Evangelizing

Not sure what you are looking for... you already have the answer, especially if you expect certain things to be included in such a message. Word of advice, do not try to convert anyone. You can't. You will fail miserably.

You just speak the message as outlined in scripture and depend upon the Holy Spirit to cause the seed of faith to grow.

The message of the Cross is foolishness after all. But it is God's power for salvation. Just preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Everything else will fall as it may.

But trying to do it in your own ability will accomplish nothing.

Matthew 19:26

Duplicate sorry

Fish14 said:

I feel guilty for not preaching the gospel to especially my close relatives. I would probably do anything to have them hear the gospel. Except preaching a very unclear gospel message to them awkwardly all of a sudden.
I fear I will say something wrong and have to correct it later. They wouldn't trust me anymore, even if I showed it to be true from the Bible.

Please explain the gospel message to me in such a way that even a baby would understand it easily. It should include Jesus' death and resurrection, sin, Heaven and Hell.

Thanks for your answers

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There are more ways than one, but for me I think the best way I can testify about Christ face to face is first to show His work in me -- that I am doing "love your neighbor as yourself", and "forgive...seventy times seven", and "love your enemy", and "So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you" -- and that this will be what makes any kind of testimony I say of interest to someone.

Sometimes I might not be doing what He commanded, and then I'm not in the right place right now to evangelize. If that is the situation, as it can be at times in life, I first need to confess and repent, and come back to Him, praying, and entering back into His grace, and being under His Spirit. When I do, then I begin to testify in a powerful way, just by actions alone.

Soon, in time, the relationship can move into where it should be -- "love your neighbor as yourself" -- so that then there is a basis for me to talk with them correctly, which for me, won't be preaching at all, but only testifying about what He has done for me, how He has changed me, and made my life worth living.

If and when the moment arises to say more than just my personal testimony about my own life, then I think each person is so individual that we need to be saying only what they individually need, but also that we can usually find something right out of the scripture that is just that. Often these quotes come up naturally, because they are right along fitting right into the conversation we are having. So it isn't even an effort, but more a flow. There are other times when some effort is needed though, like saying "I'm sorry I was too busy to listen better the other day", and things like that.

As you read the gospels, you will become familiar with His Words so that you can recall them, if you read in a truly learning spirit, listening with all of your mind, as if He were right there talking to you, that you are in the crowd, hearing Him!

Fish14 said:

I feel guilty for not preaching the gospel to especially my close relatives. I would probably do anything to have them hear the gospel. Except preaching a very unclear gospel message to them awkwardly all of a sudden.
I fear I will say something wrong and have to correct it later. They wouldn't trust me anymore, even if I showed it to be true from the Bible.

Please explain the gospel message to me in such a way that even a baby would understand it easily. It should include Jesus' death and resurrection, sin, Heaven and Hell.

Thanks for your answers

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Why do you think your relatives would not believe you if you made a mistake in explaining what and why you believe?

How do you plan to witness to them ?
Sit them down and talk at them or seek to introduce Christianity into a conversation.

May I suggest you start following the website/blog, coldcasechristianity. It will supply you with many arguments about the reliability of the bible etc.
If you also start reading the reasonablefaith web site you'll learn about the logical reasons for Christianity.

But more than anything else pray about doing it and about who you will talk to and talk to them.
If they know you are a Christian ask them why they aren't and keeping asking them why they believe what ever they believe.
Let them justify their nonbelief.

First of all, truly "witnessing" to family is nigh next to impossible. They changed your diapers. They know you are a "bad boy", and messed up a lot. They may have not noticed a "spiritual change" and a "nicer person" that you became since your salvation event. They say: " Oh, that's nice that you got a little taste of religion, But we don't talk about religion at the dinner table"

A rather LONG but TRUE presentation of the "GOSPEL":

God is perfectly good.
He accepts nothing less than His own perfection.
But we are not able to be perfect in His eyes.
He doesn't lie, cheat, or steal, but we do these and other things.
Therefore, there's a judgment upon us because
We have fallen short of God's perfection.
This judgment is eternal spiritual separation.
However, God the Father loves us so much that He sent God the Son, Jesus, who died on the cross as a sacrifice and substitution FOR us.
But He miraculously rose from the dead,
made many appearances, and ascended back into heaven.
This proves that His sacrifice was acceptable to the Father to pay for our short comings.
Therefore, if you want to claim what Jesus has done on your behalf,
then you must spiritually receive Him and His sacrifice
by the gift of Grace though spirit-led Faith .

Would you like to pray in the power of the Spirit who is drawing you and ask Jesus to be the perfect provision for your separation from God?
God has promised that if you accept Him and His provisions, you will be spiritually changed and be a child of God.He will then comfort and guide you forever.

How do you present the gospel properly? | carm

GOSPEL message: ELEMENTS

The Message is That: Jesus is THE Christ, tThe Divine Messiah, that He Was Crucified, and Rose Again!
1 Cor 5:1-4

The Message Must Be Taught… Rom 10:14

The Message Must Be Heard… Rom 10:17

The Message Must Be Understood… Mat 13:17-23

The Message Must Be Believed… heb 4:2

The Message Must Be Confessed… Rom 10:8-9

The Message Must Be Defended… Jude 1:3

The Message Is Foolishness To Some, Good News To Others

1 Cor 1:18,21-23 (NIV) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved (sanctified) it is the power of God... For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.

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The ABCs of Salvation
You can use this approach with children, who are acquainted with the ABCs that they have learned at school. You may be surprised to know that the same order of presentation can be used effectively when witnessing to adults as well.

A - ADMIT that he is a sinner in need of salvation. Show him that he is guilty of sin. Romans 3:23. He deserves to die. Romans 6:23. One day he will be judged by the Lord. Hebrews 9:27. He cannot save himself by good works. Titus 3:5. (Here you put your memory verses to work.)

B - BELIEVE the facts of the gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins on the cross, and He rose again from the dead. He is the Savior of those who believe in Him. Romans 5:8; John 3:16, 36.

C - CALL upon the Lord. Ask Jesus to come into his heart. Psalm 145:18; Romans 10:13.

Lesson 4: Simple Presentation of the Gospel - Knowing Jesus Christ

The Three Rs of Salvation
Students are familiar with the 3 Rs of education: Reading, 'Righting'rithmetic. You might use the 3 Rs in your witness for the Lord.

R - RECOGNITION of sin and its consequences. Use the same Scriptures as A in the ABCs.

R - REPENTANCE of sin. This means that we acknowledge our sin, and turn to the Lord. Acts 17:30 is a good verse to use here.

R - RECEIVE the Lord Jesus as Savior by faith. John 1:11, 12. Believing is receiving.

Ron Gurley said:

C - CALL upon the Lord. Ask Jesus to come into his heart. Psalm 145:18; Romans 10:13.

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There is no such scripture in the Bible saying a person needs to "ask Jesus into their heart" to be saved.

True salvation for any person no matter how old or young is found in repentance, then they must be water baptized for the remission of sins to receive the Holy Spirit

Fish14 said:

I fear I will say something wrong and have to correct it later.

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You do all that you can to prepare to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in truth and grace. But given enough time in presenting the gospel, at some point, you may err. You pray that God will give you the sensitivity to proclaim the gospel in truth and without error. However, you are a fallible person, because you are still here on this earth. So you pray that God will reveal to you where you have erred, you check your research, seek wise counsel from the Elders of your church, and you go back to the person you have presented the error, you apologize for the mistake, ask for their forgiveness and present them the truth.

If you wait until you can infallibly present the gospel, you will never present the gospel to anyone, and are you really understanding the gospel yourself?

God is the one who brings salvation to someone. If you are in Christ, His word will not return void, even if you made an error, an honest error. If you make a prideful, knowledgeable, willful error, that is something you need to repent of and seek God's forgiveness to change your heart.

Fish14 said:

They wouldn't trust me anymore, even if I showed it to be true from the Bible.

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Salvation is not based in your eloquence of presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ, nor in that person's trust of you. If that is what you understand to be the gospel, you need to search the scripture to renew your understanding of the gospel.

Fish14 said:

You get your sins forgiven by simply trusting in the death and resurrection of Christ.

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Are you sure about that?

Acts 2:38
Acts 22:16
Galatians 3:27

I won't argue the point... there is no need. Just giving you something to think about.

But know this, asking Jesus into their heart is about the most unbiblical thing a person could do to try to be saved.

POST#9: "
Q1: There is no such scripture in the Bible saying a person needs to "ask Jesus into their heart" to be saved.

Q2: True salvation for any person no matter how old or young is found in "repentance",

Q3: Then they must be water baptized for the remission of sins to receive the Holy Spirit

A1:

Romans 10(NASB)
6 But the (IMPUTED)"righteousness" based on (spirit-led) FAITH (/BELIEF) speaks as follows:
“Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down),
7 or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
8 But what does it say?
“The "word" (LOGOS) is near you, in your "mouth" and in your "heart"”
—that is, "the word of faith" which we are preaching,
9 that if you CONFESS with your "mouth" Jesus as LORD,
And
BELIEVE in your "heart" that God raised Him from the dead, you will be (are certain to be) saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness,
and
with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
11 For the Scripture says,
“Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
for the same LORD is LORD of all,
abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
13 >>>for “Whoever will call on the name of the LORD will be (are certain to be) saved.”<<.

A2: Please define "repentance"!!
RE-THINKING and turning TO God and AWAY from self?

"repentance": is NOT a pre-requisite to salvation.
John 3 as explained in Ephesians 2.

A3: Ritual water baptism of unbelievers is NOT a pre-requisite to salvation. SPIRITUAL baptism is the RESULT of salvation. Immersion ritual water baptism of believers is an outward symbol of washing away sins, and a sign of an inward spiritual change.

RE: "remission of sins".

FORGIVENESS / REMISSION ...Greek 859 - "aphesis'...release from bondage or imprisonment; forgiveness or pardon, of sins
(letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty

Forgiveness of Sin / Sin(s) is ONE of the spiritual benefits of salvation!...(all NASB)

Matthew 26:28
for this is My blood of the (NEW) covenant,
which is poured out for many FOR forgiveness of sins.

Mark 14:24
And He said to them, “This is My blood of the (NEW)covenant, which is poured out FOR many.

Luke 22:20
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying,
“This cup which is poured out FOR you is the NEW covenant IN My blood.

Luke 1:77
To give to His people the knowledge of salvation,
By (knowing) the forgiveness of their sins,

Act 5:31
“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and (to grant) forgiveness of sins.

Act 10:43
“Of Him all the prophets bear witness that
through His name everyone who BELIEVES in Him
receives forgiveness of sins.”

Ephesians 1:7
IN Him, we have redemption THROUGH His blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His GRACE

Colosians 1:14
in whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 12: ...Jesus: The ONLY Unpardonable/Unforgivable Sin
30 He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
31 “Therefore I say to you,
any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people,
but blasphemy against (God) the (Holy) Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him;
but whoever speaks against (God) the Holy Spirit,
it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

RECEIVE: GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT...at the moment of the SALVATION EVENT!

John 7:39
But this He spoke of (God) the (Holy) Spirit,
whom those who believed in Him were to receive;
for "the Spirit" was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 14:17
that is the "Spirit of Truth", whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him,
but you know Him because He abides with you and will be IN you.

John 20:22
And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive (God) the Holy Spirit.

Ron Gurley said:

RECEIVE: GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT...at the moment of the SALVATION EVENT!

John 7:39
But this He spoke of (God) the (Holy) Spirit,
whom those who believed in Him were to receive;
for "the Spirit" was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 14:17
that is the "Spirit of Truth", whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him,
but you know Him because He abides with you and will be IN you.

John 20:22
And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive (God) the Holy Spirit.

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NOt one of these scriptures directly states a person receives the Holy Spirit immediately upon believing.

It may be true that they are born of an act of the Spirit, but receiving the Holy Spirit is probably an entirely separate event as evidenced a few times in Acts.

Acts of the Apostles is a history of the "baby" "CHURCH" in transition. CAVEAT: Drawing spiritual truths therefrom and ~100 years of the 'Apostolic Age" can be precarious.

John 3...John The Baptizer RE: Jesus
33 He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.
34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God;
>>>for He gives (God) the (Holy) Spirit without measure.<<<
35 (God) The Father loves (God) the Son and has given all things into His (Jesus') hand.
36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life;(BELIEVER!)
BUT he who does not obey the Son (TO BELIEVE!) will not see (eternal)life,
BUT the "wrath of" God abides on him.”(UN-BELIEVER!)

SEE: The "Baby" "CHURCH" just after Pentecost, the Coming of God the Holy Spirit to permanently indwell BELIEVERS, and the birthday of the "Age of Grace":

Acts of the Apostles 2 (NASB)
40 And with many other words he (PETER) solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying,
“Be saved from this perverse generation!”
41 So then, those who had received his word (BELIEVERS) were baptized;(immersed?)
and that day there were added about three thousand souls.(/SPIRITS!)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to
1. the apostles’ teaching and to
2. fellowship, to the
3. breaking of bread and to
4. prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a "sense of awe";
(filled with the Spirit)
and many (miraculous) wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
44 And all those who had BELIEVED were together and had all things "in common";(COMMUNE!)
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind
1. in the temple, and
2. breaking bread from house to house,
3. they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people.
And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

1 Corinthians 12:13...SPIRITUAL BAPTISM!
For by one Spirit we WERE all baptized into one "body",(Body of Christ, the "CHURCH")
whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free,
and we were all made to drink of one (God the Holy) Spirit.

John 20...Why This Gospel Was Written TO BELIEVERS
30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples,
which are not written in this book;
31 but these have been written so that you may BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
and that believing you may have life in His name.

1 John 1(NASB)...Introduction, The Incarnate Word
1 What was from the beginning,
what WE (BELIEVERS) have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the "Word of Life"— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.