Seven Facts You Must Present Well

strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers
2 Timothy 2:14

 

March 6th, 2011 AM

Pastor Craig Ledbetter

Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland

www.biblebc.com

 

I.       Introduction (Acts 26:18)

 

A.    Our generation needs soul-winners

 

1.      People who can win people over to believing the truth of the Bible

2.      People who don’t just believe the Bible in their heads, but with all their hearts

3.      People who will gladly sacrifice anything and everything for the cause of souls

4.      People who have learned what to say to win the argument against sin

5.      It is not a simple, “1-2-3, Pray after me” routine.

6.      There is some serious explaining that we need to do

7.      Just like they did in the First Century

 

B.     There are Five Facts, or Five Truths that every man, woman, and child needs to hear from the mouth of a soul-winner so that they can become born all over again, in their heart

C.     Those truths can be boiled down to single words that can mean the difference between lost and found, damned or forgiven, religious or saved!

 

II.    Message – Seven Facts Every Soul Must Know

 

A.    The FACT of Sin - Sin is Serious Stuff

 

1.      The Sin Question – What is Sin?

 

a.       Sin is the breaking of God’s laws (1John 3:4) There are some things that are mistakes

b.      But all disobedience is sin (Romans 5:19)

c.       Sins everyone commits include:

 

1)      Lying

2)      Stealing

3)      Blaspheming God’s name

4)      Disobedience towards parents

 

d.      Those aren’t up for debate – we all know those are absolute right and wrongs

e.       No matter how few sins a person is guilty of, they are still a sinner

 

1)      Just as with an apple tree – no matter how few fruits there are on the tree, it is still an apple tree

2)      Even if there is no fruit yet on the tree, it still is an apple tree

3)      It took only ONE sin of disobedience for Adam and Eve to lose Paradise

4)      How many acts of disobedience have YOU committed?

 

2.      Our sins have gotten us in trouble with God (Heb 9:27)

 

a.       Even though we live in a generation that has moved beyond “sin consciousness” – they may be numb to guilt (or at least they think they are), and reject any reference to them being at fault! But they are in serious trouble with the Creator of this universe!

b.      People’s conscience is seared (1Tim 4:2; Eph 4:19)

c.       People need to be reminded about what they once knew to be true – that we are all sinners!

d.      God wrote that fact in our conscience

e.       That fact needs to be stirred up by showing them God’s words!

 

3.      The Sin Scriptures

 

a.       Romans 3:10,12

b.      Romans 3:23

c.       Ezek 18:20 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

d.      John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

 

B.     The Fact of Hell - Hell is Righteous – it is God’s Penalty for Our Sin

 

1.      God’s justice demands that sin be paid for.  God does not and will not just “overlook” our sin record, anymore than a judge should overlook the record of a mugger or a murderer. We wouldn’t respect a god who just “loved” everybody and just let everyone into His heaven without a change happening first!

2.      The Sin Price (Romans 6:23)

 

a.       Someone has to pay for sin

b.      In this life - We reap what we sow

 

1)      Tickets for wrong driving

2)      Bills for constantly buying on credit

3)      Bad health for smoking and drinking

4)      Lose of our marriage and family because of pornography and adultery

 

c.       And for eternity (Rev 21:8)

 

3.      The Soul Question – What Pays for sin?

 

a.       You, will live forever – the REAL you!

b.      You have a soul that was made in the image of God, which will never die

 

1)      That is the part of you that will suffer the punishment of your sins for eternity in a devil’s hell

2)      Eternal punishment because the sins you committed were against an eternal being – against God!

3)      Someone was once quoted, “If we can’t fix this, then there will be hell to pay!”

4)      Folks, people need to know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if they don’t get their sins forgiven, ALL of them, BEFORE death, then there really WILL be hell to pay!

 

c.       Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death.”

d.      Sin must be paid for.

 

4.      What is hell like? (Luke 16:19-31)

 

a.       It holds the souls of sinners

b.      It is a furnace

c.       It is dark

d.      It is tormenting

e.       It is everlasting

f.       Hell was created for the devil and his angels (Mt 25:41)

g.      Yet it is full of souls who never were forgiven! Who never wanted to follow Jesus, and who thought they would be just fine at the judgment!

 

5.      Jesus warned of hell!

 

a.       Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

b.      Mat 23:33  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

 

6.      This generation had better start believing in HELL again! The more a person believes in hell, the faster they will flee from it to Jesus!!!

 

C.    The Condition of Mankind - Lost - No One Can Save Themselves

 

1.      Jesus tells the story of a lost sheep

 

a.       Could not find its way home

b.      The good shepherd went out and found that lost sheep, and in spite of the wolves, and the dangers in the wilderness, brought that sheep home!

c.       Your family, your neighbours, this community needs to see themselves as that lost sheep

d.      They can have church, and prayer meetings – they can give and read their missals – they can go on pilgrimages

e.       But unless JESUS finds them and saves them, they will die in their sins!

 

2.      There are Three things that cannot save a person

 

a.       Ignorance will not save you

 

1)      Just ignoring the truth, or taking no notice of it

2)      Pretending that the Bible is not true, and that Jesus never lived and died, will not take away the guilt and drop hell’s temperature one degree

 

b.      Good works cannot save you

 

1)      Ephesians 2:8,9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

 

c.       Religion cannot save you

 

1)      Isaiah 64:6 “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”

2)      All the praying in the world cannot make up for just one sin against God

3)      Try as you may, all the rosary beads, all the holy water, all the religious pilgrimages, all the money in the world, all the incense, all put together cannot pay off one single act of disobedience against the holy God of heaven!

4)      None of it will do you any good at all, at all at the judgment!

 

3.      Jump out of an airplane with nothing but your naked skin and see if you can save yourself! You HAVE to have a parachute, or you are doomed!

4.      The same is true about obtaining forgiveness from God for all your sins

 

D.    The Fact of Jesus - There is Only One Hope – One Way to Escape Hell

 

1.      It has been that way from the start

 

a.       Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden learned that fig leaves, and their lies will never cover their sin from a holy God’s eyes

b.      They needed the SKINS of innocent animals, who willingly died in their place

 

2.      Jesus Christ is THE Lamb of God (John 1:29) – He made full payment for all our sins

 

a.       He came and lived a perfect life, died a perfect death, innocent, and without sin, and then three days later arose from the dead, completely victorious over sin

b.      And He wants to save you now!

c.       If you will take Him as he is, He will take you as YOU are!

d.      Jesus is the Sure Hope – not a guess, or a religious stab in the dark. Not a feeling, or a wish. He is the means by which an eternal decision is made in heaven!

 

3.      Remember, sin has condemned everyone in the world

4.      So, you can either pay for it yourself or accept Jesus’ payment for it.

5.      Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the whole world.

6.      And because of His death, burial and resurrection, he can give forgiveness to anybody as a gift

7.      Forgiveness of sins is a GIFT! All you have to do is receive it for it to be yours forever!

8.      John 14:6 “I am THE way…”!

9.      Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

 

E.     The Need to Repent (Isaiah 55:7)

 

1.      Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

2.      Mark 2:17 “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

3.      Be very ashamed and sorry for your sins and your disobedience against God

4.      Admit you do not deserve heaven, but do deserve God’s righteous punishment

5.      Repentance is the first right step of a sinner (2Peter 3:9)

 

F.     The Ability to Believe

 

1.      John 3:16 says all we have to do is BELIEVE!

2.      Romans 10:9,10 “BELIEVE in thine heart…”

3.      Romans 10:13 “For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved”

4.      Romans 10:11 “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

5.      1John 5:12 “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

6.      1John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life”

7.      Romans 6:23b, "...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

 

a.       Explain that God's gift is eternal life. 

b.      A gift doesn't cost the receiver anything, but the giver must pay for it.  Now, let's see what it cost Jesus to give us the gift of eternal life.

 

8.      Because of the PROMISE of the God, anybody is allowed to pray, and ask Jesus Christ to save them, and they then can know for certain, beyond any shadow of a doubt that they are completely forgiven, and can start to finally live!

 

G.    The Fact of Now - You Must Decide Today (2Cor 6:2)

 

1.      There is no guarantee of tomorrow – of another chance

2.      You know enough to believe on Jesus Christ right now

3.      But not with just a flippant “okay” attitude, but “O God!” attitude

 

a.       You see, the devils already believe in God – but they are still doomed

b.      You must go to God in prayer as guilty, and condemned, and ask Him for Jesus’ sake to forgive you of all your sins

 

4.      Receive the free gift that Jesus has purchased for you

 

a.       Romans 10:13

b.      Explain that "whosoever" means "anyone". It means YOUR NAME!  Explain what it means to "call on the name of the Lord."  It means "to call out in order to trust."

 

5.      Do not let people die in their sins

 

a.       Press upon them the urgency of NOW

b.      Compel them to “come in” to heaven and find forgiveness

c.       Urge them that God is waiting – don’t make Him wait any longer!

 

III. Conclusion

 

A.    Seven Words – That express eternal truths that can convince people of sin, and that they must be born again!

 

1.      The Fact of SIN - Sin is Serious Stuff

2.      The Fact of HELL - Hell is Righteous – it is God’s Penalty for Our Sin

3.      The Condition of Mankind - LOST - No One Can Save Themselves

4.      The Fact of JESUS - There is Only One Hope – One Way to Escape Hell

5.      The Need to REPENT

6.      The Ability to BELIEVE

7.      The Fact of NOW - You Must Decide Today

 

B.     Work through those seven thoughts as you talk to people about their soul, and remember the things that go with each word, and you will plant some serious seed in the hearts of every hearer!

 

IV. Five Rules for the Soul-Winner

 

A.    Do not be afraid

 

1.      People must meet Christians who are thoroughly convinced of these truths

2.      Ask God for boldness and courage like the disciples did after Pentecost!

 

B.     Do not be hesitant

 

1.      Go ahead and be a fool for Christ

2.      Let people make fun of you

3.      It is YOU who has the truth, and actually cares enough to take the mockery!

4.      If you don’t take the persecution, it will only prove that you don’t care enough about souls!

 

C.     Do not be unprepared – learn every Scripture you can so that you are ready

 

1.      Carry Gospel Leaflets with you, everywhere

2.      Memorize Gospel Scriptures

 

D.    Do not be unbelieving

 

1.      Don’t hand someone a Gospel leaflet and not believe that they can get saved

2.      Don’t start soul-winning, and then quit when it gets tough

3.      Don’t give up on people that you get to know and get burdened about – don’t ever quit trying to open their eyes!

 

E.     Do not be too busy!

 

1.      Someone was not too busy for YOU!

2.      Someone took the time to pray for you, and talk to you, and put up with your mockery and stupidity