Introduction: Great Detail in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
When we preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ out there we already go above and beyond the examples of soul winning that you see in the Bible. We see what Jesus says. We see what Peter preached. We see what Philip preached. We see what Paul preached.
Now, please hear me on this, I can go into greater detail with a Gospel presentation. I can keep teaching all day long. I can keep asking questions all day long. But I choose not to do that for a reason. I am going to follow the examples in the Bible.
You have all these men and women out in this world with their opinion. You didn’t do it right. You didn’t say this. You didn’t say that. You didn’t ask this. You didn’t ask that. I would have said this. I would have said that.
Well, you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to be led by the Spirit of God and say the things that He is telling me to say. And I don’t care what you think. I care what He thinks.
I’m going to put my faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His message is far more powerful than your message. And when someone tells me they believe after I’ve went through the Gospel in detail, I’m going to put my faith in what Jesus said.
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
We know that faith IN Jesus Christ is what saves someone forever. And it’s not a continuous faith. We must keep the faith. It’s faith in a moment of time. When a person places their faith IN Jesus Christ, they are 100% absolutely saved in that exact moment FOREVER.
Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The Gospel message is the source of faith—not our persuasion, not our personality, not our ability to close the deal. Our job is to give them the Gospel plainly. God’s word does the work within. So, to be more and more successful at soul winning, we MUST place our faith in God’s word, in His message, to do the job.
The Simplicity of the Gospel
Acts 16:30-31
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
This is how simple it is to be saved so we must focus the Gospel on believing in Jesus Christ. Yes, they need to know they are sinners. They need to know the penalty for sin is serious—death and hell. If they died before being saved from all their sins, they would go to hell. But then we need to focus on Jesus Christ. They need to know that He alone is Savior of the world.
Works of any type do not save from sins. Things we do can’t pay for a single sin. Jesus paid for every sin, and He is the only one that can and did. Not them. Not what they do. Not what we do. Nothing pays for sin. Only Jesus Christ pays for sin. Watch what happens next.
Acts 16:32-34
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
They spoke unto him the word of the Lord. They used the Scriptures that speak of Jesus Christ. All the Scriptures are pointing to Jesus Christ. Paul and Silas had been beaten in prison. Then the prison keeper washed the stripes of Paul and Silas. His entire family heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And then they got baptized because they had already believed. Verse 34 says they rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
The Gospel message is simple. We are sinners. We will die and go to hell without a Savior. We are not the Savior. What we do does not save us. What we do condemns us to hell. Our good works don’t pay for the sin we’ve committed. Jesus saves. Jesus is THE SAVIOR.
We bring that simple message, and we allow the word of God to do the work. We put our faith in the word of God to convince them that Jesus is THE SAVIOR.
The jailer was saved the moment he believed—not after he got baptized. He did show that he believed by getting baptized immediately. This is a great work that should be done. But it doesn’t save anyone.
The Moment of Salvation
John 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
If that is the moment someone is saved, we must be working to get the person to do that. For example, after I’ve told them about Jesus Christ in detail, I ask: “Do you believe that Jesus Christ, right now, on His own, without your help, without you doing anything else, can save your from your sins forever?”
And they tell me, “Yes, I believe that.”
Now, here’s the entire point of this sermon right now. Is that good enough for you all out there? “Well, I’m not sure they got saved.” Hey, YE OF LITTLE FAITH. Remember, the title of this sermon: A Soul Winners Faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let me repeat that: We question whether or not someone gets saved when they clearly understand that Jesus ALONE is THE SAVIOR. Look, this isn’t difficult. This isn’t hard to understand. We need a Savior, it’s obvious, and that SAVIOR is Jesus Christ. Do you believe Jesus can save you from hell? Some people tell me that if Jesus can’t do it, no one can.
And then we question if they got saved. Do we have faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do we believe what Jesus said: “He that believeth on me HATH everlasting life.”
I’ve done it. You’ve done it. We’ve all done it.
You can take a close look at that again and tell me if you believe that for the person you’re preaching the Gospel to. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. When you’re preaching the Gospel, you need to have that simple faith. Don’t make it complicated. Don’t add things that aren’t needed.
“Well, I think they have to repeat the entire Gospel to me, in their own words, in order for them to be saved. I think I need to question them for 15 more minutes so they can prove to me they believed.”
Do you know how I know someone got saved? They looked me in the eye and they told me they believe Jesus can save them. They told me they believe IN Jesus Christ right there in that moment. You can question it all you want, but I am not going to question the word of God. I highly recommend that we all stop questioning God’s words and we just believe it.
A Lack of Simple Faith in God’s Word
If you lack that simple faith, as a soul winner, it’s not going to work as well. Have faith. The lack of faith won’t help you get more people saved out there. Bring a strong faith in God’s word. Bring all the faith you’ve got and don’t let someone decrease that faith.
As we question whether someone else got saved, we lack that simple faith that we are questioning someone else about. Do you see what I mean? I hope you understand what I’m saying.
John 11:20-23
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
John 11:24-27
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Jesus told her that He is THE SAVIOR. He is the resurrection, and He is the life. Not you and I. Not our good works. JESUS ALONE SAVES. That’s what He told Martha. We are all dead in our sins. We are not alive because of our goodness and the great works we do. We are all dead because of the sins we have committed.
“He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Those words are pure power and will save someone forever. Do you have faith in that or not?
“Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” You have to understand that my body will die, but me, who I am, my soul, will never die. I keep on living. I believe that right now. Do you believe that right now? Do you believe Jesus saved you forever?
Jesus asks Martha, “Believest thou this? Martha, do you believe what I just said? Do you believe that you will never die if you believe IN me?”
What does Martha say, “Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” She believes HE ALONE is THE CHRIST. She believed Jesus is the Son of God that came to save this world. Do the Scriptures question whether or not Martha was saved? Why do we do that?
But They Didn’t Do This or That!
Well, they didn’t answer all my questions perfectly at the end. Well, they didn’t come to get baptized. Well, they didn’t change their life. Well, I saw them 6 months later and they didn’t know for sure whether they were going to heaven. Think about that one.
Does the Bible say they must continue? That they must answer your question correctly 6 months later? Does the Bible say that must continue to walk in the Spirit? Or does the Bible say they must simply believe in that moment? Which one are you going with? Make up your mind. We’re here to increase faith in God’s words.
Sometimes we want to compare people to ourselves. Well, look what we did. We got saved. We started going to a good church. We became soul winners. We repeat the Gospel many times every week. They should be like us to be saved. Look at us. Look at what we’ve done. We’re saved. They must not be saved if they aren’t like us. They won’t do it like we did so we question that moment. Hey, don’t do that. Don’t be puffed up.
I am going to put my faith in the word of God. When I gave them the Gospel, they listened, they understood, they looked me right in the eye and they told me they believed IN the Lord Jesus Christ to save them right then and there. They believed they received everlasting life. They stood there and told me they are now going to heaven all because of Jesus Christ.
Am I going to question that? WHO AM I?
Moses said, “Who am I?” King Saul said, “Who am I?” King David said, “Who am I?” King Solomon said, “Who am I?” Who do we think we are not putting our faith in the word of God?
Am I going to lack faith while I am preaching to them to have faith? Think about that. We have to be stronger in faith. We have to know that they are saved forever because Jesus said so. It’s great to continue in that faith, to continue to understand, to continue to believe, to continue to be able to answer the questions correctly.
It’s good to help people to continue to increase faith and understand the Gospel, but we can’t question God’s words. Did Martha get saved? “I believed therefore I have spoken.” Salvation comes at the moment they trust in Jesus Christ. Not the moment they speak—the moment they believe.
Focus In On Faith
So, we, as soul winners must focus in on the believing, the trust, the faith IN the Lord Jesus Christ. We have to stop the things that decrease our faith. Do not question. “Well, he went out and committed murder right after I thought he got saved.” Oh, is that a requirement now for salvation? Where’s that in the Bible?
Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH. And then we don’t realize the sheer power and might in those words. They believed. God saved. Don’t think of calling God a liar. Do you understand what I’m saying here? We will not decrease faith in God’s words.
“I’m not sure they got saved.” Did they tell you they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ after they understand what that means? Did they understand what it meant to believe IN Jesus? If they did, and they told you they believed, what’s the problem?
I’ve done it. You’ve done it. We’ve all done this as soul winners. From here on out, if someone understands the Gospel and tells you they believe that, don’t question it. Everyone is different. We are from different backgrounds. Everyone.
Here’s an example of a lack of faith.
I changed the way I present the Gospel because it was confusing to people. I would tell them clearly that the one thing that saves them is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. They would tell me they believed. And then I would say, “Since you believe, let’s pray and ask Jesus to save you.” That’s confusing because a prayer doesn’t save you. Believing saves.
Since people lack the faith in God’s words, they then want to add the Sinner’s prayer to the end because they aren’t yet sure if the person got saved. They told you they believed. But that’s not enough for you. Well, you’ve got the problem. You’ve got the lack of faith. You’re decreasing faith as a soul winner. Don’t do that.
I Changed My Gospel Presentation
So I changed the way I preach the Gospel. Once they tell me they believe in Jesus, I tell them they are saved. And some might say, “Well, that’s dangerous.” No, my friend, your lack of faith in the word of God is dangerous.
At the end of the Gospel presentation, I tell the person we’re going to pray to Jesus, tell Him you believe these things, and thank Him for saving you. No confusion. No lack of faith.
But some people will say, “It’s dangerous to pray with someone who wasn’t able to recite the entire Gospel back to you. It’s dangerous to pray with someone if you aren’t sure they got saved.” Now listen closely to that statement. “It’s dangerous to pray with someone.”
Think about that. Is that a lie? It’s dangerous to pray with someone??? Well, the prayer doesn’t save anyone to begin with. So, do you still think the prayer saves? Who is the dangerous one? If you think the prayer saves, you don’t have faith in God’s words. O YE OF LITTLE FAITH.
So, look, as a soul winner you must have faith in God’s words. Believe what He says.
John 1:49
Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 4:42
And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
John 6:68-69
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 9:36-38
He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
John 20:28-29
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Acts 8:37
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Luke 23:42-43
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Born of God in a Moment or Not? Which is It?
BORN OF GOD – not born of you, not born of me, but born of God in that moment of belief! Not confession. Believing. We see the confession so we know they believed. And they confess to us with their mouth. But that’s still not enough for us to believe that they were saved?
The Bible doesn’t question this? Where do we get this from? We get this from men and women lacking faith. That lack of faith doesn’t come from God. And that lack of faith spreads. We don’t want to be spreading that lack of faith.
So, again, what does someone have to say to you, as a soul winner, for you to believe that they got saved? Did they tell you they believe Jesus is the Son of God and God in the flesh. Did they tell you they believe IN Jesus and not in themselves? Did they tell you they believe they received everlasting life that can’t be lost? Yes.
Then what’s the problem? “Well I’m not sure they got it.” Well, it looks like they had faith and you didn’t. That’s what this looks like. Remember this. And I’m preaching to myself here too. I’ve made many mistakes in my life. I want to get things right. Let’s do this together. Keep that faith strong.
Let’s pray.
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