Converting People to Christ
-Introduction
-Quick review of previous lessons: Why some people don’t obey the Gospel?
-Lesson 1: Confusion within the religious world
-Lesson 2: “I don’t know enough about the Bible”
-1 Tim 2:3-4
-Last week, we pointed out that some seem to get the “cart in front of the horse” - feeling
that they need to have a rather complete knowledge of the scriptures before being saved.
-This week, I would like us to consider this idea: Do we, when talking to others about the
scriptures, sometimes get the “cart in front of the horse?”
-Story about Margie - When visiting family, heard a guest speaker say, “I’m afraid we
sometimes try to convert people to baptism, rather than Christ.”
-Focus on the Basics of the Gospel
-Acts 2:22, 8:35
-Acts 16:31 - Could the apostle Paul have simply told this man to repent and be baptized?
-Sure. After all, isn’t that what Peter said in Acts 2:38?
-Repent of what? Be baptized into who? Why?
-You see, there were things this man needed to understand before obeying the Gospel.
-The apostle Paul was in a position of authority (Father in heaven - Jesus - Apostles).
-So, could Paul have walked into town and said, “Everybody listen to me. You need
to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins”?
-Sure. Is that what he did? No.
-Acts 17:1-3
-Some might say, “But people today already know about Jesus. That wasn’t the case in
Paul’s day.” Two observations:
-People today might not know nearly as much about Jesus as we think. There’s a big
difference in knowing that Jesus lived and in knowing about Jesus.
-In Paul’s day, perhaps more people than we think had heard something about Jesus.
-Just because the people in that day and age didn’t have mass media, that doesn’t
mean that news didn’t travel.
-Saul and Ananias - Acts 9:13-14
-“fame” of Jesus - Matt 4:24; 9:26,31; 14:1; Mark 1:28; Luke 4:14,37; Luke 5:15
-Paul would utilize the scriptures to show that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God - the
one who died on the cross for our sins, was buried and resurrected on the third day.
-Don’t we need to show people these same things?
-Rom 1:16
-The Gospel message remains the same. It remains the good news of Jesus.
-It is the message that provides the motivation to respond. If you take away the
message, what is there for motivation?
-So, we don’t start with the topics of baptism, instruments of music in worship, other
matters of worship, church organization, etc. We start with the basics of the Gospel.
-We are trying to convert people to Christ - through the Gospel - not through these
other topics.
-Not to say that these other topics aren’t important. They are. But, they need to be
addressed at the proper time - not before the Gospel.
-Conversation
-Those who believe in Christ usually don’t mind talking about Christ.
-In visiting with them about the Gospel, they can see your sincerity and compassion.
-If we start with some other topics, we might very well place them on the defensive very
quickly. They might see us simply as critical rather than compassionate.
-1 Tim 2:3-4
-be saved - That’s where to start - basics of the Gospel
-come to the knowledge of the truth - That’s where we continue.
-same pattern seen in the great commission - Matt 28:18-20
-Summary and Invitation
-Do you care that Jesus died for you? Will you allow His love for you to motivate you to
do as He says?
-Matt 7:21; Luke 6:46
-If so, set aside the doctrines of men, the organizations originated by man and your own
self will. Submit to the will of God.
-Have you done so? If not, obey the Gospel of Christ: Believe (John 3:16, 8:24),
Confess your faith (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3,5;
Acts 17:30), Be Baptized for the forgiveness of your sins (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38).
-If you’ve obeyed the Gospel, have you been living faithfully? If not, confess your
shortcomings, repent of them and pray for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-
24).