We need to define some terms so we’re all on the same page. To be “saved” means we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. So every person who believes in God the Father and accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior is saved unto eternal life in heaven and when they die they’ll be in the presence of the Lord for all eternity. Do you think of yourself as a Christian, a believer, or both? There are 2.5 billion people on this earth who identify themselves as Christian but most of them are not. Many people think they’re Christians simply because they attend a Christian church once in a while. They may belong to a Christian church and go through the motions of being a church member without ever having given their life to Jesus by a profession of faith. They think they’re saved Christians simply because of their participation in a local Christian church of their choice but they’re sadly mistaken. The majority of people who identify as Christians aren’t really saved at all but they think they are, and therein lies the problem. On the other hand, if you consider yourself to be a “believer” it means you have probably accepted God’s saving grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, which automatically makes you a Christian. Just by calling yourself a Christian doesn’t make you one. Saying you’re a “believer” doesn’t mean you’re actually “saved” from hell and “saved” to heaven.
Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living a sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 – For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 – For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance.
Luke 24:46 – (Jesus speaking) – Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.
The word Christian means “Christ’s men” and if you’re not saved the moniker doesn’t apply to you so don’t use it. You’re not a Christian unless you’re indwelt by Jesus Christ himself and that doesn’t happen unless you invite Jesus into your heart and your life. Don’t fool yourself and others by calling yourself a Christian if you don’t belong to Jesus. You know who you are. God put man on this earth to be tested. God gives man the free will decision to serve God or Satan. If you choose Satan or fail to choose God then you will burn in hell forever. It’s as simple as that. But what happens if you choose God? You will live forever in heaven in the presence of Jesus Christ. God doesn’t take believers to heaven as soon as they’re saved. Why is that? What is God’s salvation plan for man? God came to earth in the incarnation of Jesus Christ not only to save us from our sins by his substitutionary death on the cross but also to use his ministry to save the lost. The life of Jesus is an example for all believers to follow so that we might continue the work of God after Jesus ascended back to heaven. Study the life and times of Jesus Christ so you can emulate what he did during his ministry and then do what Jesus says we are to do, which is to share the “good news”, the gospel message that Christ, the son of God has died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 – I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Romans 4:4 – Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
Proverbs 11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
Romans 10:17 – So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Obey the Lord’s commandments if you want to please God. Nothing is more important to God than obedience. We have no fellowship with the God who made us if we don’t obey his commandments. There are 129 commandments from God in the Bible that are directed to believers, although a lot of them are redundant. You can find a list of them in any good Bible guide. You’d be wise to learn what God expects of us. The number one command of God is to share the gospel message of Christ; “the good news” that Jesus Christ, the son of God, came to die on the cross in our place so that our sins against God could be forgiven. After three days in the earth Jesus rose from the dead and by his resurrection he confirmed that he is God and the sins of man are forgiven if they believe on the name of Jesus for their own salvation and resurrection. Before Jesus ascended back to heaven he gave his disciples the Great Commission, which is to witness for Christ; to share to gospel message with all nations and all people. This is the number one commandment of God for all believers because the most important thing to God is saving the souls of as many of his creatures as possible for the kingdom of heaven. This is the reason believers are left on this earth after their salvation. Believers are saved by other believers otherwise few of us would see heaven. Somebody helped save you by sharing the gospel so you owe it nonbelievers to do likewise. This is your reasonable service to the God who made you.
Mark 16:15 – (Jesus speaking) – Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Titus 2:15 – Speak these things (the gospel), exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Proverbs 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
Luke 10:2 – (Jesus speaking) – The harvest is truly great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
New believers start out on the spiritual milk of God’s word and through daily prayer and Bible reading they progress on to the spiritual meat of the scriptures so they can be used by God as a vessel in his salvation plan for man. God’s goal for every believer is that they become “fishers of men” who help in God’s harvest field to reap lost souls for the kingdom of heaven. The gospels of both Matthew and Mark contain the story of Jesus encountering Peter and his brother Andrew at the beginning of his ministry and he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” “Follow me” means to accept by faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, sent from heaven to save mankind from their sins. “I will make you fishers of men” is Jesus letting the disciples know their ultimate purpose on this earth is to fish for the souls of nonbelievers through their witness for Christ so that some might be saved unto eternal life in heaven. All disciples of Christ start out equal in God’s eyes and by their work for God each builds up their own honor, glory and treasure, which they will receive from Jesus on the last day. As believers we’re also all disciples of Jesus Christ and our main purpose is also to witness for Christ; to share the gospel message with all nations and all peoples and also to give our personal testimony about God and his saving grace.
Matthew 4:19 – (Jesus speaking to Peter and Andrew) – Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mark 1:17 – (Jesus speaking to Peter and Andrew) – Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.
1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Hebrews 10:36 – For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
Change your paradigm. Stop just thinking of yourself as just a believer. In your mind start thinking of yourself as a “fisher of men” because that’s how God sees you. That’s what God wants you to be. That is what you can become if you tell yourself you are a “fisher of men” and then work toward that goal every day of your life, along with daily prayer and Bible reading. All things are possible with God. Start praying for God to make you a “fisher of men” and then go read your Bible so you know how to witness and then be ready to witness for Christ when the opportunity presents itself. The scriptures say believers are to be ready to explain to the nonbeliever the reason for the faith that is within us. The Bible is there so that we can also obtain the knowledge, understanding and wisdom of God so take advantage of it or you’re flying blind in this world. The Bible is God’s wisdom so seek it.
Matthew 13:23 – But he who receives seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Titus 3:8 – This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Titus 2:7 – In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility.
Hebrews 12:1 – Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
The Bible says we’re to do good works before God and the number one good work, and the only good work that truly matters, is saving lost souls for the kingdom of God. That is the only fruit that the believer can harvest that builds up treasure in heaven for the believer. The sad thing is that 90% of the saints in heaven are there through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not having even saved one soul for the kingdom of God. Come join me as a warrior for Christ Jesus and a “fisher of men.” Walk with me down the narrow path. Make it your goal in life to save one more for Jesus every day. If you witness for Christ with this mindset every single day of your life at the end of your race you will win the prize. I will guarantee it because I know a secret. Every soul that God has made is priceless in his eyes so if you help save even one person how could God be anything other than pleased with you? More is always better but one will do. Just imagine how pleased God will be if you save many lost souls for the kingdom of God. That’s why my goal is to please God exceedingly by saving many to the kingdom of heaven. I don’t know the number that qualifies as “many” to God but for me personally, I’ve defined “many” as one thousand. The Bible says those who save “many” will shine like the starts of the firmament. I don’t know exactly what that means but it sounds good to me and I want it. God doesn’t hand out junk so whatever we receive for our obedience will exceed anything we could ever have imagined. I totally trust in God’s love for me and his provision and you should do the same.
1 Corinthians 2:9 – Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.
2 Corinthians 9:6 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Matthew 9:37-38 – (Jesus speaking) – The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
John 14:15 – (Jesus speaking) – If you love Me, keep My commandments.
John 8:31 – (Jesus speaking) – If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.