Quoting scripture to nonbelievers ...

[HumbleBee]

Restating my point...

Check your facts, Jesus quoted Scripture much! ('as it is written')

Matthew 21:13 "It is written," He said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' [ Isaiah 56:7] but you are making it a 'den of robbers.' [ Jer. 7:11] "

Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

Luke 4:14-17 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised Him. He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. And He stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written...

It is absolutely ludicrous to be questioning the use of Scripture in witnessing to people. Nod use wisdom.

 

[NewSong]

Is there anything new under the sun?


We quote scriptures all the time, just not in KJV and even to the unbeliever.

I guess that my purpose in posting is not so much for it or against it. Even unbelievers quote it back and forth to each other.

For example "What goes around comes around" is equivalent to our scripture.

I have a friend that is constantly quoting me scriptures and he could not quote the scriptures if someone asked him to out of the Bible but he sure can speak the WORD of God.

One day I was feeling very low and he kind of told me to get with it and sort of in a nice way and immediately I knew what he said was the word of God because of the way he said it. It was exactly what I know Romans 8:28 to be.

I heard a couple of people talking that were unchurched of that I know but heart condition I don't and they were encouraging one another and saying things that were definitely in the word of GOD. I am sure you all have too.

How do you escape the scriptures?

 

[Trish1947]

I believe that are certain scripture that all can understand if the Holy Spirit is drawing that person. For example.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever, believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life..

I mean were not quoting the begats to them, or something that takes a theologen to understand.

There's certain scripture I believe can reach the un-saved.

I don't think that we're to brow beat them with it.. But do you think that since scripture has been around alot longer than we have, they might be more believable than just our testimony alone? When you mention the Bible to a person, yes they shrink away alot of times. Why is that? Could it be that down deep inside of them they know that it's God's word? It isn't just another book to them.. You don't find many non-believers that are just picking it up as a good read. I think they know, so they avoid it. If you tell a person that they are a sinner, in need of a savior without backing it up by scripture, you might get a punch in the nose, but when you show them in scripture, that God says all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, I think they are more apt to believe the book over someone telling them that they need a savior because of sin.

Then when they say, how do you know this? What is your backup?

 

[Hadron]

Matthew 13.34

Jesus spoke all these things to THE CROWD in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.


​

Jesus did not use scripture when addressing “the crowd”, He only used parables or else what does this verse mean? It don’t get no plainer than that.


~Jim

Who says the crowds even understood the parables? I do remember the apostles themselves had to ask Jesus what they meant!

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Quoting the scriptures alone to a non believer would be unproductive. But a person annointed with the Spirit, taking a cooperative non believer through the passages that relate to salvation and expounding those scriptures to him or her, would have powerful effects.

There is no magical properties in the written words of the scripture. Just getting up and quoting Bible verses parrot fashion will not have any better effect on a non-believer than the next door neighbour sticking his head over the back fence and giving advice. To the unbeliever, most of it would be goobledegook.

Yet, some are correct, We cannot ignore scripture when ministering to unbelievers. I have found that rather than quoting scripture, I have reworded the scripture and said it like an ordinary statement. I have done that with children at school, where I am not allowed the quote the Bible officially. I have given children the parables of Jesus without advertising that they came from the Bible. I gave them as natural words of wisdom. There are many ways of sowing the seed.

Billy Graham is one of the most successful Gospel preachers of our time. Hundreds and hundreds of people give their lives to Christ during his crusades. How does he treat the scriptures when he preaches. It would be good to study his messages and see how he does it. I suspect that when he quotes scripture, that he expounds it in a way that unbelievers can understand it.

This means that if we are going to minister to unbelievers, we need to have a good memory for the scriptures so that we don't pull the big black Bible out and spook them right away from the gospel. I remember a saying in my youth: The bigger the Bible, the bigger the hypocrite. This obviously means the carrying around of the large black Bible to show people how holy you are. As an unbeliever that would not have impressed me at all.

The guy that brought me to Christ sat me down and took verses of scripture and explained them to me. He asked my permission before he did this, because he was a gentleman with good manners. I was blown away by what I saw in the Bible. I had read the New Testament, but I never knew that there were scriptures like this there until that guy showed me and explained them. By the time he finished, I knew that Jesus loved me, died for me, and wanted me to accept Him as Saviour. I resisted for about three weeks, and then gave my life to Christ at a Sunday night service at his church, where 400 hundred loving Christians convinced me of what it was going to be like being a Christian.

So a good evangelist has to be able to get an unbeliever to trust him without producing the Bible at all. The scriptures and exposition must come from the heart of the evangelist, and not just quoted from a book.

Once the trust has been gained, then the evangelist can take out the Bible and show the way more perfectly by going through more scriptures with the person.

As a Christian, my wise old pastor always convinced me of the truth by getting out his big Bible and taking me through the scriptures until I had no doubt that his teaching or correction was absolutely correct.

I think that love, acceptance and fellowship are the keys to winning unbelievers. They need to read us and like what they see before ever seeing a Bible. We need to be the Bible for them - we also need to be Christ to them - to show them that God loves them. Because we love them.

Then God can work through us to get them saved.

 

[Simon_Templar]

Well, I think Jim is right after a fashion.. Christians have a tendancy to speak their own peculiar language when talking to people.. this is fine when talking to other people who know the lingo.. but when talking to people who haven't been raised in christian circles its mainly just confusing and distracting.

This often applies to the way in which we quote scriptures to people as well. The word of God is powerful and the word of God does not return void.. but you also can't simply quote verses that express deep spiritual concepts and expect non christians to "get it".
When witnessing to people, in my experience, it is better to start on personal notes, personal experiences etc, but it always reaches a point at which you have to explain scriptural things to them. The key there is not just quoting verses and expecting people to know the spiritual doctrines and conotations contained within them, but actually explaining what the verses mean, and why.

 

[JimB]

Who says the crowds even understood the parables? I do remember the apostles themselves had to ask Jesus what they meant!

Exactly. You are making my point. The natural man cannot comprehend the things of the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2.14). I think even believers, even apostles, who are not living spiritual lives, don’t get it.

~Jim

 

[Simon_Templar]

actually on the issue of parables, the scriptures specificly state that Jesus spoke in parables so that people would NOT understand. That seems terribly contradictory and incomprehensible to some of the modern mindsets but the gospels say that Jesus spoke in parables so that those who did not have ears to hear, would not hear. In other words, he spoke in parables so those not meant to understand, would not understand.

 

[Wolf Georges]

A dynamic Christian who is sharing scripture with an interested non-believer will, in my opinion, have a lasting positive effect on that person. That said, the majority of Christians that I hear quoting scripture come off as just repeating words that they've memorized...to people who don't want to hear it. It's almost a comical talent to take the divine word of God and make it sound so flat and dull. These people do nothing to bring people to the Lord, and considering how many Christians fall into this category I would have to side with Jim.

Giving life to God's written word is a gift that few people have been blessed with. I know I'm not one of them. I think it's far more productive to minister to non-Christians with your deeds. The Lord gave us all the ability to act with grace and compassion. If more Christians focused their energies on being Christ-like in deed I think the impact would be dramatic.

Unfortunately it's far easier for people to quote the book then it is for them to live the life.

 

[Svt4Him]

Quoting the scriptures alone to a non believer would be unproductive. But a person annointed with the Spirit, taking a cooperative non believer through the passages that relate to salvation and expounding those scriptures to him or her, would have powerful effects.

I have to say the power is in the word, not in the person. Paul said, when told some were preaching out of selfish gain, to let it go on, and the word of God was going forth.

Now is the point of this thread to say that the word of God shouldn't go forth?

and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. qvb://0/anchor/1815Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; qvb://0/anchor/1916the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; qvb://0/anchor/2017the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. qvb://0/anchor/2118What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

 

[amorosi]

If, as the Bible says, the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (see 1 Cor. 2.14 in several versions), and since there is nothing quite so “spiritually discerned” as Scripture, what is the point of quoting scriptures to nonbelievers?

Wouldn’t you say that it is best to simply tell your story to a nonbeliever than to, say, try to reason with him out of the scripture?

When I was in my unsaved teens, a faithful preacher would sometimes catch me and start firing scriptures at me (probably the Roman Road, or something). Honestly, he might as well have been quoting out of the original Greek for all I understood – it was all Greek to me, anyhow.

It seems Paul, in Acts, when witnessing to before people (Agrippa, Festus, Felix) simply told the story of his conversion. He saved discussing scripture for believers, biblically knowledgeable people.

What do you think?

~Jim

Most biblical passages of scripture seemed and sounded like goobldey gook to me also !!

Somethings how-ever always stick in your claw

I.e hell and eternal torments--fear of judgement--fear of the unknown--especially after death

And when paul got through preaching to felix i believe it was

He reasoned with him about righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come. !!

And upon hearing this...scripture tells us...he felix actually "trembled" cold chills down the neck--i'd say !!

But said Paul be on your way for now--and come back at another convienient season.

So obviouslt conscience bothered felix enough--to experience fear !!

And especially when Paul expounded about judgement to come.

These verses kinda dump on your foolish" universal teaching's" also...but i won't side track here.

I use to belong to one forum board, that had as many if not more unbeliever's than believer's --and i use to bring forth posts on hell--hell fire and brimstone

One message for instance God gave me was " six surpises in hell"

And they the sinners--admitted my preaching did scare them

How-ever they proclaimed they simply loved sin way too much,and refused to repent and change

One young man boasting he had plenty of time to repent, and even went so far as to say--he intended to repent on his death bed--at the very closing breaths--before the jaws of death got him !!

HOW SAD--people think this way

But our preaching is never in vain--one sows,another waters, but he God, gives the increase !!

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

The most powerful sermon on hell was preached by Jonathan Edwards in the US in the 18th Century. It was entitled 'Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God.' You can download the sermon if you google Jonathan Edwards. It certainly leaves you in no doubt where you are going if you do not have Jesus in your life as Saviour. Also, it gives new meaning to Jesus as Saviour.

The night he preached that sermon, he used a candle to light his notes, and he read the whole sermon in a basic monotone. At one stage he held up a spider on its thread above the candle to writhe helplessly above the flame to show that sinners are held over hell by a slender thread that God could break at any time, and they would fall right into hell.

The Holy Spirit took those words and applied it to the hearts of the sinners in the congregation and they started crying out to God for mercy. They started to hold on to the vertical posts holding up the roof of the church for fear that if they let go, they would slide right down into hell.

At times, Jonathan Edwards was drowned out by the screams and cries of the sinners crying out to God for mercy. There was a major revival in the community as a result of that meeting, and many people came to Christ.

So there is a definite place for that type of sermon when the Holy Spirit thinks it's the right time and place. When the Holy Spirit puts the conviction of sin and hell on the heart of a sinner, there is none of this "I will wait until I am ready" nonsense. The sinner is begging God to have mercy on him and cannot get to Christ fast enough.

Maybe we don't see much of that these days because so many preachers are preaching from their natural minds instead of the Spirit.

And I am including Pentecostal and Charismatic preachers in that as well.

 

[JimB]

How then does 1 Cor. 2.14 apply to our personal witness to non-believers?



1 Cor. 2.14: But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

 

[New_Wineskin]

How then does 1 Cor. 2.14 apply to our personal witness to non-believers?



1 Cor. 2.14: But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

To me , it applies in that , unless the Lord speaks to the person , it is all worthless to them .

 

[JimB]

To me , it applies in that , unless the Lord speaks to the person , it is all worthless to them .

Is that really what the passage is saying? If so, how do you get that?

~Jim

 

[mshupe1959]

no one has mentioned the fact that "we are saved by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Quoting something out of a book that someone doesn't believe in will probobly just start a debate or an arguement. How can you argue with the testimony of what God has done for you in your life? What will they say, it didn't happen that way?

 

[New_Wineskin]

Is that really what the passage is saying? If so, how do you get that?

~Jim

It seemed to me that you were asking about how witnessing to someone , how that sentence from the Scriptures applied . Well , it applies ( as far as I am concerned ) in that you could talk *about* the things of the Lord all you want but , since they are spiritually discerned and the only thing that an unbeliever has is the natural human , it takes the Spirit to speak to them . As in - faith comes by hearing and hearing the Lord . It takes the Spirit to make the things of the Spirit real . When I saw your question and then the passage that you presented , the passage from Romans popped into my head .

 

[New_Wineskin]

no one has mentioned the fact that "we are saved by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Quoting something out of a book that someone doesn't believe in will probobly just start a debate or an arguement. How can you argue with the testimony of what God has done for you in your life? What will they say, it didn't happen that way?

Great point .

 

[amorosi]

How then does 1 Cor. 2.14 apply to our personal witness to non-believers?



1 Cor. 2.14: But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

God is the opener of the eyes--to the spiritually blinded--anyway

AS we preach--exhort--quote passages of scripture--then a seed is being planted--either for acceptance of truth or further rejection--on their part

Just because they are not spiritually discerned--does not proclude--that it is a sheer waste of time--to give them scriptural texts--as such

God's word will not return void--but accomplish that which it sets out to do

Most people have heard of the following things
~~ hell
~~ heaven
~~ the word sin and sinner
~~ the word judgement
~~ a guilty conscience
~~ the ten commandments
~~ the law and laws of God
~~ eternal life
~~ Jesus as saviour
~~ and the love of GOD

SO they have a concept of truth-- to a degree--altho not yet being born again--as such by water and of the spirit of God

notice Jesus puts water and being born of the spirit--as being a simulataneous act and deed--they go together--as such

In fact water is actaully mentioned-- before--the being born of the Spirit--part

THEY also know of and have heard the above words--and have more than likely mulled over those words--in their minds

But anyway's they have the laws written on the heart--the sinners (rom 2}

And those laws are meant to be our schoolmaster--that brings a person to christ [ galations 3:24 ]We are not justified by the schoolmaster--iow the keeping of the law--it is simply meant to bring awareness of sin--and to drive us to Christ--for a man is justified by his faith--and not in the keeping of "law"

When he realizes and sees the depths of how he has continually spurned and broken God's law--he is meant to be smitten, and cry out " woe is me, i am undone--i have sinned against and broken God's law--and am derserving of eternal punishment--if i fail to repent

So you can witness in and around all those words i mentioned--and chiefly it is the laws of God--that make aware knowledge of sin

For how would i have known sin: if the law didn"t say " thou shalt not covet"

Conscience is god' in built barometer--that smites us when we do wrong things i.e tell lies, steal, fraud people, commit adultery, Lord's name in vain

Even sinners know this is wrong behaviour to commit and exemplify

Therefore God's laws and i.e the ten commandments bring an awareness of sin --and of transgression of those very laws

for with-out law: there is no knowledge of sin

So God uses law--and with knowledge of that law--[providing conscience is not tottaly seared] is meant to smite heart--and smite conscience--and show the sinner the depths oh his depravity and lawless wayward behaviour--and if he permits conscience to smite him hard enough--then God may just grant repentance to the acknowlegement of the truth--so thatt he can escape the snare of the devil [ who takes captive sinner's at his will] because they still live in lust--- and in the flesh of lust--and in rebellion to Gods laws and statutes. !

 

[amorosi]

This is a psalm from the none other than the sweet psalmist himself

King David

This was after Nathan the prophet had confronted him about his adulterous fling with bathsheba, and conspiring to murder hubbie Uriah

Anyway's it's a psalm of contrition, regrets, shame, and deep abiding repentance-- on david's part, for sins and offences commited.


Verses one through to twelve we see David's broken and repentant heart.... and the words he utters to his God

but verse 13: Is what adressess the OP's question...at least to some degree.


David says once my joy returns and the assurance of forgiveness is returned--then will i "teach" transgressors { sinners } your ways --O'Lord.

And sinners shall be converted unto thee.

But notice the this word...... "teach"

Evidently we are instructed to bring forth teaching to the sinners about God's holy standards and his ways of righteousness.

James 5:20 " Let him know, that he that converteth the "sinner"
from the errors of his way, shall save a soul from death { 2nd death}
And shall hide {cleansed, forgiven, purged sin }
a whole multitude of sins.


This speaks if you read the whole context and that in particular from verse 19--of some one who was once a believer in the lord, but complely baskslides and goes back to the world.

And is now-- in dire need of repentance yet again--like all sinners, have need of !!


But this word converteth

Is what grabbed me: we obviously play a big role in this changing back to God --of these sinner's


One dictionary has converteth as: to change somebody's beliefs, or to change the opinions or beliefs of another, especially religious or that of faith belief.


James says we are the ones in many cases that play a big big role, and have major major influence-- in setting people straight--and back onto-- the paths of righteousness--that they have strayed from.


Amorosi