2 Corinthians 11:1-4
When we go out to preach the Gospel, we want to get as many people saved as we can. In order to get as many people saved as we can, we need to keep the Gospel as simple as we can. We don’t want to make it really complicated. And all of you all here do a great job at keeping it simple.
2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Here at this church, we love to go deep into the word of God and get the meat of God’s word. I love to study the Bible and go deep into the doctrines of the Bible. But, I have to remind myself over and over again that I need to keep the preaching of the Gospel simple. It’s very easy and simple to be saved.
God loves us so He made an easy way for us to be saved. And God wants all people to be saved so He made it easy.
I want to go over the simplicity of the Gospel and the absolute minimum amount of material we can go over with someone to get them saved.
Many people might not have the time to go over a detailed Gospel presentation. This doesn’t mean we can’t get them saved.
2 Corinthians 1:12
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
We should always be preaching a simple Gospel. Remember, in simplicity and godly sincerity.
If we can keep things very simple, explain the Gospel correctly, and be very efficient, we can get more and more salvations for the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the purpose of this soul winning training. And, of course, this is for me too. I like details. I like to explain things in more detail. But, from here on out, I want to keep the Gospel as simple as I can.
Romans 12:5-8
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
The Bible says in verse 8, “he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity.” Yes, this is talking about giving. I’ve preached on charity. Charity is loving others by giving. And I believe the greatest giving you can do in this life is the giving of the Gospel. Give the Gospel with simplicity.
Hey, listen, young children can believe the Gospel because it’s simple. The so-called smart people in this world, most of them, won’t believe the Gospel. They don’t understand it, or they believe it to be too simple for them.
Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Hey, you and I were babes. We weren’t wise and prudent in our own sight. We knew that we needed a Savior. And we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ to save us from our sins.
Matthew 21:15-16
And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
Many churches have made going to heaven so difficult. They started preaching another Gospel or they never preached the simple Gospel. Don’t ever become like the chief priests and scribes. Let’s keep it simple.
So, what’s the simplest and most efficient Gospel preaching that we can do?
Let’s go over that right now. If someone says they don’t have time to go over the Gospel, give them a quick summary. This is what that quick summary should be like.
Make these points:
- We’re all sinners.
- The penalty for sin is death and hell. If we had to pay for our own sins, we would die and end up in hell. According to the Bible, that’s what we deserve.
- But God loves you so He wants you in heaven.
- Because He loves you, He sent Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God in the flesh, to pay your penalty. He died on the cross, His body was buried, His soul was not left in hell, and He arose from the dead. He did that to fully pay for all your sins: past, present, and future.
- The Bible says there only one thing you must do to be saved from your sins and receive the free gift of everlasting life. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Make sure you explain what it means to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. They must trust Jesus Christ alone to save them. And it can’t be of works in any way, shape, or form.
- The Bible says that once you believe, you receive everlasting life. How long is everlasting? If you get everlasting life today because you believe in Jesus and know that He can save you, could it ever end? Explain everlasting life and ensure they are believing in Jesus.
- If they believe, pray with them. Because you believe, I want to lead you in a quick prayer so you remember this. The prayer doesn’t save you. But we’re going to call upon the name of the Lord.
And that’s it for the simple Gospel. You want to use Bible verses to go along with each of these points.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
This is easy. This is simple. We’re all sinners. We’ve all done wrong. We aren’t perfect. Most everyone in existence will admit they aren’t perfect.
Do you agree with the Bible? Do you agree we’ve all sinned. Yes, good. Because we’ve sinned, there’s a penalty for sin.
Romans 6:23a
For the wages of sin is death;
Wages are payment. Our payment for sin is death. And it’s not just a physical death. The payment for our sin is death and hell. There’s a first death and there’s a second death.
Revelation 20:14
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
If we have to pay our own penalty for our sins, we would die and we would end up in hell. That’s what the Bible says.
But do you believe God wants you in heaven or hell? God is a good God, and He wants you in heaven.
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus is the Son of God who came in this flesh to save us. He is God manifest in the flesh. He’s not a creation. He went to the cross and died for our sins. He paid the penalty for us.
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.
The Bible says you must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. God doesn’t say anything else is required for you to go to heaven. Believing in Jesus is trusting that it’s only His death, His burial, and His resurrection that saves you. It’s not anything you do. He paid it all. He purchased the gift of everlasting life for you.
John 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Jesus says if you believe in Him, you receive everlasting life right now. Do you believe Jesus can save you right now and forever? Yes.
So, let’s say you believe in Jesus right now. You know He can save you right now. You know that it isn’t anything you do or have done. It’s only Jesus and what He did for you. He gives you everlasting life right now. That means forever. That means you’re going to heaven no matter what.
Let’s say you have everlasting life right now. In a couple years from now, you have a bad day. You get really angry. Someone makes you really mad. Let’s say you killed them and then you died right after. Would you go to heaven or hell?
That’s right. Heaven. Why? Because Jesus paid for all your sins. The big ones and the little ones. But don’t do that because that will make God very angry with you. He will never throw you into hell.
John 10:28
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Jesus says that He gives you eternal life right now. He says you will never perish. He says you are safe forever. Do you believe that there’s anything you could do to lose everlasting life? No. Good.
Because you believe, I want to say a quick prayer with you so you remember this, and so that you know you’re saved. I’m going to lead you in a quick prayer, repeat after me, and we’re going to ask Jesus to save you.
Dear Jesus. I know I’m a sinner. I know I deserve the penalty of death and hell. But I know you paid for all my sins. I believe in your death, burial, and resurrection. I’m trusting only in you to save me. And not in myself, not in my life, and not in my good works. Only you Jesus. Please save me now, and give me everlasting life. Amen.
Now, if someone has time for a more detailed explanation, do that for them. Go a little deeper into the Gospel.
Here’s the thing, though, you never know how much time someone has to hear the Gospel. There are constant interruptions. Sometimes you think you have more time than you do. We must constantly be praying that there are no distractions and no interruptions.
Just this past Sunday, I thought I had more time than I did. The woman I was speaking with was very interested. She was listening to everything I was saying. She was answering the questions correctly. And then her daughter called and she needed to take the call. She said it would probably be a long time. I was talking with someone else outside after her.
She stayed on the phone with her daughter for another 15 minutes or so I was speaking with another woman on the sidewalk. So we moved on from there.
If I would have used a quicker Gospel presentation, I would have been able to get through the entire Gospel with her. So, you never know.
Be aware of your surroundings. I even asked her if I could have just a few more minutes before she answered the call. She said she had to take the call. That was her decision. It was a very bad decision. Just a few more minutes to hear the ending of the Gospel and be saved forever.
And remember, the quick summary of the Gospel is on the back of the invitation. The person will have it in their hands. It works when you tell them there’s a quick summary of the Gospel on the back of the card you gave them. They will turn it over and start looking. Just start giving them that message from God.
When they hear the message of the Gospel, many people change their mind and they start listening.
And then there’s your chance to preach the Gospel to them. When they hear that it’s so simple to be saved, they change their mind about listening.
Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
So, we must do our absolute best to fulfill that commandment. You want to do everything you can to urge someone to hear the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ.
And even if they won’t hear the Gospel, you can easily get a quick summary of the Gospel in with most people. We’ve all sinned. Our penalty for sin is death and hell. But God loves you so He sent Jesus, God manifest in the flesh, to pay your penalty and to save you from your sins. All you have to do is trust, believe, or have faith in Him only and what He did for you. If you believe that it’s only Jesus that saves you, He gives you everlasting life today that never ends.
Can I please go over the Gospel with you? It’s that easy. You can know, today, that you’re going to go to heaven when you die.
Think of the examples in the Bible.
Acts 8:29-31
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:32-34
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Acts 8:35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Simply preach Jesus Christ to them.
We’re sinners. We need a Savior. If we don’t have a Savior, we’re going to die and end up in hell. Jesus came. He died. He was buried. He arose from the dead. He paid for all our sins. Believe in Him to save you. It’s not of yourself. It’s only Jesus. He can save you from your sins, from that penalty of death and hell, and give you everlasting life right now. Once you have everlasting life, you can’t lose it.
And that’s it again and again. Let’s preach the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ.
John 11:25-27
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.
It really is that simple. Just believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Sometimes we might think ourselves, “Well, that was too easy. Are they really saved forever?” That’s a foolish thought. Jesus said if someone believes in Him to save them, that they are saved forever. God said so. It really is that simple.
Sometimes when I preach the Gospel to children and teenagers, they just believe everything immediately. I ask them, “Do you believe that?” Yes. I ask them the questions. They get them right. I’m thinking, “Are they really getting this?” But hey, listen, the Gospel is simple. God made it that way. Let’s keep it that way.
Let’s pray.
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