Author: hillturnfs

Q3 (cont’d).  Do you believe Jesus died on the cross so that your sins might be forgiven?

With the obvious proofs it’s not too hard to get someone to believe in God and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The hard part is convincing someone an omnipotent God knows them personally and cares deeply about them. Once that connection is made people can understand why God sent Jesus to redeem them. I always start with the best known verse in the bible:

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (GOD LOVES YOU)

Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (ALL ARE SINNERS)

Jehovah is a loving God but also a just God. No sin can enter heaven and through Adam sin was imputed to all men. That doesn’t stop God from loving us, it just means our sin prevents us from having fellowship restored with our heavenly Father. We are separated from God by our sin.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (SINS MUST BE PAID FOR)

Because of God’s justice blood must be shed to remove the sins of man by a sacrifice without sin. Only God Himself met the criteria demanded by His justice for such a sacrifice.

Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us. (JESUS PAID OUR SIN DEBT)

God came off his throne and came to earth as Jesus to to live a sinless life and die a terrible death on the cross in our place. Jesus took our sins on Himself that we might have our sins forgiven and be righteous before the Lord because of what Jesus did for us.

Romans 10:9 – That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

You will hear no bells or whistles but you have the promise of God that you have eternal life in heaven with Jesus and God cannot lie. Your name goes in the book of life based on faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Q5. Do you believe God authored the Holy Bible and poured out his Holy Spirit on the earth to indwell believers?

2 Tim 3:16 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Eze 36:27 – I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will keep my judgements and do them.

Q6. Do you believe in a physical heaven where all Christians who die go to live with the Lord forever?

John 14:2-3 – In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am.

Q7. What assurance do you have that you are going to heaven?

Rom 10:9 – That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

John 14:6 – I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Acts 4:12 – Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

Q1. Do you know what would happen to you if you died tonight? (I quit using this approach as the lead question)

(Saved) 2 Cor 2:6 – To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord in heaven.

(Unsaved) Rev 21:8 – When you die without Jesus your spirit goes to hell and you’ll be in torment 24/7 for eternity.

Q2. Do you believe in the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost?

Psalm 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork.

Q3. Do you believe Jesus died on the cross so that your sins might be forgiven?

This is what I focus on now and it will be covered more thoroughly in a later blog.

Q4. Do you believe Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and later ascended to heaven where he sits at the right hand of God?

Matthew 28:5-7 – The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid,” for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him, Now I have told you .

Mark 16:19 – After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

I have always been a planner and a writer.  It’s my nature.  I realized during my study of God’s Word that witnessing for Christ was not optional but a command from God:

Proverbs 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls.

I set about writing a procedure, an outline, that I could study and follow.  I ended up with seven questions I could use to determine where a person was in their personal belief.  After each question I listed Scriptures answering each question.  I was like a hunter seeking prey.  I found out pretty quickly you put people off if you ask them directly if they’re a Christian (most people think they are) or if you ask them if they are saved (most people think they are).  If you asked someone what would happen to them if they died tonight the same thing happens.  These questions scare people.  Yet this is where most books on personal soul winning tell you to start. This approach didn’t work for me.  I had to come up with something better suited to my personality.  Instead of a hunter I’m more of a casual fisherman who is always trolling. 

When I talk to people now I get around to talking about my passion in retirement for witnessing for Christ and doing good works.  If you’re passionate about something it shows.  I don’t challenge anyone directly.  I just share what I’m about so everyone knows I’m available.  Another good way to start is telling someone “God has great plans for your life.”  Who wouldn’t want to hear more about that?  After all, everyone’s favorite topic is themselves.  There are people out there who want a personal witness about Christ.  They just don’t want to be assailed by someone who may be crazy.  We just need to make ourselves known as normal person who is sincere and available to them.  They’ll come to you.  When the unbeliever’s heart is ready for the gospel message the Holy Spirit will lead them to you.  It doesn’t matter whether we sow the gospel seed or reap the harvest.  All will be rewarded equally by God in due time.   

I have eight personal Bibles I’ve collected over the years.  My primary study Bible is the New King James Version (NKJV).  I couldn’t stand the thought of writing in my study Bibles so I bought an old Scofield Bible at Goodwill for $1 and I use that as my witness Bible.  I’ve written extensively on both inner and outer covers plus all the extra pages at the front and back.  I’ve tabbed the key verses most pastor’s use to witness for Christ.  In my witness Bible I also keep folded copies of the proofs of God I’ve mentioned in previous blogs.  I have the 23 physical proofs of God, the 6 proofs God authored the Bible, and the 36 Bible prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ confirming him as the Son of God.  I also have a written outline for witnessing for Jesus which I’ll cover in a later blog.

Getting back to my proofs, the physical proofs of God can be used to reach those who don’t believe in God at all.  If they can’t believe by faith in an invisible God who controls everything maybe they can see the logic in how our universe is fine tuned for life at every turn.  If someone believes in God but can’t accept the Holy Bible as God’s Word you can use the six proofs I’ve provided.  The evidence is undeniable.  Finally, if anyone finds it hard to believe that God would come to earth in human form and die a horrible death on the cross for us I have provided the written proof in the 36 fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah by the man Jesus Christ. 

Prophecy is simply history written in advance and God has done this to prove to us he is God and the Author of history.  Only Jehovah knows the end from the beginning.  Over 500 Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and all the other false religions of the world have exactly zero fulfilled prophecies.  Satan has done his best to lead people away from the truth and our job as witnesses to the truth is to gently point people in the right  direction.  Then it’s up to the Holy Spirit to convict people of their sin and save them unto eternal life.  Whether we reap or sow we are simply the messenger bringing the “good news” of the gospel of Christ Jesus to a fallen world.  The Lord commands us to work in his harvest and to do that we must first study God’s Word and then learn how to witness effectively.  Everyone needs a witness plan they are comfortable with.  Through trial and error you’ll find what works best for you.  The important thing is to begin!     

35. That he would be raised from the dead.

OT, Psalm 16:9-10 – Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

NT, Matthew 28:2-4 – There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  The guards were so afraid of him they shook and became like dead men.

Matthew 28:5-7 – The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.  Now I have told you.”

36.  That he would ascend.

OT, Psalm 24:7-8 – Lift up your heads, O you gates, be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in.  Who is this King of Glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

NT, Mark 16:19 – After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

Luke 24:50-51 – When he had led them out of the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.  While he was blessing them, he left them, and was taken up into heaven.    

33. That he would be stared at in death.

OT, Zechariah 12:10 – And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.  They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

NT,  Matthew 27:36-37 – And sitting down they kept watch over him there.  Above his head they placed the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.

34.  That he would be buried with the rich.

OT, Isiah 53:9 – He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence.

NT, Matthew 27:57-60 – As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.  Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.  Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.  He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance and went away.

30. That he would thirst.

OT, Psalm 22:15 – My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the top of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.

NT, John 19:28 – Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

31. That he would commend his spirit to the Father.

OT, Psalm 31:5 – Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.

NT, Luke 23:46 – Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this he breathed his last.

32. That his bones would not be broken.

OT, Psalm 34:20 – He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

NT, John 19:33-34 – But when they came to Jesus and found he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

26.  That he would be given vinegar to drink.

OT, Psalm 69:21 – They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

NT, Matthew 27:48 – Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink.

27. That he would suffer the piercing of his hands and feet.

OT, Psalm 22:16 – Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and feet.

NT, Mark 15:25 – It was the third hour when they crucified him.

28. That his garments would be parted and gambled for.

OT, Psalm 22:18 – They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

NT, Luke 23:34 – Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

29. That he would be surrounded and ridiculed by his enemies.

OT, Psalm 22:7 – All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.

NT, Matthew 27:39 – Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself!”

22. That he would be a man of sorrows.

OT, Isiah 53:3 – (see #16)

NT, Matthew 26:38 – Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me.”

23.  That he would be forsaken by his disciples.

OT, Zechariah 13:7 – “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!”  declares the Lord Almighty.  “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.”

24.     That he would be scourged and spat upon.

OT, Isiah 50:6 – I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

NT, Matthew 26:67 – Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.  Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ.  Who hit you?”

25.  That his price would be used to buy a potter’s field.

OT, Zechariah 11:13 – And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter.” –  The handsome price at which they priced me!  So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter.

NT, Matthew 27:9 – Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”