Personal evangelism involves specific methods for leading inquirers to salvation, beginning with diagnosing their spiritual condition by listening to their concerns and asking clarifying questions. The sermon emphasizes that the core problem for every inquirer is sin, and this must be clearly understood, referencing John 3:3-5, 18, 36 and Romans 3:10-23 to illustrate humanity's fallen state. The remedy is found in Christ's atoning sacrifice, as highlighted in Isaiah 53 and Isaiah 55:1-7, which offers free pardon and salvation through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Inquirers must be warned of the dangers of hardening their hearts, neglecting salvation, and the eternal consequences, urging them to make an immediate decision to confess Christ and receive Him as Savior.
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tonight the subject taken from the book that has been the source of study on personal evangelism we come to lesson number seven in that book tonight which is called the methods of soul winning I'm sure we all realize as far as the purpose and the study of that book and the ministry of it from this platform in the Wednesday night meeting has to do with personal evangelism and our witnessing in the winning of souls. Many subjects have been covered already, but tonight there is a lesson on the methods of soul winning.
No specific method can be stated to be true for every occasion when we are seeking to win souls. The Spirit of God may use many different methods. that some have been suggested, but there are some suggestions that I wish to cover from the book in the outline of it. There are seven things to do. And we shall cover them tonight. I will also add that in relation to that same lesson, there are twenty things in that same lesson what the writer says not to do. And if you have a book, you're going to read that for yourself.
I'm not going to cover those twenty items. But I think it is perhaps most important to cover the first section, things that should be done in the winning of souls. Now, let me make it a very clear presentation from the book itself. The method that is suggested, and the points that are suggested, They do not particularly have to do with how to witness. They are particularly directed to a man, woman, boy or girl, whoever the person may be who is inquiring regarding the things of God and salvation.
So that the subject has to do with dealing with a person who is inquiring for help in regard to salvation and the things of God. It doesn't cover the methods of witnessing, but undoubtedly things to do when we have a person with whom we are dealing personally. First of all, and this is a lesson outlined, now part of the lesson outlined I notice is very devoid in the first part of it of Scripture references. So I'm going to have to put references in as the occasion demands.
The first section has to do with diagnosing the case. In other words, there's even in the book it suggests like a doctor. Find out if you can what the patient's problem is. For there are many problems that cause men and women to look into the salvation of their soul. and the diagnosing of the case is very important, and in so doing, one has to listen to what their problem is. In other words, let them speak for themselves as to what they have as a burden upon their heart.
And undoubtedly you can ask them questions, and I think one of the, and very briefly, without going into further detail on that particular problem, to understand their case, just raise a question now and then. Why? Why are you concerned? And so on. And most of all, if it's the question they want to be saved, be a good question to ask, why do you want to be saved? Then you can come to the next section. which is describe the trouble they're in, meaning describe the disease they possess.
What is the problem in the sight of God, and what should be the problem, even as they should see it. And may I emphasize this, the problem that every inquirer faces is the problem of sin. May I re-emphasize that? Until they realize the character and the awful character of sin in their own life, in their own heart, you're not going to lead them to Christ. Let me just interject that by a scripture.
You may know it. John chapter sixteen in verse eight through eleven, where Jesus said, when the Spirit of God has come, he will convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment, of sin because they believe not on me, of righteousness because I go to my Father. And ye see me no more. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. And may I suggest again, I believe I am correct to emphasize, what the patient needs to realize is the reality of their sin.
Now there are many scriptures. There were none mentioned in the book particularly. But may I just mention this? A few of them. One that you're very familiar with, John chapter three, verses three through five. If you wish to turn there, we can use that for one sample, if not more. But in John chapter three, you have the Lord Jesus. And here you have an enquirer. One who came to Jesus by night. And in verse three through verse five, now listen to the Lord dealing with him. and revealing to him the necessity of being born again.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again. He cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, is so necessary of a truth, of a truth, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. And of course, that's bringing to the inquirer the important necessity of a new birth, not a natural birth, That's impossible to renew and have again, but a spiritual birth from heaven.
But may I also read, well go to chapter three, verse eighteen. Go down to verse eighteen, by way of example. The inquiry needs to see that he or she is condemned before God. He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not. It's condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And there is another concrete scripture that one needs to believe upon the Lord Jesus, but is already condemned and under condemnation because he or she has not believed.
Go down with me in verse thirty-six, the last verse of the chapter, well known. which couples it all together. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. But no, to deal with the person on save, the last section of the verse is the important application. And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him. We will not take the time, except Go to Romans chapter three. I may do want to mention verse one. One verse I should say.
Chapter three in the book of Romans. Romans chapter three. The whole scripture from verse ten through nineteen. And may I say specifically. This is one of the most important portions of scripture. To bring before an inquiring soul. To prove. The whole world. The person you're talking to, included, is under the condemnation of God and a guilty sinner. From verse ten through nineteen, may I give the suggestion? Not only read it to them, but where you want to emphasize certain truth, have them read it also.
But go to verse nineteen, please. Where you have the conclusion of the argument, Now we know that what thing soever the law said, it said to them who were under the law, that every mouth may be stuck, and all the world, and this is a portion to emphasize, none have been able to keep the law. You remember a young ruler came to the Lord Jesus and said, Good Master, on one occasion, What must I do to inherit eternal life? And the Lord Jesus asked him, What says the law?
And the young fellow quoted the main section of that law that really in its principle included it all. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, with all thine mind, and thy neighbor as thyself, and so on. And you know what the Lord Jesus told him? This do, and you'll live. But no one has ever been able to do it. Keep the whole law. So that at the end of verse nineteen here, all the world becomes guilty before God.
For what precedes it, proves everyone has gone out of the way. All have sinned. Go to verse twenty-three. same chapter, you can summarize it. You can say as the person may read it. For all have sinned, and you can ask them, does that include you? Well, if they're honest, they'll say yes. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Now, I'm not going any further with this particular point. There are other scriptures. There are scriptures that you could follow in Thessalonians, in Hebrews, as well as even in the book of the Revelation.
You can go on through your New Testament, find many verses, as well as go back to the Old Testament, too. But we'll see that. All we like sheep have gone astray. We'll see that verse in another point. But then you could cover the many scriptures. that declare and that describe how all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Please let me say, one of the reasons you many times may find a false profession is because there's never been a deep conviction. May I say this lovingly?
There is a spirit in evangelism today of what I call is easy believism. You can ask a person, do you believe in Jesus Christ or say yes? Do you believe he came from heaven? Yes. Do you believe he died for it? Yes. Well, let me say it. That doesn't say unless they've had a conviction they need it. The Lord Jesus told a parable in Matthew thirteen of a sower that went out the sow. Some seed fell under hard ground, some fell under stony ground, some fell under thorny ground.
Only one class fell on good ground and brought forth fruit. And please let me think, you've got those four kinds of ground in the world today. in the hearts of people. Hard ground, stony ground hear it, thorny ground hear it, and thank God for those when the sea falls into good ground. And bring forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Recognize, you and I can do it so to see, and hope it falls into good ground.
But it will never fall into good ground unless that soul that you're dealing with is convicted of his and her sin. And I say this lovely, I can name a brother who stands out amongst the evangelical Christians of our country in the work that he's going, who I recall very sincerely, I would say sixty years ago, hearing him and his companions across people on the street. Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe he came from heaven? And they give an answer, yes. Do you believe that he died on the cross that said, yes, then you say, no.
Please let me say this. No matter what you do, and please remember it, it's the Holy Spirit who does the work. It's the Holy Spirit who does the work through you. So one of the certain facts is not only when you try to find out the problem of your hearer, but also be sure you can bring the word of God to reveal to him or to her their great need of salvation in conviction of death. Now when that is done, then it's easy to tell them the remedies.
Then you see to tell them the remedy. When a doctor finds out just what your trouble is, as one doctor when he made a test for me many, many years ago and said I had an alpha, I looked at him and said, is it a religious one or a domestic one? Well, he smiled at me, but look, then he prescribed the remedy when he knew my trouble. But how precious to realize, and listen, my fellow believer, You and I who have been saved, we know the remedy. Now let me quote some scriptures. The book in its study doesn't go into all these scriptures, but does mention what to do, give them the remedy, show them how Christ died, and what he has done, and so on.
But listen to some of the scriptures from the Word of God. Isaiah fifty-three says, you know that. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way, that the Lord had laid on him, the Lord Jesus' son, the iniquity of his all. There's the remedy. Christ died for us all. Go to another scripture. Let me quote it. Go to Isaiah chapter fifty-five, if you please. Isaiah chapter fifty-five in your Old Testament. Let me read two verses. verse one and verse seven in that book of Isaiah where the prophet writes words that are very appropriate chapter fifty five reading in verse one first of all and then in verse six and seven here is the remedy who everyone that thirsteth you want to be saved you're thirsty for salvation come ye to the waters and he that has no money come ye buy think of buying something without money buy and eat ye come and buy wine and
milk without money and without pride may I say very frankly the remedy is free this afternoon coming out of the grocery store and being checked out I made the comment as I often do maybe I don't know what anybody else does the high prices of things going up all the time. And I said to the clerk, I said to her, you know, I said, everything's going up in price for salvation, which is free and nobody wants it. She looked at me, she shook my hand, she said, praise the Lord, hallelujah. That's right, she said.
She knew it. But I said, isn't it true? How many people needing this remedy? They won't take it. Look in verse six and seven, and the prophet goes on to say, Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man is not. Let him return to the Lord. and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Why, God wants to forgive those sins, to pardon them.
What a remedy is the free pardon. Please may I remind you, you may, I don't know whether you've heard that story, but this is absolutely true. Many years ago, many years ago it was, one of our presidents, gave a pardon to a prisoner who had been put in prison for great criminal acts. And when the pardon was brought to him by the prison official, the authorized pardon signed by the President of the United States, he would not take it. And you know that prison official didn't know what to do.
And it had to go to the Supreme Court that he signed. And the Supreme Court decided. So it's not a pardon until the man took it. Received it. My beloved. Here's a pardon for every man, woman, boy, and girl. There's a sin. But how few are taken yet. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he's near. And let the wicked forsake his way. The unrighteous man is thought. Let him return unto the Lord. For he will have... Notice what it says. He will have mercy upon him. And to our God.
For he will abundantly pardon. How precious. There's pardon. There are many... Oh, you can go all the way through the New Testament. Matthew one, twenty-one. Thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sin. You know that. You know many other scriptures. You think of John chapter one and verse twelve. But as many as received him, the Lord Jesus, to then gave him the right, the privilege, the authority to be called the sons of the children of God. You can go to John three sixteen. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish.
But have everlasting life? You go to John five twenty-four. When Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that set me. Have everlasting life. Shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. And many him go all the way through. Find all the good gospel texts. Even Romans one sixteen. I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believe us. And you can go on in the book of the Acts.
Neither is there salvation in any other in Acts four as well. For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. You can go on in the epistle. How many verses in the book of Romans? romans chapter five and verse six as well as verse eight how that christ died for the ungodly god commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners christ died for us romans first corinthians chapter fifteen the gospel how that christ by which you're saying how that christ died for our sin according to the scriptures was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
You go on to all the epistles have text that you can use. As John in his epistle writes, the blessed truth, he that hath the south hath life by believing in him. You've got many scriptures that tell the remedy. Now let me point out two things though, not in your book, but let me point out two facts. There is a negative approach in dealing with the remedy being presented, and there is a positive approach. You see, what do you mean by a negative approach? And this is very necessary. You'll find it most on, it would be most unusual not to find it.
The negative approach is this. Be sure you tell them and prove to them they cannot be saved by work. Let me give you a scripture. Romans five, please. Romans four, rather. Romans chapter four. Romans chapter four in verse five. For you'll invariably come where many people think they must do something. Now listen to these words. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifiably ungodly.
His faith is counter-righteousness. In other words, emphasize, make sure they know it. You cannot work for it. You cannot earn it. You have the same truth later on, without question of doubt. In Ephesians chapter two, verse eight and nine, you know that well. Look at it if you wish. But you must emphasize it. Just make sure that they are not trusting anything they do. And as you have it in Ephesians chapter two, eight and nine, where Paul is written very faithfully, for we are saved by grace through faith.
That not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of words, like any man should boast. One more. Titus chapter three, verse five. The epistle of Titus. Chapter three in verse five is a good verse. That they cannot be saved by works. That's the negative emphasis. Not by works of righteousness that we have done. Make them see that God says there's nothing that they have done that merits salvation. But according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Now there's a positive side to it is this, and I'm only going to mention it, but some of the texts we've read and quoted state it. The positive side is believing it. Believing it. Say it. You must believe it. Now may I give you this thought? Now listen this carefully. I cannot cover that. You have at least a hundred and fifteen passages in your New Testament calling upon the sinner to believe. Believe, believe, believe, believe, faith, faith, faith. No other principle.
We are saved by grace through faith. And the positive side that you must emphasize making sure the negative has been made, and then positively stating, you must believe on the Lord Jesus. Now let me give you one text, which I believe to me is one of the best explanations as to what it means to believe. John one twelve, already quoted to you. John one twelve. And you know what John says there. But to as many as we see him, You know who him means? The Lord Jesus Christ.
Salvation is receiving a person. When I believe in my heart that Jesus died for me, I am receiving him. A person. To as many as received him. To them gave me the power, the right, the privilege to be called the sons of the children of God. even to them that believe on his name. To summarize the positive side, let me quote the words of Acts twenty and verse twenty-one, where Paul said he was preaching repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Repentance from your sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There's the remedy. What a remedy it is. Now the fourth point in our lesson, I go quickly over the rest, warn them of the danger. You say, what danger? Well, you know, when you deal with anyone, you want to see them come to the Lord Jesus. And there's oftentimes a lot of hesitation. A lot of times there may be some difficulty that they bring up. But there's a danger, there are certain dangers to warn them about.
And one danger is this. You'll find it in John chapter eight, verse twenty-one, I believe. Yes, John eight twenty-one. Warn them of dying without Christ. For the Lord Jesus says in John A. Twenty one. If you die in your sins, where I am there you cannot come. Warm them of the danger of dying without Christ. Then may I warn them if they're inquiring of another danger. Don't harden your heart. Don't rebel against it. Don't let your heart get hardened against this truth.
And you have that. Well, Proverbs twenty-nine and verse one has the word. He that harneth his heart shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy. My beloved. And you have in Hebrews chapter three, and you can read the whole chapter for yourself, and in verses twelve through fifteen, the Apostle warned the Hebrews, don't let your heart get arden as some of the saints did, as some of the Old Testament people did in that wilderness long before. I remember when I was eighteen years of age in the city of Chicago, a dear Christian man was telling me, of a man that he had been seeking to lead to the Lord, and he had seen that man under conviction but never been able to bring him to Christ, he lost sight of him for many, many years until suddenly he met him in a restaurant in the city of Chicago and began to talk with him and began to talk to him without Christ,
about Christ again. And the man said, don't talk to me. Don't talk to me. And you know what he said? The Spirit of God doesn't strive with me anymore. And there's the third danger. God said in the book of Genesis chapter six, the Spirit of the Lord could not strive with the people of the day before the flood. And he will not always strive with man. Stephen in chapter seven of the book of the Acts and maybe for verse fifty one but in that chapter he accused the Hebrew leaders you have always resisted the Holy Spirit and anyone who refuses to be saved when you point them to Christ and they clearly have been given the way of salvation one then you can always be resisting the Holy Spirit And as God said in the book of Genesis, my spirit shall not always strive with man.
And in that day he gave all mankind, a hundred and twenty years, and they were all lost for Adam, I mean, but Noah rather, Noah and his three sons and their wives in the great flood. So there are dangers. One and another great danger too. They can put off salvation. And you have Hebrews chapter two, verse three, to which you could refer. How shall we escape it? We neglect. So great salvation. Warn them. Now look, if you don't take it, there's no escape from the judgment that you'll have to pay.
You can neglect it. And it is easy to neglect. Procrastinate. How some have said to me when finding the Lord. I remember one dear man saying as he came to his feet after confessing Christ. Why didn't I do that long ago? Yes. He had kept putting it off. Putting it off. There's danger. There's danger. And one other great danger. The second coming of Christ. If the Lord were to come tonight, Let me raise the question. Have you got some souls that you're praying for to be saved? If he came tonight, be that too late.
Following is coming. So there are dangers. Now that brings us to the point that we would emphasize now. Graciously seek to tell them, make a decision. Make a decision. Urgent and make an immediate decision. to confess the Savior. And in urging them to make a decision, the best way is to get them on their knees or in prayer to talk to the Lord with their own words. Many years ago in the Bahamas, one night late, a knock came at the door where I was staying and as I answered the door there was a young man about eighteen years of age.
He had been listening to the preaching of the gospel that night. He started on his way home. And yet he had been wanting to come and talk to me about getting saved. As I began talking to him, he told me that he had a New Testament in his pocket. He worked on the boat around the island, back and forth, in his famous work. carrying his New Testament. He said, I read it every day. I'm not saved, but I read my New Testament. I had the privilege of not dealing with him and doing what we've been seeking to cover tonight in some way. Until the last I said, son, you know you're lost, don't you?
And he did. I said, you know the Lord Jesus Christ is the only one that can save you. And you know the remedy. I said, will you get down on your knees and tell the Lord in your own words? Talk to God and tell him as a sinner. You come and trust the Lord Jesus and take him as you say. He began praying. He said, Oh God, and he's stuck. He's stuck. I was kneeling alongside of him. I said, Son, go on. He stood to his feet because I can't.
I said, what's the trouble? They said, I can't. I don't know what the trouble is. I looked at him and said, son, do you want me to tell you the trouble? He said, what? I said, the devil is keeping your mouth shut. He doesn't want you to come to God and confess Christ as your Savior. I said, are you going to let the devil take you to hell? Because you won't open your mouth? I said, come on, get down on your knees. And he got down on his knees again. I don't tell him. Don't need to tell you, I'm doing a lot of inside praying. And thank God he got through. He prayed on, confessing the Lord, and took him as his Savior.
And went away happy, saved, by the blood of the crucified one. Now after you led them to Christ, give them some scripture on the assurance of salvation. Let them read it for themselves. Give them those precious scriptures. You've got John three, sixteen. That's a good one. You know it. John five, twenty-four. And dwellers, you've got John ten, nine. I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved. And first John chapter five and verse thirteen. You've got that too. Now the last thing. after you've given them the assurance of the word of God concerning salvation, the last thing, the seventh thing is tell them to confess Christ.
Confess Christ. As the Apostle says in Romans chapter nine, ten, nine and ten. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, with the heart rather, man believeth, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. And encourage them to confess the Lord. Can you remember what the Lord told Mark chapter five? Verse nineteen, I believe it is. In Mark chapter five, the Lord Jesus in verse nineteen told that demoniac possessed man who wanted to follow the Lord, He said, go home to thy friends.
Tell them what great things the Lord has done for you. And he went home to his friends. When the Lord came to that neighborhood again, he had friends waiting for them to meet the Lord. Encourage them to confess the Lord Jesus into others and read and pray and live for the Lord Jesus Christ. God grant these words will be blessed. I trust the bin of health. I'm sure they're encouraging to realize those are some things to do. I wouldn't take up my time to spend on twenty things not to do.
If you have the book, read it for yourself. It's all it tells you some practical things. Be careful how you do it.