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Can we win souls for Christ?
onelovedread:
DougE6
Questions. When you preach, what do you warn will happen to those who do not accept the gospel? Do you tell them that there will be a consequence to their refusal? And if so, what is it?
DougE6:
Yes, I tell them that the ages to come have deep repentance and judgement awaiting them, if they do not repent. That even though hell is a myth, and eternal everlasting punishment is a myth, the reason God uses fire as the symbolism is because fire is very very thorough of burning away impurities and the sinful tendencies and the evil hearts and carnal minds of men. That God is not mocked. The Scriptures use langauage such as weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, because we are all going to be utterly exposed. All your secrets will be laid bare. I tell them it is far far better for them to repent and by faith follow Christ now in this life and receive the incomparable age lasting weight of glory that the whole universe will and is groaning for.
However, the Spirit of God convicts of sin, righteousness and judgement. You have to call sin what it is, sin. You have to. The starting step for all of us is the repent and realize we need forgiveness. Forgiveness, even though it is totally secured by Jesus for all of us, needs to be asked for by deep and contrite hearts, before God makes that forgiveness a reality for anyone. Until they ask, and repent, they will feel the weight of ther sins and the dark black conscience that comes with guilt.
John from Kentucky:
Can we win souls for Jesus?
Of course not. It is crazy christian church teaching that we can. They are ignorant both of the scriptures and the ways of God.
Even Jesus doesn't win souls for Jesus. When Jesus was on the earth in the form of a man, He did not convert even one human. No one was converted until after His death.
So if Jesus didn't convert anyone when He was teaching, how can any mere human think they can do better than Jesus? We think too much of ourselves and our abilities to believe such nonsense. It all comes from God. Give God all the glory.
The scriptures teach that it is the Father who brings anyone to Jesus. The Father. Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches. Jesus is the conduit of the Spirit. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life Who leads us to the Father.
We are dirt. God is doing us a favor working with us. We can't win anything. We can't do anything. All comes from God.
Kat:
Well John was all the effort that the Apostles put into preaching the gospel in vain? As Dave brought out in 1 Cor 12 God has given all manners of gifts to His church and I would think He intends for it to be put in use. Now I would not say that we should all start witnessing, no, my gift may not be to share this truth to others, but maybe it is for Doug. Isn't Ray witnessing to the church and exposing their heresies, well why couldn't someone else do the same?
What I'm trying to say is that we do what God puts on our hearts to do. Each of us have differing personalities and our life circumstances vary greatly and God brings that about and gives us gifts to serve Him the way He has determined.
Eph 4:11 And He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
When we have built a solid foundation of this truth should we hide this wonderful truth under a bushel? We are used by God in many different ways, but surely speaking these truths to others (witnessing) at one time ar another to some degree is what all of us will do. If we are living a life so different from this world, then that should raise a question from someone eventually and we would speak about this hope within us. But for others they may put themselves in situation for that to happen much more. Now I am not the same type person that could do what Doug does, but I would never say he should not do what he is doing.
Mark 9:38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us."
v. 39 But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.
v. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us.
Now this Jesus said about someone who was not even His disciple, at the time. Paul even said that we should eventually move on to teaching others.
Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
So what I'm seeing is God brings us to this truth and then leads us in somewhat different direction to prepare us for whatever His intentions are for us. I would say that witnessing to those who are interested, even if it's just idol curiousity, if God puts it in your heart to do so... what harm is it? I would say go for it, that's between him and God.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
Rene:
This scripture came to mind when reading this thread:
1Cor. 1:21 - "For, seeing in the wisdom of God the world through the wisdom knew not God, it did please God through the foolishness of the preaching to save those believing."
In my case, when I was inspired by God to seek "truth", it wasn't because someone had been "preaching" at me prior to that search. However, once I was drawn to this website by God, He used the "teachings/preachings" of Ray to help me come to an understanding of many scriptural truths, such as Universal Salvation, Sovereignty of God, No Free Will, No Hell, and many more spiritual lessons. I, however, do not go around "preaching" at people. I have found many opportunities to share my faith and beliefs just by participating in everyday/normal conversation.
René
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