Winning the Lost

God Depends on Us

God chose to give us, His people, responsibility for telling lost people how to be saved:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  Matthew 28:19-20

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  Mark 16:15-16

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. ⁴⁵Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: ⁴⁷And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  Luke 24:44-47

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ²²And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: ²³Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.  John 20:21-23

The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to explain that we must convince people that they need to be saved in order to go to Heaven instead of being cast into Hell even if they’re offended at being told they’re sinners:

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;  II Corinthians 5:11a

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.  Galatians 1:10

The Message

We must use the Word of God because God’s word is alive and powerful, not our words.  We must convince sinners of their need for a savior before we can “Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”  This message discusses some of the objections which people may offer when you try to give them the gospel of repentance and salvation.

It’s easy to convince most people that they’ve sinned by disobeying God.  Did you ever disobey your parents?  God commands you to obey your parents:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Ephesians 6:1

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.  Colossians 3:20

Did you ever take a cookie after your parents told you not to?  You’ve stolen:

Thou shalt not steal.  Exodus 20:15

Sinners generally say they’re pretty good and try to convince themselves that God will let them into heaven because of all the good they do.  We have to convince them of God’s view of their sins:

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.  Isaiah 64:6

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ¹¹There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. ¹²They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  Romans 3:10-12

Being Drawn

The Bible tells us that God must draw people before they can be saved:

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.  John 6:44

We have no way to know whether a person is being drawn or not, so we have to give the Word of God at every opportunity.  We can pray that God will lead us to people whom He has drawn so that we can plant and water the Gospel, but it is God who gives the increase.

When God draws a person, they may be aware that something is wrong without knowing why.  That is the best opportunity for us to find out where they’re thinking.  These verses may help you overcome common problems.

Common Objections

May not really believe in God:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  Genesis 1:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  Psalm 19:1

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.  Psalm 14:1

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.  Psalm 53:1

For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.  Hebrews 3:4

May say they’re an agnostic:

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: ²¹Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Romans 1:20-21

May deny being a sinner in spite of your simple explanation:

Of sin, because they believe not on me;  John 16:9

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. ²¹But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; ²²Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: ²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  Romans 3:19-23

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. ¹¹For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.  James 2:10-11 

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.  James 4:17 

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  I John 1:8, 10

Claim to be good enough not to need a Savior:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  John 3:3

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ¹⁸He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  John 3:17-18

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.  John 3:36

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  Galatians 3:10

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

Believes that all men will eventually be saved

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.  Matthew 25:46 

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: ⁴⁴Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. ⁴⁵And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: ⁴⁶Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. ⁴⁷And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: ⁴⁸Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  Mark 9:43-48

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.  Luke 16:26

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.  John 3:16

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.  John 5:28-29

Does not believe that Christ is God

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²The same was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  John 1:1-3

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. ¹⁷If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.  John 7:16-17

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:  Romans 1:4

Does not understand “faith”

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:  John 1:12

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. ²²And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. ²³Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; ²⁴But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;  Romans 4:21-24

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.  II Timothy 1:12

Does not feel the joy that should come before accepting Christ

Our feelings have nothing to do with Christ, salvation is based on faith, not feelings.  Joy comes later:

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: ⁹Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.  I Peter 1:8-9

Afraid of not being able to endure after becoming a Christian

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?  Luke 15:4

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  John 10:27-28

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  Romans 8:29-30

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  Philippians 1:6

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.  II Timothy 1:12

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.  Jude 1:24-25

Hesitates because of weak faith

Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.  Mark 9:24b

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.  John 6:37

Is already saved but has fallen away into backsliding

O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. ²Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. ³Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. ⁴I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.  Hosea 14:1-4

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, ¹⁹And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. ²⁰And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. ²¹And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. ²²But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ²³And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  Luke 15:18-23

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  I John 1:9

Does not believe that salvation is by faith alone

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? ²⁹Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.  John 6:28-29

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.  Romans 4:2

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:8-10

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.  Titus 3:8

Clings to the pleasures of this world

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. ¹⁷And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  I John 2:16-17

A sinner must become a Christian before the Holy Spirit can show what must be given up.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.  Psalm 16:11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.  Psalm 84:11

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  John 10:10

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.  John 15:11

Not ready now; will think on it

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.  Proverbs 27:1

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.  Proverbs 29:1

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:  Isaiah 55:6

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  John 3:18

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)  II Corinthians 6:2

Turned off or discouraged by hypocritical or inconsistent church members

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.  Matthew 23:27

The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Matthew 24:50-51

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? ⁴God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;  Romans 3:3-4a

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  Romans 14:12

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 which is in heaven.  Matthew 7:21

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Matthew 7:16

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Matthew 7:2

But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. ²⁶But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. ²⁷So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? ²⁸He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? ²⁹But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. ³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.  Matthew 13:25-30

A sincere person who wants to know how to belong to God

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. ¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  John 3:16-17

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.  John 5:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.  John 6:47

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: ³⁹And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.  Acts 13:38-39

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.  I Peter 2:24

Thoughts

Tell how God saved you and blessed you.  Your experience may be different so don’t overdo it.

Don’t argue.  God expects you to present His gospel clearly so He can draw the person if He chooses.

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. ⁴⁶And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.  John 1:45-46

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, ²⁵In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; ²⁶And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.  II Timothy 2:24-26

Don’t become irritated.  God was patient with you and He still is.

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. ²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23

Don’t be in a hurry.  Give the Word of God time to do His work.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

Don’t insist, but it is good for a new believer to pray and thank God for salvation.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10:9-10

Pray inwardly all the time you’re talking about the Lord.  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Pray without ceasing.  I Thessalonians 5:17

Don’t be anxious.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  Philippians 4:6

Don’t talk about the deep things of the Christian life.  It takes time for a believer to be ready for meat.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  I Corinthians 3:2

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  Philippians 2:12b

Do not say that the person is saved; let the Holy Spirit and God’s Word declare it and fruit confirm it.

for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.  I Samuel 16:7b