become God's son, and while you have certain privileges as God's child, remember that God is now your Father and has the responsibility of taking care of you. If a person thinks a Christian could live in sin and not be punished for it, he doesn't know much of the Bible, nor does he understand the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian. 

History attests to the fact that when evil is allowed to go unpunished, it multiplies and causes heartbreaking damage. Confucius created a social situation that amazed the world: Under his system there was no crime problem. Why? He punished evil and rewarded good. Confucius followed the same plan God uses in dealing with His children. 

God deals with His children mainly in two ways: ( 1 ) When you respond to and obey the Lord's leading in your life, God's discipline for you will be mainly one of guidance, encouragement, and further instruction; (2) When you rebel against God's leading, He will deal with you in however strong a measure it takes for you to obey Him. People are motivated mainly by two things: love and fear. God uses each in a perfect blend that is just right for each Christian. 

Pr 3:11-12, “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction: For whom the Lord LOVETH He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” This is quoted in Heb 12:6. Notice, when God corrects you, is it because He hates you? No, but because He loves you and knows what is best for you. 

Job 5:17, “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.” 

When a Christian disobeys God, he should confess it right away. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to for give us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jo 1:9). Every time you sin, you should confess it. Every time you confess your sin, you will be forgiven. 

Please notice two other things about 1Jo 1:9. 

(1) God does not guarantee restoration of fellowship on the basis of confession of sin. Fellowship with the Lord comes when a Christian disciplines his life so that he has “things in common” with the Lord. 

(2) God does not guarantee restoration of damage resulting from sin on the basis of confession of sin. For instance, perhaps a Christian has gone away from things of the Lord and starts to drink, and he ruins his kidneys. If he confesses his sin, yes, the Lord will forgive him . . . but that forgiveness doesn't heal his damaged kidneys. 

There is a natural result of sin as well as God's personal chastisement in your life. Ga 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Notice that God does NOT add, “EXCEPT if he confesses it.” 

A Christian can do wrong things, but he cannot escape the CONSEQUENCES of doing wrong things. A person can put his hand into the fire if he wants to, but he cannot escape getting his hand burned. Some Christians want to sow wild oats all week long and then pray for CROP FAILURE at the end of the week! 

One could not say how often you could commit the same sin before God would severely chasten you for it. The Lord uses His discretion in every instance. You will receive “personalized” attention. People often want to know “what God will do to them” if they do “thus and so.” Heb 12:11 says when God chastens you it will not be pleasant: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” 

A disobedient child is never happy. Continued sin often brings weakness and sickness into your life. If you refuse to respond to God's dealings with you, if you refuse to discipline your life, God can even take you home earlier than He would have otherwise 

(1Co 11:30-32). 

An example of a Christian taken home by God before his time because of sin is found in 1Co 5:1-5. This person was committing adultery with his mother (or stepmother). Verse five says this person's body was destroyed-he was taken home-but please notice that he did not lose his salvation. In 1Co 3:15 we read, “If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved. . . .” Sin in the life of a Christian will result in a loss of his joy, power, testimony, fellowship, and reward. 

The passage of Scripture, 1Co 3:11-15, should be clearly understood by the soulwinner because it gives a good picture of what happens at the Judgment Seat of Christ for believers, and understanding this subject thoroughly will better enable you to answer questions that the lost often ask, such as: “How could God be just and fair if He lets both good people and bad people into heaven?” 

Even though everyone is a sinner, and even though Christ has given complete forgiveness of all sin to all those who receive Him as Saviour, yet God still has many ways of seeing that those who truly serve Him are rewarded, and those who do not serve Him suffer loss of reward both on earth and later in heaven. 

Notice, in 1Co 3 :11, that the only foundation God recognizes is the foundation of Jesus Christ. Then, in v. 12, the Christian may build either good or bad works in his life once he is saved. In v. 13 we find that God will judge every person's work to see what was good and what was bad. Verse 14 says that those who have done good work will receive reward, but v. 15 clearly teaches that those who have not done good works will suffer loss of reward even though they will not lose their salvation. 

Eph 2:8-9 tells us we are saved by grace through faith, but verse ten says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” God wants His children to live a life of service to Him-not to be saved, but because they are saved. 

After a person trusts Christ for salvation he should heed Ro 12:1-2 for service, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” 

A life of service for the Lord will be richly rewarded both now and later. When you obey God's Word and let the Lord run your life, you will have love, joy, and peace in your life (Ga 5:22). God promises, “If they obey and serve Him they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures” (Job 36:11 ) . Jesus said, “. . . I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Joh 10:10). 

If you want God to honor your life, you must serve Him. And if you DO serve the Lord, God is BOUND to honor your life. “. . . If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor” (Joh 12:26). The “secret” of “Christian Victory” is no more or less than obeying God. You might sometimes think disciplining your life to serve the Lord is difficult. What you want to do will often be the opposite of what God wants you to do, but the reward is great . . . and have you considered what it will cost you if you do not serve the Lord? 

Job exhorts, “. . . who hath hardened himself against Him, and hath prospered?” (Job 9:4) Listen to the warning in De 28:47-48, “Because thou servedest not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and IN WANT OF ALL THINGS: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck until he have destroyed thee.” 

In Isa 30:1 God says those Christians who rebel against Him will have trouble . . . those who refuse the counsel of God in the Scriptures so that they can live their own lives of sin can expect trouble. “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of Me; and that cover with a covering, but not of My spirit, that they may add sin to sin.” 

Satan will always give you the best excuses why you shouldn't obey God. But the decision as to what you will do with your life is completely up to you. As we have mentioned before, salvation is voluntary, and service is voluntary. If you do not serve the Lord, you will have no one to blame but yourself. 

Perhaps you may feel you have no particular “talent” to give to the Lord. God says the greatest ABILITY in Christian work is DEPENDability. “. . . It is required in stewards that a man be found FAITHFUL” (1Co 4:2). It is not required that you are (1) popular, (2) wealthy,(3) successful, (4) educated, or (5) influential. God honors the believer who faithfully does his best for the Lord each day. 

Notice in 1Ti 1:12 the reason that God put Paul into the ministry. It wasn't that God just “chose” him for some intangible, vague reason. Paul had proven to be a faithful servant already, and God put him into the ministry because he could be counted upon to continue being FAITHFUL. 

An interesting insight God has given us into the real reasons why many people do wrong and think they can actually get away with it, even in the sight of God, is found in Ec 8:11, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” People forget that there is usually a TIME LAPSE between planting and reaping. The result of what we do is often not produced until later. (But then, when we realize the harm that has been done, it is too late to remedy the damage.) De 32:35 says, “To Me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in DUE TIME....” 

What you plant in your life will always come up. If you sow to the flesh, you will have nothing but heartache. Worldly p1easures are (1) trouble to get, (2) they don't satisfy when you do get them, and (3) there is great sorrow when they are lost. It has been said that the life of the world is the “life of the constantly bursting bubble.” 

A disciplined life for the Lord will cost you work, time, and effort. But an undisciplined life costs much more. Usually you will find it is not so much a question of KNOWING God's will for your life as being willing to DO it. 

Determine that your life is going to amount to something for the Lord, and then discipline your life to that end. Every successful business has a time-table . . . a plan of progress . . . a projection for the future. There is no room in today's world for the mediocre person. AIM FOR THE HIGHEST. Don't settle for being an “average Christian.” After all, “average” is just as close to the bottom as it is to the top. Don't be ordinary. STAND UP for the Lord Jesus Christ, and serve Him with all that is within you. 

Remember that happiness is not found in pleasure, money, laughter, fame, or getting what you think you want . . . but is a by-product of a Spirit-controlled, useful life for the Lord Jesus Christ. Your future is being determined by what you do TODAY. If you want to accomplish great things for the Lord in the future, you must accomplish something for the Lord today. 

Even unsaved ministers, doctors, and psychiatrists know the best advice they could give a depressed and unhappy person is to help someone else-to go and be of service. This brings joy. The Lord, our Great Physician, knows that serving Him brings the highest joy possible. Instead of trying to “buck” God's plan, why not follow His advice and share in all the good things God wants to bring into your life? 

God is looking all over this earth for those who are singlemindedly, sincerely wanting to serve Him, that He might exercise His mighty power in their lives. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him . . .” (2Ch 16:9). God WANTS to do things for His children . . . but He cannot reward EVIL. When you serve Him, He will do all things for you. 

Besides the contentment you will have now, as you live your life for the Lord, knowing you are truly experiencing the fullest life possible on this earth - that of being in the service of our King-our wonderful God also promises that the person who is a faithful servant here will be greatly rewarded in the kingdom of God. 

While it would be wrong for the Christian to serve the Lord ONLY because he will be rewarded for it, there is nothing wrong with realizing that God has set such a HIGH VALUE upon serving Him that He does promise to reward His servants . . . and with living our lives in accordance with the standards of value that He has placed upon things.

In Heb 11:24-26 we find that Moses did just this. “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ GREATER RICHES than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense OF THE REWARD.?' Moses served the Lord, motivated by the knowledge of future reward. 

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He shall reward every man according to his works.” (Mt 16:27). “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Mt 25:21). 

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2Co 5:10). 

Make it very clear that this person is not in a judgment to determine if he will go to heaven or hell. That was determined while the person was still living on earth, on the basis of whether or not he had received Christ as his Saviour. But this is a judgment for believers only, to determine whether or not they will have rewards during the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. 

A person must build upon the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ (1Co 3:11). Even the best works a person could build outside of Christ are only ''filthy rags” and could never amount to the righteousness needed for eternal life in heaven (with or without rewards).

This must constantly be emphasized to people, and especially to an audience. If you are in the position of teaching a group on this subject, you must not only make the gospel clear in their minds, but clear enough in their minds so that they know how to make it clear to someone else; and not only so, but clear enough in the minds of your group so that they not only CAN make it clear to someone else, but that they will see the IMPORTANCE of staying with the gospel to others, until it is clear to them also. 

Paul was expressing this in 2Ti 2:2 when he said, “And the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 

We should serve the Lord for the praise of God and not for the praise of men. It is the Lord who will reward you. Certainly men will not. “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive OF THE LORD, whether he be bond or free” (Eph 6:8). 

Situations are bound to occur in your Christian service in which you have done something for the Lord but another Christian seems to be receiving all the credit. Don't let it bother you. The Lord is keeping the books. YOU will be rewarded for what YOU do regardless of how people look at it on earth. “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his OWN reward ACCORDING TO HIS OWN LABOUR” (1Co 3:8). “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1Co 15:58).

Instructions for a New Christian

Study Your Bible

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby” (1Pe 2:2). 

A person has faith that Christ will save him when he hears the plan of salvation from the Word of God and believes it (Joh 5:24) . . . and a person strengthens his faith that the Lord will lead him in his Christian life as he studies God's Word, believes God's Word, and obeys God's Word. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Ro 10:17). 

The only way really to understand the Bible is to study it, and every Christian who studies his Bible will tell of the great enjoyment he has in doing so, as well as gaining much knowledge. God's Word is power! KNOWLEDGE of God's Word and HOW TO PRESENT His Word will give you the power necessary to be an effective soulwinner.

The Bible tells us to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2Ti 2:15). 

Another reason why we should study the Bible is also found in II Timothy, chapter 3, v. 16, 17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is PROFITABLE for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” Encourage the new believer to read his Bible, perhaps beginning with the Gospel of St. John. 

Pray

Prayer is not some stilted, memorized speech that you make to God but conversation with your heavenly Father, who loves you very much. It should be just as natural for a Christian to talk to the Lord as it is for a little boy to talk to his Daddy. In fact, in Ro 8:15 the word “Abba,” referring to our heavenly Father, is actually a very close, personal term, just like our word “Daddy” is today. Children of God can know Him intimately. There is no reason why a Christian should approach God in prayer with formal speeches. It does not show disrespect for God to address Him personally, but rather, it shows Him that we love Him deeply. Ga 4:6 says that God Himself has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, so that we would call our Father “Abba.” God really wants us to “feel at home” when we talk things over with Him. 

God invites us to talk to Him, “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jer 3:3 ). 

One of the wonderful things about prayer is that the Lord will never turn a deaf ear to you: He is always interested in what affects you. 1Pe 5:7, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” Encourage the new believer to pray often every day.

Meet Together With Other Christians

Your love for the Lord, for Christians, and for the unsaved will be greatly increased as you meet with believers and have fellowship with them. The New Testament believers gathered together often for prayer, Bible study, and to encourage one another in their witnessing and comfort one another in their testings. 

“And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them . . .” (Ac 14:27). 

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb 10:25). 

Also see Ac 15 :4; Ac 20:7; 21:18-20; and Ga 6:1-2. 

It is the rare person who can withstand the pressures of his friends. If your friends are not those who know the Lord and take a stand in serving Him, they will constantly pull you down. It is of utmost importance to make your friends the kind of Christian you aspire to be. 

Some of the most precious times in the lives of Christians have been spent in the prayer meetings of churches where believers gathered together to share their needs and help one another through the encouragement of testimonies and the power of earnest, intercessory prayer. Encourage the new believer to attend a good, Bible-believing and teaching church. 

Tell Others How To Be Saved

A person who has just trusted Christ is often radiantly happy about experiencing the love of God. This glowing “first love” is best nurtured by telling others that God also loves them, and explaining how they, too, can be saved. A newly-saved person usually will readily see the need for his friends to trust Christ as their Saviour and will be eager to witness. 

While endless preparation can go into learning how to witness most effectively, never leave a new Christian thinking witnessing should be done only by pastors and Bible college graduates. It is the responsibility of every Christian. 

“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” (1Th 2:4). 

It is such a privilege for us . . . that God would actually put US in trust with His wonderful gospel message! It is not only a privilege in the sense that we can exercise it or not at our own choosing, but once we have the Holy Spirit living in us (as all Christians do), He works in us and gives us a desire to witness for Him that is all but impossible to ignore. 

“Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, not speak any more in His Name. But His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I COULD NOT STAY” (Jer 20:9). 

God says that all those who have been reconciled to Him -those who have been given a righteousness through trusting Christ as their Saviour-are His AMBASSADORS. 

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to US the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto US the word of reconciliation. Now then WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2Co 5:18-20). 

Any person who understands enough of the plan of salvation to receive Christ as his Saviour knows enough to tell others what happened to him and how they also may be saved. Often, even after you know the Bible very well, the most effective witness you could give would be your own testimony with a few, simple, salvation verses. Encourage the new believer to be a witness for the Lord. 

Give the new Christian some literature that is clear on salvation. Chapter 22 (Literature: Recommended Reading List) of this book recommends literature of interest to the soulwinner and to the new Christian as well. A very effective tract, which has a distribution of over three million, “Am I Going to Heaven?” is pictured in Chapter Five. This tract is about salvation and is very good to leave with a new Christian. 

The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and will guide the Christian in all facets of his life in Christ. Your example and testimony before the new Christian, as the one who led him to the Lord, will no doubt influence him very greatly, especially at first. As you pray for him, pray also for your self, that you will always be the proper influence. 

As you see your child in the faith endeavoring to serve the Lord, you should encourage him to be water baptized as a testimony to others that not only is he saved, but also he now wants the Lord to use his life for His glory (Ro 6:4). (See Chapter Nine for coverage of the false teaching that man must be water baptized for salvation.) 

MEMORY VERSES FOR CHAPTER THREE

 Pr 3:11-12

*1Jo 1:9

*1Co 5:5

*1Co 3:15

*1Co 11:30

*Eph 2:10

*Ro 12:1-2

*Ga 5:22-23

 Job 36:11

*1Co 4:2

*2Co 5:10

*1Co 3:11

 1Co 15:58

 1Co 3:8

 1Pe 2:2

*Ro 10:17

 1Pe 5:7

 Heb 10:25

*Heb 12:6,11

*1Th 2:4

CHAPTER II - Eternal Security

by Dr. A. Ray Stanford

Eternal security is not a separate doctrine from salvation.

If you are not saved forever, you are not saved.

Those who think they are saved now but could lose their salvation later, have one of two problems: (1) either they are trusting to some degree in their works to save them, or (2) they do not understand that by trusting Christ as their Saviour, their destiny is in God's hands. Perhaps they have had little or no Bible teaching and do not realize that God has determined that all who believe will go to heaven when they die. 

The first group, those who think leading a poor Christian life will result in a loss of their salvation, actually need to have the plan of salvation made clear to them. Somewhere they have not fully understood that Christ's death paid for ALL their sin, that their works have NOTHING to do with their salvation, and that only their FAITH IN CHRIST will save them. You would answer their questions just as you would almost any lost person's; it is a clear-cut problem of “grace and works.” You just stay with the gospel until they see the light. 

An illustration that has clarified the issue for many with this problem deals with the definition of the word “Saviour.” What is a Saviour? Suppose you are drowning. There you are out in the middle of the ocean. Suppose someone were to throw you a book, Three Easy Lessons on How to Swim. Would he be a Saviour? No! Perhaps he could be called an “educator.” 

Now suppose a man got out of his boat, jumped in along side you, and demonstrated various swimming strokes showing you just how you ought to do it. Would he be a Saviour? Of course not. He would merely be an “example.” 

All right, what if he took you into his boat, dried you off, fed you, took you ten miles from shore-and then threw you out again into the ocean? Would he be a Saviour? By all means, no! He would be as a “deceiver,” a “probation officer,'' one who starts a heroic act and then quits right in the middle. He certainly would not be a Saviour! 

A Saviour is one who takes you safely all the way to shore! When God says He gives you eternal life and that He will never cast you out or lose you, He means it because He is the true Saviour! If you do not trust Christ to take you all the way to heaven, then you have not trusted Him as your Saviour. Let's examine Christ's own promise in Joh 6:37, “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” He says those who come to Him will not be cast out for any reason. 

To bring home this truth, use an illustration from family life. What kind of a parent would you be if, when your child was disobedient, you kicked him out and said, “Go to hell, I'm through with you!” Rather, the proper parent says, “Come on in!” and the parent has ways and means to deal with the disobedient child. 

God never casts out His children! God has other ways and means to deal with them, which we will discuss in Chapter Three. 

Some would say, “All right, God won't cast me out, but I could get out of my own will and choice.” The Lord anticipated such doubts and answers them clearly in Joh 6:39, “And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which he hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” It is God's will that no saved person would ever become lost. He says He will “lose nothing,'' and you are at least something! You could never be saved and lost again. God saves you forever. This is HIS will! 

In witnessing you should use only as many verses as are necessary for the person to see the truth. (Too many verses will confuse the person.) On this point of not losing salvation, you will usually find that Joh 6:37,39 are sufficient. They are certainly clear. At times you might sense that certain cases require additional verses, and the Scriptures abound with clear teaching. Study the passages thoroughly so you will know which verses will best answer the need of the person. 1Pe 1:4-5, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Notice who is keeping our salvation . . . God Himself, by His own almighty power! And He is reserving place in heaven for us. 

1Co 6:19, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God . . .?” The Holy Spirit lives inside of every believer. Joh 14:16-17 says, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth . . . for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” The Holy Spirit is in believers forever. If a saved person could go to hell, the Holy Spirit would have to go to hell, too. 

Eph 1:13-14, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” The Holy Spirit indwells every believer from the moment he trusts Christ as his Saviour for evermore. One important reason for this is to keep us saved and protected until we receive our glorified body. The term “earnest of our inheritance” is like when we make a “down payment on a house.” It is a guarantee that the rest is coming later-now we have the new birth-later we will have our new body. 

1Co 12:27, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” The moment you are saved, you become a member of the body of Christ. If you could ever become unsaved, part of Christ's own body would go to hell. 

Joh 10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” Notice again that Christ gives eternal life, and they who receive this eternal life shall never perish! When you look up the word “never” which occurs in Joh 10:28 in Strong's Concordance, you find that it comes from five different Greek words which are spelled in English: OU, ME, EIS, HO, and AION. The words OU and ME form a double negative meaning “Not at all, by no means, in no case, never.” This double negative was used to state denials or prohibitions emphatically (Dana and Mantey, A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament, p. 266). The remaining three words combine to form an idiomatic expression meaning “forever” (The Englishman's Greek New 'Testament, p. 276). 

When you put all of these meanings together, you find that when Christ says “never” here in this verse it carries with it very powerful assurance-much more than one word “never” ordinarily carries with it in our minds. If we were to take this most emphatic way of saying “never” in the Greek and try to bring it across into the English, Joh 10:28 would read something like this: “And I give unto them eternal life and they shall not at all, by any means, male or female, in any case, forever perish.” 

Christians are sanctified through the death of Christ (Heb 10:10), and Heb 10:14 tells us, “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Believers are sanctified, and Christ gives them the perfection they need to go to heaven. The word “sanctified” means to be made “holy, pure and blameless” (Strong's Concordance, Greek #37). God would never send a believer to hell . . . He has made the believer holy and blameless and has given him a perfection which will last FOREVER. 

Joh 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Christ says those who have everlasting life (they already have it) shall not be condemned (promise for the future). Since God promises believers will not be condemned, why not take Him at His Word and realize they will not be condemned? Believers cannot go to hell: They have already “PASSED from death unto life”! 

Php 3:9, “And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Christ's own righteousness is given to believers. Who would dare say Christ's righteousness isn't good enough for heaven?!? 

Col 2:13 and Ac 13:39 say the believer is already justified and forgiven of all sins. So what sin could send you to hell? In fact, when Christ died on the cross for our sins, ALL our sins were future. Ro 8:28-39 teaches nothing can separate believers from God. HE justified us; nobody could charge a single thing against us! What a Saviour we have! 

1Jo 5:10~13 is as clear a passage as could be written. Christ's death on the cross does not do anything for you unless it gives you everlasting life. If you have Christ as your Saviour, you have this life. Anyone who doubts that God gives eternal life is calling God a liar. Don't you think it would be very unwise to call God a liar? Personally, I wouldn't want to be in that category. 

There is an illustration which you might find will interest people along this subject. One evening a man was having trouble with doubts about his salvation. His wife came into the bedroom and found her husband running his Bible back and forth under the bed, and she asked him what in the world he was doing. He said he knew Satan was in the darkest places, so he was showing Satan 1Jo 5:13! (And this is a good idea when you have a doubt. Just claim the promise from the Word of God, and Satan will have no ground to give you doubts any more. The Word of God silences Satan.) 

Since God tells me I can know I have eternal life, I say, “Thank you!” and I know I have eternal life. I am taking God at His Word. God said it . . . I believe it . . . that settles it! I base my whole eternity on the fact that God cannot lie and His Word cannot fail. 

“God is not a man, that He should lie . . . hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Nu 23:19)

You will discover that when a person really understands the plan of salvation, he rarely will have a problem with “eternal security.” It has been our experience that the most effective way to deal with those who still doubt their eternal life, after they seemingly understand the gospel, is to go over one or two verses, perhaps Joh 6:37,39, and lovingly and firmly keep going over them until the person really believes what God is saying. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

MEMORY VERSES FOR CHAPTER TWO

*Joh 6:37,39

*1Pe 1:4-5

 1Co 6:19

 Eph 1:13-14

 Joh 14:16-17

*Joh 10:28

*Heb 10:10,14

*Joh 5:24

 Col 2:13

*Ac 13:39

 Ro 8:38-39

*1Jo 5:10-13

 Nu 23:19

NOTE: If you are unaccustomed to memorizing Scripture, we recommend you start with the verses marked*.

CHAPTER I - The Message: God's Plan of Salvation

by Dr. A. Ray Stanford

It would be wonderful if every person understood the entire Bible. There are many doctrines in the Bible that make extremely interesting topics of conversation. But in trying to lead a person to the Lord please remember that this person needs to understand the plan of salvation and nothing else until after he is saved.

God tells us that “...the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Co 2:14). The unsaved cannot really grasp spiritual teachings because they are not born again and do not have the Holy Spirit within to teach them these things.

God wants the unsaved to trust Christ as their Saviour, and will deal with the unsaved and help them understand the verses on the plan of salvation (Joh 16:7-11). Wait until the person is saved before you start talking about service or any so-called “deeper” truths.

The following will help a person see his need of the Saviour and how he can be saved. Because of differences in religious upbringing, every person will not need the same degree of emphasis on each point. As you explain the plan of salvation to someone you will be sensitive to notice which areas he needs to have dealt with at some length.

First we will cover the doctrine, then we will discuss the presentation, throughout most of this book.

1. DOCTRINE - Everyone is a sinner, less perfect than God. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Ro 3:23). The Virgin Mary, the Pope, your minister, your mother, you and I...all are sinners. “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not” (Ec 7:20).

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isa 64:6). If you compare your life with that of those around you, you might feel you are a good person; and, as man looks upon goodness, you may be. But when you compare even your best qualities with those of the Almighty God, you will immediately see that you are not as perfect as God. Nobody is. One word God uses when He says we “sin” is “hamartano” in the Greek, and means to “miss the mark” (James Strong's Concordance, page 10 of the Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, #264). We miss the mark of God's perfection.

PRESENTATION - Be careful how you point out the person is a sinner. Admit you are, and he will be much more willing to admit he is. An effective statement is, “God says everyone is a sinner...I am, you are, we all are.” Some people associate the term “sinner” only with “vile criminals.” Explain that when the Bible says we are sinners, it means even “good” people, because even they are not perfect. If you happen to know that the person is very moral, compliment him, but show that he still isn't perfect in God's sight (Isa 64:6; Jas 2:10).

While we must never act like, or imply that, we are “holy” because of personal righteousness, neither is it wise to go to the other extreme. Don't tell him your past (or present) sins. Don't use phrases like, “I used to be a sinner, but now I am saved.” A person will always be a sinner until he receives his glorified body. I have heard of a person who said he hadn't sinned in three years. 1Jo 1:8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Sometimes a person will feel he is too great a sinner for Christ to save him. To such a person, an effective statement is, “God cannot save a good person!” (There are no good people...Ro 3:12.) When the person knows he is a sinner, don't badger him until he “loses face.” Move on to the next thing you want him to see in the Bible.

ALWAYS keep the issue between the Bible and him and not between you and him. The issue isn't that you have the answers, but that God has the answers. Avoid referring to your opinion, that of his preacher, or of his denomination. Point out that “this is what the Bible says.”)

2. DOCTRINE - The result and penalty of sin is death...separation from God. “For the wages of sin is death...” (Ro 6:23). The payment for sin is death. Sin is not paid for by good works, penance, church membership, water baptism, etc. Sin is paid for by death. God does not hate the sinner, but He hates the sin. He hates sin because it separates us from Him (Isa 59:2), and He doesn't want us to be separated from Him. “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2Th 1:8-9).

Except for those taken in the Rapture, everyone will die physically. The body goes back to dust, and the soul goes to heaven or hell. Everyone is born dead spiritually (Eph 2:1). The soul is separated from God because we are sinners. This is why Christ said in Joh 3:7, “...Ye must be born again.” Only through a new birth of the Spirit can man have eternal life. If a person dies without having trusted Christ as his Saviour, his soul will be separated from God and he will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire forever...the Bible calls this the “second death” (Re 20:14-15).

PRESENTATION - For most people, a simple statement on this point is sufficient, as: “God loves us but hates our sin, because the payment for sin is death and separation from Him.” How to deal with specific “cult teachings” that differ from Scripture on this point will be covered in the chapters on Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Science. When you do not sense resistance on this point (and you usually won't), move on to what you want to cover next.

3. DOCTRINE - The eternal heaven will be a perfect place. No sin could enter this heaven. Man must be perfectly righteous to go to heaven. “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2Pe 3:13).

“And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life” (Re 21:27). “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee” (Ps 5:4).

It is God's heaven. He created it (Ge 1:1). He lives in it (Ps 11:4; 115:3). He says there will be no tears, sorrow, pain or death in heaven (Re 21:4), and God has the right to say who will go there. If any sin were allowed into heaven, death would be there because, as we have seen, “The wages of sin is death..” (Ro 6:23).

Not only are we sinners and need our sin paid for before we can enter heaven, but also this body we have now could never live forever anyway. It will get old, sickly, and die. This body was never created to live forever. In the commercial world they call this “planned depreciation.” This is why your car, washing machine, lawn mower, etc., need repairs and finally just won't operate.

God not only offers a payment for your sin so your soul can go to heaven, but He also will give you a new, glorified body that will live forever, entirely free from sin, sickness, and death. It will be like the glorified body of our Lord Jesus Christ (Php 3:21; 1Jo 3:2).

PRESENTATION - When a person sees that he is a sinner and that with his sin he cannot enter heaven, he will be ready for the next point. Usually a statement like “Heaven is a perfect place, and no sin can enter heaven because sin would bring death” will be sufficient.

4. DOCTRINE - Nothing man could do could help him obtain the absolute perfection God requires for eternal life. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:8-9).

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Ro 4:5).

'Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Ga 2:16).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us...” (Tit 3:5).

“Therefore we CONCLUDE that a man is JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, without the deeds of the law” (Ro 3:28).

If anything is clear in Scripture, it is that man is saved by his faith in Christ's payment for all sin on the cross plus nothing. Man's efforts, no matter how good or well intended (before or after salvation), have nothing to do with it. Salvation is by the finished work of Christ and nothing can be added to it.

Religions are man made. Two Latin words make up our English word “religion;” “re” and “ligio.” “Re” means to “go back,” and “ligio” means “to bind.” “Religion” then means “to bind back.” Religions are man's efforts to bind himself back to God. They are Satan inspired. Satan delights to blind man into thinking he could somehow earn eternal life through his good works. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness...” (2Co 11:14-15). People have Satan pictured as having horns, tail, pitchfork, and wearing a red union suit. Satan doesn't want people to know what he is really like.

The plan of salvation is not a religion but is the message of what God has already done to bring us back to Him. Satan gives the lost a religion that, when he hears it, will blind him to salvation. When you witness, always point out that the GOSPEL is NOT a “religion.” We are not discussing man's philosophy but God's Word.

It is often very valuable to point out that you do believe in freedom of worship without persecution. Nevertheless, all the religious leaders of the world are dead: Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed, Mary Baker Eddy, etc. But the Lord Jesus Christ is alive! He is not dead! It would behoove those who want to come back from the dead to listen to the Man who did.

That a person cannot save himself by his works...or help Christ to save him by his works...or help keep himself saved by his works, will be one of the most difficult things for a person to believe. It is also one of the most IMPORTANT things for a person to believe...because if a person does not believe this, he is not saved. God says you are not saved by your works but by grace through faith.'

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work” (Ro 11:6).

GOOD WORKS FOR SALVATION IS SATAN'S COUNTERFEIT OF GOD'S GRACE FOR SALVATION. THIS ISSUE OF “GRACE versus WORKS” WILL ALMOST ALWAYS BE THE MAIN THING YOU WILL NEED TO DEAL WITH. HOW TO OVERCOME THIS SATANIC BARRIER WILL BE DISCUSSED THROUGHOUT THIS BOOK.

Satan does not want the lost to sin. He wants them to be fine, well-educated, well-liked, moral, religious people. It is a better advertisement for him. He offers them a “heavenly” way to go to hell.

God says in Mt 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father (1Ti 2:3-4) which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? And in Thy Name have cast out devils? And in Thy Name done many WONDERFUL WORKS? And then I will profess unto them, I NEVER knew you; depart from Me, ye that work INIQUITY.”

These people tried to work their way to heaven, and God called it SIN. When a person realizes that even the best he can possibly do is still filthy rags in God's sight (Isa 64:6), he should see the utter folly of believing his good works could help save him.

PRESENTATION - The way to overcome this false teaching that man needs to do good works for salvation is to present the person with the clear statements in the Word of God on salvation by faith alone without works. Sometimes you will need to use only a few verses. Great! But often, because people have been so misled and actually blinded by a counterfeit “Christian-do-good-religion,” you will have to go over and over salvation-by-faith verses.

AN IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER - Do not let the person get off onto side issues. Stay with the gospel. What is the power of God unto salvation? Yes, the gospel. Satan will constantly work to get you to leave the gospel.

If a person insists that he must work for salvation, show him verses like Eph 2:8-9, and stay with them. Ask “How would you interpret 'NOT OF WORKS' - that it is of works? God says it is NOT of works.” You will not have a problem so much with a person's interpretation of Scripture as with his belief of Scripture. Some people are just unwilling to accept what God says at face value. This is calling God a liar and is so serious that it will result in the person's going to hell.

5. DOCTRINE - Christ made a complete payment for all sin and offers His righteousness. “For He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2Co 5:21). Christ never sinned. He lived a perfect life. Yet He took our sins upon Himself and paid for them. He did this so He could give us God's righteousness in place of our sin.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:6). We are all sinners. We do what we want to do. But God allowed Christ to take our sin upon Himself and pay for it ALL.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1Pe 3:18). Christ was the Just One, We are the sinners. But He came to earth, took on flesh, died on the cross, and rose from the dead, so that we could live forever in heaven with the Lord.

“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1Pe 2:24). Jesus paid for our sins by Himself. He needed no help. We were dead spiritually because of our sins; but He died so we could be alive spiritually, because He would give us His righteousness. We are made whole because He took our punishment.

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us...and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross” (Col 2:13-14). You were spiritually dead; you became spiritually alive when you trusted His payment for your sin. He then forgave you all trespasses. He can forgive us because He took all our sins and paid for them.

“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity...” (Tit 2:14).

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Ac 13:38-39). Keeping the law could not save you. But Christ paid for all sin; so, if you believe in Him, He will forgive you and justify you from all the wrong you have done.

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all. For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Heb 10:10,14). It is God's will that we are made pure and holy because Jesus offered Himself for our sins. His ONE payment was sufficient for all sins, of all time, for all people. By this ONE offering we who believe are made perfect forever. We are pure and holy through His death.

Had Christ not fully paid for all sin, we could not receive justification and He would not have come back from the dead (Ro 4:25). Since the payment for sin is death, He would still be in that grave. But Christ is risen from the dead, proving God is satisfied with the payment for sin that Christ made.

The Jews...the Romans...Pilate...who killed Christ? Who is guilty of His death? Jesus Himself told us no man TOOK His life. Listen to His words, “...I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man TAKETH it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself...” (Joh 10:17-18). I am as guilty of His death as anyone else. He died for me. He died to pay the price of my sin.

Why did Christ come to earth? To live? Or to die? “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but...to give His life a ransom for many (Mr 10:45). A ransom is a price paid to free someone from captivity. Christ died to pay the full price of our sin to free us from our captivity to the satanic wages of our sin - spiritual death. Sin is completely paid for.

What do we lack? We lack righteousness. God is anxiously waiting to give us His righteousness. God gives His righteousness to whoever accepts Christ's payment for their sin...and He gives His righteousness the moment the person accepts Christ (2Co 5:21). The righteousness of God is given only by faith - never by works (Ro 4:5-8,22-24; 9:30-32).

PRESENTATION- Since this is the heart of the gospel, you should carefully go over the verses teaching Christ paid for all sin. If the person does not accept the teaching of Scripture at first, reiterate trying to make the verses as clear to the person as you can. (A very effective gesture in making the plan of salvation clear, and especially on this point, is explained and illustrated in Chapter 23.) When the person sees that “Jesus Paid It All,” go on to the next point.

6. DOCTRINE - All man must do to be saved is to BELIEVE Jesus was the Lord who paid for all his sin - RECEIVE Christ as his Saviour. God gives eternal life only to those who will accept it by faith alone.

Joh 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Notice it is not to those who try to work and earn their eternal life but to those who believe.

Joh 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me HATH everlasting life.” Christ who never told one lie, emphasized by saying, Truthfully, truthfully, he that believes on Me possesses now everlasting life.

Joh 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” Salvation is always RECEIVING. We do nothing We accept what Christ has done for us. We RECEIVE Him as our Saviour.

Joh 6:28-29, “Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” GOD did the work. God only asks of us that we believe on Christ.

Php 3:9, “And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Notice, found in Christ - not in the Pope, your church, your denomination, or your own philosophy. You are found “in Christ” not by trying to get to heaven by your own righteousness, but by receiving Christ's righteousness by faith. God counts you righteous because of your faith not because of your works (Ro 4:5).

We quoted Eph 2:8-9 earlier in this chapter, and now we shall examine it phrase by phrase.

For by grace: By mercy from God that we do not deserve.

Are ye saved: Not helped, instructed but “saved.”

Through faith: Not through your church, through yourself, or anything else. Just through your faith.

And that not of yourselves: Not by what you do- regardless.

It is the gift of God: It is a gift. It is not sold for any price. The price would be too high. God could never lower the wages of sin. You cannot buy your way (1Pe 1:18-19). You accept salvation as God's gift or you cannot have salvation.

Not of works: Doesn't mean Jesus did a lot and you will help Him some. “Not of works” means NOT of works!

Lest any man should boast: God doesn't want any braggarts in heaven, and there won't be any braggarts there (1Co 1:29). All praise will be to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ga 3:22-26, “But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Everyone is a sinner, and God promises to save those who have faith and believe in Jesus.

v. 23, “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.” Before you trusted Christ, you thought salvation was through keeping the law.

v. 24, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The law showed how short you came of perfection, so you saw your need of Christ as Saviour.

v. 25, “But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” When you trusted Christ by faith, the law had served its purpose. It is done away with as far as you are now concerned (2Co 3:6-11).

v. 26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” You become a child of God through your faith in Christ, and He will take care of you.

Ro 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Since I trusted Christ, God sees me justified - “just as if I'd never sinned.” God sees Christ's righteousness instead of my sin. Therefore I have peace with God. Jesus reconciled God and me (Ro 5:8-11).

Ac 13:38-39, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Through Christ you are justified from all things - past, present, and future. This is very important. “Jesus paid it ALL!” You could not be justified through keeping the law. (“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight...” Ro 3:20) Do not despise God's grace. Do not reject God's grace. If you could have been saved through your own efforts, Christ's death would have been useless. Calvary would have been a mistake. “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Ga 2:21). Going back to Ac 13:39, notice that those who are justified from all things are those who BELIEVE.

PRESENTATION- Since the greatest majority of those you meet are trying to somehow “work their way” to heaven, it will follow that the are not trusting Christ alone for their salvation. It is important to remember as you deal with them that they probably have never REALLY understood the gospel. Most churches that are “Christian” in name do not make the plan of salvation clear; some do not even know what the plan of salvation is to begin with.

Praise God for the godly pastors who stand for the Word of God!

Millions of people are so fed up with this counterfeit type of Christianity they have heard all their life from Sunday School days on up, that they do not even want to discuss “religion.” Sympathize with them. Explain that what you want to talk about is not a religion. Explain the gospel to them. But do not insinuate that they are “stupid,” etc. Remember, they do not know the truth.

(Sometimes it will be easier to lead to the Lord those who have rejected “religion,” because at least they have recognized something was not “right” about what they had been taught. Compliment them on their insight. Agree with people wherever you can.)

Again the issue is between “grace and works.” Until they see that Christ's death completely paid for their sin, they will not be ready to rely on that payment alone naturally. Keep showing them the verses, and get them to see that this is what God has to say about the matter.

Sometimes a person will question your authority to speak on theological issues. Explain to him that it is not a question of his opinion versus yours. You are showing him what GOD has said. HE is the authority. At the same time, if you are dealing with a true intellectual, comment on his obvious intelligence, and use this as a means to his salvation: Mention that with such brains and reasoning power as he has, he ought to see right away that the only way sinners could be saved would be the way God has explained in the Bible.

When the person trusts Christ as his Saviour, it is always important to explain to him then that he can know he has eternal life from that moment on, which is the last point we will cover in this chapter.

7. DOCTRINE - Man can know he has eternal life now because eternal life IS eternal. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Ro 6:23). Notice, the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE-not, “life until you sin again,” nor “life until you backslide.”

Notice what Joh 3:16 is saying, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE.” How long is EVERLASTING? Is it six months? Ten years? Does it start and stop? No! Everlasting life is FOR EVER AND EVER!

God's gift is SALvation...not PRObation. God's gift is eternal life...not temporary life.

Joh 6:47 has been quoted before showing you only need to believe. But what does this believing do for you? “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath EVERLASTING LIFE.” “Hath everlasting life” is present tense. If you have EVERLASTING LIFE right now, you are safe forever. You do not wait until you die to receive everlasting life. You receive it the instant you trust Christ as your Saviour.

1Jo 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have ETERNAL LIFE, and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God.”

This is written to a certain class of people-not to the rich or poor, American or African, Jew or Gentile, Buddhist or Baptist-but to those who believe on the Name of the Son of God. His name is Jesus. “Jesus” comes from he Greek translation of the Hebrew words “Jehovah Yasha” and means “the eternal, self-existent God who saves and keeps.”

Those who believe Jesus is the Lord and trust Him to save them and keep them saved can KNOW they have ETERNAL LIFE. You do not need to hope, think, guess, or pray for it. You can KNOW you have it.

AND WHEN GOD PROMISES YOU CAN KNOW YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, YOU CAN COUNT ON IT, BECAUSE GOD CANNOT LIE (Tit 1:2).

PRESENTATION-After you have gone over what the name “Jesus” means, ask the person, “Is this written to you? Do you believe on the Name of the Son of God?” Once the person actually receives Christ as his Saviour, there should be no difficulty for him to realize he now has eternal life. Heaven is the tremendous inheritance of the children of God, and for a Christian to lack the full assurance of knowing he will go to heaven when he dies would be a great tragedy.

Those who do not know they will be saved forever are usually not saved to start with. The first section of Chapter Two will go into how to deal with a person lacking assurance of salvation.

Chapter Five deals with how to give a person the “invitation” to trust Christ as his Saviour.

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Below are listed salvation verses which would be of great benefit to you to have memorized. You should memorize most of them so well that you could quote them readily. Know the address of where they are in the Bible so that you can turn to them quickly. The reasons for memorizing these verses are many:

(1) You can have the person read the verse, and you will be free to watch his eyes and expressions as he reads. For you to know his reaction as he reads will help you witness to him further.

(2) You might not have your Bible with you when you have the opportunity to witness, so you will need to quote the verses.

(3) Knowing the Scriptures this well will give you confidence as you witness. It is the Word of God that the Holy Spirit blesses. When you know the Scriptures, you will be amazed at how the Lord will bring just the right ones to your mind that will fit the need of the person.

MEMORY VERSES FOR CHAPTER ONE

*Ro 3:23

 1Pe 2:24

  Isa 64:6

 Tit 2:14

*Ro 6:23

 Heb 10:10,14

 Eph 2:1

 Mr 10:45

 2Pe 3:13

*Joh 3:16

 Re 21:27

*Joh 6:47

 1Jo 3:2

*Joh 1:12

*Eph 2:8-9

 Joh 6:28-29

*Ro 4:5

*Php 3:9

*Ga 2:16

 Ga 3:22-26

*Ro 3:28

 Ro 5:8-11

 Ro 11:6

*Ac 13:38-39

*2Co 5:21

*1Jo 5:10-13

*Isa 53:6

 Tit 1:2

 1Pe 3:18

Note: If you are unaccustomed to memorizing Scripture, we recommend you start with the verses marked *.

INTRODUCTION

by Dr. A. Ray Stanford

 THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR MEN AND WOMEN TO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE IMPORTANT TASK OF BECOMING SPECIALISTS IN SOULWINNING! 

Simplicity 

This book is written to guide a Christian in his personal witnessing so that he will present the plan of salvation in a clear and simple way that the lost can understand. To achieve simplicity in presenting the gospel takes much thought, much effort, and much practice. We must give the message in words the people can understand. 

A doctor cannot communicate with most of his patients by using medical terminology. What the physician says may be true, but most patients will not be able to grasp the meaning. The Scriptures tell us in II Cor. 3:12, “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech,” and in I Cor. 14:8, 9, “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So like wise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak into the air.” 

Communication is with words, and they have to be on the level of the person’s understanding. Christ said, “Feed My sheep.” He did not say, “Feed My giraffes.” As we prepare ourselves to reach a person for the Lord, we must constantly bear in mind how our words will come across to the lost. Remember, the average American cannot quote two Scriptures from memory. We do the lost a great injustice to speak in ecclesiastical terms which, though they may be precious to us, do not convey the proper meaning to the unsaved... and this defeats our whole purpose in witnessing. 

Many people testify that before they were saved, although they went to church regularly and heard their minister use terms like “born again,” “redemption,” “justification,” “propitiation,” etc., they didn’t understand that Christ had paid for all their sins on the cross. They didn’t understand the gospel. It is a crime to keep people from coming to know the Lord as their Saviour because we felt like exhibiting our “30,000 word vocabulary.” 

Some may feel that a speaker is not “educated” unless he uses words the people cannot understand. They completely overlook the fact that to make something understandable takes much brilliance, thought, and work. As you strive to make the message plain, you will discover that “simplicity” is not simple... but it will greatly increase the fruit in your ministry. 

Why We Should Witness 

1. THE NEED: God is real. Heaven is real. Hell is real. The Bible is the Word of God and tells us that all those who have not received Christ as their Saviour will spend eternity in hell... separated from God, in conscious torment (Luke 16:23-26; John 3:18). Knowing the terrible destiny of the unsaved should motivate anyone with any compassion at all to explain the plan of salvation to them. Paul said, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men...” (II Cor. 5 :11 ). 

I cannot understand how any person who really knows he will go to heaven when he dies could be so selfish as to keep the best news in the world from the lost who so desperately need Christ as their Saviour. It would be like not warning the sleeping occupants of a burning building of their great peril. To stand by and watch the building burn and let the people die in the flames would be a great and grievous sin. A woman once said to me, “I used to have a real burden for souls, but I have learned not to let it bother me, and now I just don’t think about it any more.” This person is a very busy church worker and is well thought of by her Christian friends. Do you think she is well thought of by God? I believe when we stand before the Lord Jesus Christ every Christian will wish he could call back the time and start witnessing as he should have while on earth, because then he will fully realize the need of souls for Christ as their Saviour. Now is the time to witness. Later will be too late. 

2. GOD’S COMMAND: God has given every Christian a job, a responsibility, a command. “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16: 15). You can obey God’s command, or you can disobey it. But your orders are still to WITNESS. 

Remember, witnessing is a command of God, not a leading. God leads those who are already obeying His command to a particular field of service. Obey God’s command of “GO” in the Scriptures! You don’t stop your car when the signal light says, “GO!” “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ... PREACH THE WORD; be instant in season, out of season...” (II Timothy 4:1,2). “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (I Cor. 9:16). 

If a father tells his son to mow the yard, and the son replies, “I don’t feel led to... I’d rather watch television... but praise your name, Father, what is your will for me?” If my son said this to me, I would again tell him, “Go mow the yard!” If my son still didn’t mow the yard, I assure you, it wouldn’t be long until he would be in the “lawn-mowing business.” 

When you feel like it, and when you don’t, you should consistently give out the gospel. We are in a battle for the souls of men. Soldiers cannot stop fighting on the battlefield just because they don’t feel like fighting. God has chosen us to be soldiers for Him. There are enough “conscientious objectors.” God is looking for loyal, front-line troops who will give themselves wholeheartedly to the task at hand... telling others the good news of salvation. 

3. OUR PRIVILEGE: God could have chosen angels to carry the message of salvation-but He didn’t. God gave every Christian the privilege and responsibility to be a carrier of the gospel. “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” (I Thess. 2:4). “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath COMMITTED UNTO US the word of reconciliation” (II Cor. 5: 19). 

Since God loved me enough to pay for my sins and give me eternal life, I certainly am not going to be ashamed of the gospel. Romans 10:17 says that “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” It is when people hear the gospel that they are saved. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth...” (Romans 1:16). 

No Christian can claim inability to witness and blame God for it because the last words of Christ upon earth were, “But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the Uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). As Christians, we already have the power, but sometimes we don’t seem to want to use the power. 

There is no greater joy than to lead a person to Christ. It is one of the many fruits God promises to those who obey Him. In addition to the peace of mind which comes from knowing we are doing as our Lord and Saviour has commanded us, God also promises rewards later on for the soul winner (Prov. 11:30; Dan. 12:3; I Thess. 2:19). 

No book man could write could give you the desire to witness. Only the great love of God could constrain you to do so (II Cor. 5:14). Salvation is voluntary... you had to DECIDE to accept Christ as your Saviour. Service is also voluntary... you must DECIDE that the salvation of souls is worth disciplining your life. 

It is our prayer that this book will give you concrete, practical suggestions on HOW to witness effectively.

 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples” (Joh 15:8 ).

F O R E WO R D

 by Dr. A. Ray Stanford 

This book places at your fingertips, practical, clear, effective methods to reach people for Christ in a loving way. You will be provided the answers to difficult questions concerning cults, sects, religions, agnostics and atheists and how to recognize the truth from false doctrine. 

You will have proof that creation is a scientific fact and that the theory of evolution is a farce. It will give you the know-how to give comfort and assurance to believers, that they can be saved for eternity and that God will never let them be lost. This book is dedicated to all who love people and don’t want them to end up in hell. 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15 

The Handbook of Personal Evangelism is the result of many years of study and active, effective soulwinning by Dr. A. Ray Stanford, Founder of Christian Youth Ranches; Grove Community Church; Florida Bible Church and Florida Bible College; Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal (twice) during World War II. This book was written with the assistance of Mrs. Carol Streib and Dr. Richard Seymour. The author expresses appreciation for proofreading the manuscripts to Mrs. Ann Patterson and Mrs. Connie Mitchell.