Soul Winning

<<bringing the lost into the Kingdom>>

Jesus came to save the lost (those outside the Kingdom of God and therefore out of relationship with Him) for “He is not willing that any should perish but all come to repentance” (Mt 18:14; Lk 19:10; 2 Pet 3:9). He also commands His followers to, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel, [and] make disciples by teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” effectively continuing the work He started (Mt 28:19,20; Mk 16:15; Act 1:8). Everyone has the right to hear a clear gospel presentation in a language they can understand, indicating that Christ’s offer of salvation deals primarily with the life to come (eternity) and is not just for the benefit of our earthly existence. People need to be made aware that if they die without having accepted Christ as their Saviour (living in an active relationship with Him) they will be doomed to an eternity of pain and regret. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (Jn 3:36; 1 Jn 5:12). It is their freewill choice to accept or refuse the offer of salvation that is given with the Bible declaring “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…Whosoever will may come” (Rom 10:13; Rev 22:17).

As Christians, we are to bear spiritual fruit, not just by living changed lives validating the good news we are trying to convey by a Christ-like example but also by actively bringing others into the Kingdom of God by challenging people with the message of the gospel as

Do I intentionally share Christ?

the only solution for our personal sin. The Bible states that those who go out bearing seed will return with a harvest, for those who wins souls to righteousness are wise and will shine like stars (Ps 126:5,6; Prov 11:30; Dan 12:3). The spiritual shepherds of the OT were reprimanded because they didn’t search for the scattered sheep – individuals wandering oblivious they were lost and vulnerable; similarly even today, if we fail to witness for Jesus we will be held accountable, but if we witness and people don’t respond we are cleared from that responsibility (Ezek 3:18,19, 33:3-9, 34:6). We can learn from Paul who said, “I am compelled [to share Christ]…I am simply discharging the trust committed to me…woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Cor 9:16,17). He understood there would be intense sorrow and shame when he stood before Jesus to give account of his life and he had failed to share with the lost that there was a way through Jesus Christ to escape eternal damnation when they could instead experience eternal life. "Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death" (Jas 5:20). Listen to the testimony of some early Christians was, “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard [experienced in our lives]…for out of the overflow the heart speaks” (Lk 6:45; Act 4:20). James states, “Anyone, then, who knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (Jas 4:17).

Jesus said, “Why labour for things that have no eternal value?...Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4:19; Mk 8:36; Jn 6:27). There is a plentiful spiritual harvest but few workers so we are to pray for more evangelists (harvesters) to bring in the ‘crop’ – those who will believe in Jesus because of our message (Mt 9:37,38; Lk 10:1,2; Jn 17:20). Soul winning is based on being a faithful witness to proclaim with sensitivity and loving concern what we have experienced and know to be true. We are to present the facts, yet not with pressure or persuasion forcing a reluctant change of mind of the other person. It is only the Holy Spirit who brings conviction and subsequently new birth to a truly repentant sinner – our responsibility is to present the facts and intercede on their behalf. The question is asked, “How can they believe unless they hear because someone shares the good news with them?” (Rom 10:14). The Bible states there is much rejoicing in heaven when a lost soul is truly saved (Lk 15:7).

As believers we all should be part of God’s message of redemption of humanity by speaking and sharing our testimony through general conversation with those who do not know Jesus (Act 22:15). Like Jesus, we should mix with the unsaved (without embracing their sinful ways) so we

Am I motivated by love for the lost to share Christ with them?

can introduce them to Him. When appropriate, present a direct challenge ‘Why not enter God’s Kingdom now’. It is important to have a good grasp of the basics of salvation and a compassion for people, allowing the Holy Spirit to minister through us as instruments in God’s hands, serving a common purpose to see the lost saved, established in the faith and walking with God (1 Cor 3:5-9; 3 Jn 1:4). While there are various methods or approaches there is no set formula that brings about the definite change of allegiance – from the kingdom of Satan that ends in spiritual death into the glorious domain of God that results in eternal life (Jn 10:10). As in the natural, when a baby is born they need ass that there is crucial follow-up. Paul visited the emerging congregations to strengthen them as well as writing various epistles (letters) to provide teaching, correction and encouragement to the new believers (Act 15:36, 18:23).

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