How to Deal with Those Who Have Little or No Concern About Their Souls
The largest class of men and women are those who have little or no concern about their salvation. There are some who contend that there is no use dealing with such, but there is. It is our business when a man has no concern about his salvation to go to work to produce that concern. How shall we do it?
I. Show him that he is a great sinner before God. There is no better verse for this purpose than Matt. 22: 37; 38:
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. TZkzs zs the first and great commandment.”
Before the one with whom you are dealing reads these verses, you can say to him, ‘‘Do you know that you are a great sinner before God?’’ Very likely he will reply, ‘‘I suppose I ama sinner, but Ido not know that I am such a great sinner.’’ ‘*Do you know that you have committed the greatest sin that a man can possibly commit?’’ ‘‘No, I certainly have not.” ‘*‘What do you think is the greatest sin that a man can commit?’’ Probably he will answer, ‘‘Murder.’’ ‘‘You are greatly mistaken, let us see what God says about it.’? Then have him read the passage. When he has read it, ask him, ‘*What is the first and great commandment?’”’ ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.’’ ‘‘Which commandment is this?’ ‘*The first and great commandment.’’ ‘‘If this is the first and great commandment, what is the first and great sin?’’ “Not to keep this commandment.’’ ‘‘Have you kept it? Have you put God first in everything; first in your affections, first in your thoughts, first in your pleasures, first in your
59° business, first in everything?’’ ‘‘No, I have not.’’ ‘What commandment, then, have you broken?’ ‘‘The first and great commandment.’’
Some time ago a young man came into our inquiry meeting. Yasked him if he was a Christian, and he replied that he was not. I asked him if he would like to be, and he said that he would. I said, ‘‘Why, then, do you not become a Christian to-night?’’ He replied, ‘‘I have no special interest in the matter.’’ I said, ‘“Do you mean that you have no conviction of sin?’ ‘‘Yes,’’ he said, ‘‘I have no conviction of sin, and am not much concerned about the whole matter.’’ I said, ‘‘I hold in my hand a book which God has given us for the purpose of producing conviction of sin; would you like to have me use it upon you?’’ Half laughing, he replied, ‘‘Yes.”’ When he had taken a seat, I had him read Matt. 22: 37, 38. When he had read the passage I said to him, ‘‘What is the first and great commandment?’’ He read it from the Bible. I said, ‘If this is the first and great commandment, what is the first and great sin?’’ He replied, ‘‘Not to keep this commanagment.’ I asked, ‘Have you kept it?’’ ‘‘I have not.’’ “What have you done then?’ Said he, ‘‘I have broken the first and greatest of God’s commandments,’’ and broken down with a sense of sin, then and there he went down before God and asked Him for mercy, and accepted Christ as his Savior.
Another excellent passage to use to produce conviction of sin is Rom. 1433:
‘So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” ‘ The &reat object in using this passage is to, bring the careless’ man face to face with God, and make him realize that he must give account toGod. When he has read it, ask him, ‘‘Who has to give account?’’ ‘‘Every one of us.’’ ‘‘Who does that take in???’ ‘‘Me.’’ ‘‘Who then is to give account?’ ‘‘I am.’ ‘‘To whom are you to give account?’’ ‘‘To God.’ ‘Of what are you to give account?’’ ‘‘Of myself.’’ ‘‘Read it that way.’’ ‘“‘I shall give account of myself to God.”’ ‘Now just let that thought sink into your heart. Say it over to yourself again and again, ‘I am to give account of myself to God.’ ‘I am to give account of myself to God.’ Are you ready to do it?’
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Amos 4:12 can be used in much the same way: “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” Another very effective passage with many a careless man is Rom. 2:16:
“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel.”
When the one with whom you are dealing has read the verse,
say ‘‘What is God going to do in some coming day?’’ ‘Judge the secrets of men.’’ ‘Judge what?’ ‘‘The secrets of men.”’ ‘‘Who is it that is going to judge the secrets of men?’’ “‘It is God.’’ ‘‘Are your ready to have the secret hidden things of your life judged by a holy God?’’
II. Show him the awful consequences of sin. A very effective passage for this purpose is Rom. 6: 23,
‘“‘For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’’
When he has read the passage, ask him, ‘‘What is the wages of sin?’’ ‘‘Death.’’ Explain to him the meaning of death, literal death, spiritual death, eternal death. Now say, ‘*This is the wages of sin, have you earned these wages?’ ‘‘Are you willing to take them?’’ ‘‘No.’’ ‘‘Well, there is one alternative, read the remainder of the verse.” ‘‘The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’’ ‘*‘ Now you have your choice between the two, the wages that you have earned by sin, and the gift of God; which will you choose?’’
Another very useful passage along this line is Is. 57: 21: ‘*There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”’
Another verse declaring the fearful consequences of sin, is Jno. 8: 34:
‘Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever
committeth sin is the servant of sin.”*
Have the one with whom you are dealing read the passage, then ask him what every one who commits sin is. ‘* The servant of sin.’’ ‘*What kind of a service is that?’’ Bring it out that it is very degrading. Ask the inquirer if he appreciates that this is true of him, that he is the servant of sin, and then ask him if he does not want to be set free from this awful bondage.
There is another passage that one can use in much the same way, Rom. 6:16: ‘“‘Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourcelves servants to obey,
his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?’’
III. Show him the awfulness of unbelief in Jesus Christ.
Very few out of Christ realize that unbelief in Jesus Christ is anything very bad. Of course they know it is not just right, but that it is something awful and appalling, they do not dream for a moment. They should be shown that there is nothing more appalling than unbelief in Jesus Christ. ood passage for this purpose is Jno. 3:18, 19:
f ‘‘Fie 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. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”’ When the passage has been read, say, ‘‘Now this verse tells us of some one who is condemned already; who is it?’’ ‘‘He that believeth not.’’ ‘‘Believeth not on whom?’ “On Jesus.’”’ ‘‘How many that believe not on Jesus are condemned already?’”’ ‘‘Every one.’’ ‘‘Why is every one that believeth not on Jesus condemned already?’’ ‘‘Because he has not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.”’ ‘‘Why is this such an awful thing in the sight of God?’’ ‘‘Because light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.’’ ‘‘In whom did the light come into the world?’’ ‘“‘In Jesus.”’ ‘Jesus then, is the incarnation of light, God’s fullest revelation to man: to reject Jesus then, is the deliberate rejection of what?’ ‘‘Light.” ‘‘The choice of what?’’ ‘‘Darkness.”’ “In rejecting Jesus, what are you rejecting?’ ‘‘Light.”’ ““And what are you choosing?’’ ‘‘Darkness rather than light.’’ Ask all the questions that are necessary to impress this truth upon the mind of the unbeliever, that he is delibers ately rejecting the light of God, and choosing darkness rather than light.
Another very useful passage for the same purpose is
Acts 2:36, 37:
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”’
When the passage is read, say, ‘‘Now here were certain men under deep conviction of sin, crying out, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ What was the sin that they committed that produced such deep conviction?” ‘‘They had crucified Jesus.’’ ‘‘What had God done with Jesus?’’ ‘‘He had made Him both Lord and Christ.’’ ‘*‘These men had rejected One whom God hath made both Lord and Christ. Is that a serious sin?’ ‘‘Yes.’’ ‘‘And are you not guilty of that very sin to-day? You are rejecting Jesus, and this Jesus whom you are rejecting, is the very one whom God hath made both Lord and Christ. Is it not an awful sin to deliberately reject one whom God hath thus exalted?’’
Another good passage to use is John 16: 8, 9:
«‘And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me.’’
When the passage has been read, ask the one with whom you are dealing, *‘Of what sin is it, that the Holy Ghost who knows the mind of God, especially convicts men?’ ‘‘Of the sin of unbelief.’’ ‘‘What then, is the crowning sin in God’s sight?’ ‘‘Unbelief in Jesus Christ.’’ ‘‘Why is unbelief in Jesus Christ the crowning sin in God’s sight?’’ Then bring out that it is because it reveals most clearly the heart’s deliberate choice of sin rather than righteousness, of darkness rather than light, of hatred to God rather than love to God.
In some cases it is well to use Heb. 10: 28, 29:
‘‘He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath, counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an
‘unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?’’
When the passage has been read, ask the inquirer, ‘‘How serious an offence was it in God’s sight to despise Moses’ law?’’ *‘The one who did it died without mercy.’’ ‘‘Is there any offense more serious in God’s sight than despising the law of Moses?’’ ‘‘Yes, treading under foot the Son of God.’’
‘Does not every one who rejects Jesus Christ, practically tread under foot the Son of God, and count the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing?’ “Yes, I suppose he does.’” ‘‘Are you not committing this very sin?’’
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IV. Show him the awful consequences of unbelief.
For this purpose begin by using Heb 11: 6, the first of the verse: “But without faith it is impossible to please him.” “Now this verse tells you that there is one thing that God absolutely requires if we are to please him: what is it?” ““Faith.’’ ‘‘And no matter what else we do, if we have not faith, what is impossible for us?’ ‘‘To please him.”’
Follow this up by John 8: 24:
“JT said — therefore unto you, that ye shall die in San sins: fot if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.””
*“What does this verse tell us will happen to you if you do not believe in Jesus?’’ ‘‘I shall die in my sins.’’ Then have the inquirer read verse 21,
“Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek
me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.” That will show the result of once dying in his sins.
Further follow this up by 2 Thess. 1:7-9:
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.””
Say to the inquirer, ‘‘This verse tells us of a coming day in which Jesus is to take vengeance upon a certain class of people, and they are to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power. Who is it that are to be thus punished?’ ‘‘They that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”” ‘‘Are you obeying the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.’ ‘‘No.’’ ‘‘If then, Christ should come now, what would be your destiny?’’ ‘‘I should be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of His power.”’ Then turn to Rey. 21:8. This verse needs no comment, it tells its own story: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Rev. 20:15 may also be used:
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.’’
V. Show him that all one has to do to be lost, is simply to neglect the salvation that is offered in Christ. A verse which will serve for this purpose is Heb. 2:3:
‘‘How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.’’
When the verse has been read, ask, ‘‘ What does this verse tell us is all that is necessary to be done in order to be lost?” ‘“Simply neglect the great salvation.’’ ‘*That is the very thing that you are doing to-day; you are already lost. God has provided salvation for you at great cost: all you need to do to be saved, is to accept the salvation, but you cannot be saved any other way; and all you need to do to be lost, is simply to neglect it. You do not need to plunge into desperate vices, you do not need to be an open and avowed infidel, you do not need to refuse even to accept salvation, if you simply neglect it, you will be lost forever. Will you not let the question of the text sink deep into your heart? ‘How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?’”’ Another passage to use for this purpose is Acts 3: 22, 23: “‘For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.”’ “This passage tells us about a Prophet that Moses said the Lord would raise up. Who was that Prophet?” ‘‘Jesus.”’
‘‘What does God tell us to do with that Prophet?’ ‘‘Hear him ‘in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.’’’ “What shall happen unto him who does not hearken unto the
words of that Prophet?’’ ‘‘He shall be destroyed from among the people.’’ ‘“‘Are you hearkening unto the words of that Prophet?’’
Still another passage to use is Acts 13: 38-41:
y “Be it khown unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through / this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
“‘Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a oes which ye shall in no wise believe, paoue Re a / man declare it unto you.”
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‘These verses tell us about Jesus. They tell us of something that is preached tous through Him. Whatisit?’’ ‘‘Forgiveness of sins.’’ ‘*‘They tell us what it is that a man has to do to obtain this forgiveness of sins, what is it?’’ ‘‘Believe on Him.’’ ‘‘What blessing comes to all that believe?” ‘’Th:y are justified from ali things.’’ ‘‘On the other hand, what comes to us if we neglect to believe?’’ ‘‘We shall perish.’’ Still another passage to use for this purpose is Jno. 3: 36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” When the passage has been read, ask, ‘‘What does everyone who believes on the Son get?’’ ‘‘Everlasting life.’’ ‘‘But on the other hand, if one simply neglects to believe what will be the result?’’ ‘‘He shall not see life, but the wrath of God
abideth upon him.”’
VI. Show him the wonderful love of God to him.
Oftentimes when evety other method of dealing with the careless fails, a realization of the love of God breaks the heart, and leads to an acceptance of Christ. There is no better passage to show the love of God than Jno, 3: 16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”’
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4. “Ivy Generally it will need no comment. I was once dealing with one of the most careless and vile women I ever met. She moved in good society, but in her secret life was vile as a woman of the street. She told me the story of her life ina most shameless and unblushing way, half-laughing as she did it. I made no further reply than to ask her to read Jno. 3: 16 to which I had opened my Bible. Before she had read the passage through, she burst into tears, her heart broken by the love of God to her.
Another excellent passage to use in the same way is Is.
53:5:
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”’
God used this passage one night to bring to tears and penitence one of the most stubborn and wayward young women with whom I ever dealt. I made almost no comment, simply read the passage to her. The Spirit of God seemed to hold up before her, her Saviour, wounded for her transgressions, and bruised for her iniquities. Her stubborn will gave way, and before many days she was rejoicing in Christ.
Two other passages which can be used in the same way,
are, Gal. 3: 13 and 1 Pet. 2: 24: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a
curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth ona tree;”
‘‘Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”’
After showing the love of God through the use of such passages as these mentioned, it is oftentimes well to clinch this truth by using Rom. 2:4, 5:
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
long suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up
unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”
Before having the passage read, say, ‘‘Now we have been looking at the love of God to you, let us see what God tells us is
the purpose of that love, and what will be the result of our 5 ea yay
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a Ab despising it.” Then have the passage, Rom. 2:4, 5 read by the one with whom you are dealing. When he has read it, ask him what is the purpose of God’s goodness. ‘To lead to repentance.’’ ‘‘If it does not lead us to repentance, what does it show us about our hearts?’’ ‘‘That they are very hard and impenitent.’’ ‘‘And if we refuse to let the goodness of God lead us to repentance, what will be the result?” ‘‘We treasure up wrath unto ourselves against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”’
Of course it will not always be possible to get a person who has little or no concern about his salvation to talk with you long enough to go over all these passages, but not infrequently they will become so interested after the use of the first or second passage, that they will be glad to go through. Oftentimes it is not at all necessary to use all these passages. Not infrequently I find that the first passage, Matt. 22: 37, 38, does the desired work, but it is well to be thorough, and to use all the passages necessary.
Sometimes one will not talk with you for any length of time at all. In such a case, the best thing to do is to select a very pointed and searching passage and give it to them, repeating it again and again, and then as taey go, say to them something like this, ‘‘I am going to ask God to burn that passage into your heart;’’ and then do not forget to do what you said you were going to do. Good passages for this purpose are Rom. 6:23; Mark 16:16; Jno. 3:36; Is. 57: 21.
When the inquirer has been led by the use of any or all of these passages to realize his need of a Saviour, and really desires to be saved, of course he comes under the class treated in the preceding chapter, and should be dealt with accordingly. It is not intended that the worker shall follow the precise method laid down here, it is given rather by way of suggestion, but the general plan here outlined, has been honored of God to the salvation of very many. But let us be sure, whether we use this method or some other, to do thorough-going and lasting work.
Of course it is not supposed that the inquirer will always answer you exactly as stated above. If he does not, make use of the answers that he does give, or if necessary ask the same question another way until he does answer you correctly. The answers given to the questions are found in the text, but people have a great habit of not seeing what is plainly stated in a Scripture text. Oftentimes when they do not answer right, it is well to ask them to look at the verse again, and repeat the question, and keep asking questions until they do give the right answer. Perhaps the inquirer will try to switch you off on to some side-track. Do not permit him to do this, but hold right to the matter in hand.
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CHAPTER VII Des
HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE WHO HAVE
DIFFICULTIES
We will find that a very large number of the persons whom we try to lead to Christ are really anxious to be saved, and know how, but are confronted with difficulties which they deem important or even insurmountable. Whenever it is pos-Sible, it is well to show such persons their need of Christ before taking up a specific difficulty. In this way many of the supposed difficulties are dissipated. Oftentimes even when people really are anxious to be saved, there is not that deep, clear, and intelligent knowledge of their need of Christ that is desirable. It is usually a waste of time to take up specific difficulties until there is this clear and definite sense of need,
I. “I am too great a sinner.”
This is a difficulty that is very real, and very often met, but fortunately it is also one with which it is very easy to deal. The method of treatment is as follows:
1. General treatment:
There is no better passage to use to meet this’ difficulty tran tTim. 1:15;
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ
Jesus came into the world 70 save sznners,; of whom I am chief.” This verse so exactly fits the case, that there is little need for comment. At the close of a Sunday morning service, I spoke to a man of intelligence and ability, but who had gone down into the deepest depth of sin, When asked why he was nota Christian, he replied, ‘‘I am too great a sinner to be saved.”’ I turned him at once tor Tim. 1:15. No sooner hadI read the verse than he replied, ‘‘Well, I am the chief of sinners.”’ ‘That verse means you, then.’’ He replied, ‘‘It is a precious promise.”’ I said, ‘‘Will you accept it now?’ ‘‘I will.’ Then I said, ‘‘Let us kneel down and tell God so.’’ We knelt down and he confessed to God his sins, and asked God for Christ’s sake to forgive him. When he had finished his prayer, I asked him if he. really had accepted Christ, and he said that he had. I asked him if he really believed that he was accepted, and he said he did. He took the first opportunity afforded him of confessing Christ, and became an active Christian. His broken home was restored, and every day he was found witnessing for his Master.
Another useful passage in dealing with thi class is Matt.
O25 2h.
‘‘But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for Iam not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
This shows the inquirer at once that his sin, instead of being an obstacle in the way of his coming to Christ, really fits him for coming to Christ, as He has not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
I have frequently used Rom. 5: 6-8:
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’
At the close of an evening service in Minneapolis, a man who had raised his hand for prayer, hurried away as soon as the benediction was pronounced. I hastened after him, laid my hand upon his shoulder, and said, ‘‘Did you not hold your hand up to-night for prayer?’’ ‘‘Yes.’’ ‘‘Why then are you hurrying away?’’ He replied, ‘“‘There is no use talking to me.’’ I said, ‘‘God loves you.’’ He replied, ‘‘ You do not know whom you are talking to.” “I do not care whom I am talking to, but I know God loves you.’’ He said, ‘‘I am the meanest thief in Minneapolis.’ ‘Then I know God loves you;’’ and I opened my Bible to Rom. 5:6-8 and read the passage through. ‘‘Now,’’ I said, “if you are the meanest thief in Minneapolis, you area sinner, and this verse tells us that God loves sinners,’’ The Spirit of God carried the message of love home to his heart, he broke down, and going with me into another room, he told me the story of his life. He had been released from confinement that day, and had started out that night to com. mit what he said would have been one of the most daring burglaries ever committed in Minneapolis. With his two companions in crime, he was passing a corner where we were holding an open-air meeting. He stopped a few moments to hear what was going on, and in spite of the oaths and protests of his companions, stayed through the meeting, and went with us into the mission. It so happened that a few days before he had dreamed in confinement of his mother, and the hearing of the Gospel added to this, and the few words that had been spoken to him personally, had completed the work. After he had told me his story, we knelt in prayer. Utterly overcome with,emotion, through falling tears he looked to God for pardon, and left the room rejoicing in the assurance that his sins had all been forgiven.
It is often well to say to the man who thinks that he is too great a sinner, ‘‘Your sins are great, greater far than you think, but they are all settled.”” In order to show him how they are settled, and to make it clear that they are settled turn to Is. 53:6:
2. Special cases:
Among those who regard themselves as too great sinners to be saved, there are special cases:
(1) The man who says, ’’[ am lost.””
If the difficulty is stated in this way, it is well to use Luke 19: 10, as that fits so exactly the inquirer’s statement of the case; for the verse says:
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,”
I was once speaking toa young man who was the complete slave of drink and other sins, and urging him to accept the Saviour. He turned to me in a despairing way and said, ‘* Mr. Torrey go talk to those other men, there is no use talking to me, I am lost.” I replied, ‘‘If you are lost, I have a message from God’s Word addressed directly to you.” I turned to Luke 19:10 and read, ‘‘For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.’’ The text fitted the case so
aria exactly, that there was no need of comment or explanation on my part.
(2) Murderers.
Among those who think that they are too great sinners to be saved, murderers form an especial class. I find that nota few who have stained their hands with the blood of a fellow- ‘man have a deep-seated impression that there is no hope for a man who has committed this sin. Is. 1:18 is very useful in such a case. One nightI was dealing with a man who was sure that he was beyond all hope. I asked him why he thought so, and he replied, because he had taken the life of a fellow-man.I said, ‘‘Let me read you something from God’s Word, and I read:
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your
, sins be as scarlet, they shally be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”’
I said, ‘‘If you have taken the life of a fellow-man, your sins are as scarlet.’’ ‘‘Oh,’’ he cried, ‘‘ the bullet was scarlet, I can see it now.’’ Then I asked him to listen again to the promise, “‘Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’’ He saw how the promise exactly covered his case, and it brought hope into a heart that had been filled with despair. Another useful passage is Ps. 51: 14: ‘Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation,”’
In using this passage, I always call the inquirer’s attention to the fact that it is the prayer of a man who had himself stained his hands with the blood of a fellow-man. Then I tell him how God heard the prayer, and delivered him from blood guiltiness, and then turn to Ps. 32: 5 containing the Psalmist’s own statement as to how his sin of bloodguiltiness was forgiven.
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not
hid. Fsaid, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”
3. General Remarks: (1) Never give false comfort by telling the inquirer, ‘* You are not a very great sinner.’’ This mistake is often made.
Tender hearted people are greatly disturbed over the deep conviction of sin that the Spirit of God produces in the hearts of men, and try to give comfort by telling the inquirer that he is not so great a sinner after all. This is false comfort. There is no man but who isa greater sinner than he ever thinks or realizes.
(2) After meeting the specific nay, show the inquirer how to be saved. The method of doing this is explained in Chapter V. This remark applies not only to this difficulty, but to all the difficulties that follow. It is not enough to remove difficulties, we must bring inquirers to a saving knowledge of Christ.
II. “My heart is too hard.”
One of the passages given under the former difficulty will also be useful here, Luke 19:10. Before using it, it may be well to say, ‘‘Well then, if your heart is so hard and wicked, you must be lost.’”’ ‘Yes, Iam lost.’’ ‘‘Very well, I have a promise for you.’’ Turn to Luke 19:10and let them read. “You said that your heart was so hard and wicked that you were lost.’’ ‘‘Yes.’’ ‘‘And this verse tells us that Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save, whom?’’ ‘‘The lost.’’ “And that means you, will you let Him save you now?”’
Another useful passage is Jonny 6: 6: 37, the last half of the verse, Le
“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” ABH
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You can say, ‘‘ You think your heart is so hard and wicked nee you cannot be saved, but would you be willing to come to Christ if He would accept you?’’ ‘‘Yes.’’ ‘‘Well, let us listen to what He says.’’ Then read the passage, ‘‘Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.’’ ‘‘Whom does Jesus say here that He will receive?’’ ‘‘Any one who comes.” ‘‘Does He say He will receive any one who comes provided their heart is not too hard and wicked?’’ ‘‘No.’’ ‘‘What does He say?”’ “That He will receive any one who comes.” ‘‘Then He will receive any one who comes no matter how hard and wicked their heart?’ ‘‘Yes.”’ ‘Will you come now?’
Ez. 36:26, 27 is helpful in many cases. You can say to - the inquirer, ‘‘Yes, your heart is too hard and wicked, but let
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ill us see what God promises to do.’’ Then have them read the passage:
‘‘A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”’
‘‘What does God here promise to give?’’ ‘“‘A new heart.”’ ‘*Are you willing that He should give you a new heart in place of that hard and wicked heart that you have?’’
Another passage which is helpful in much the same way
is 2 Cor. 5:17:
‘‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”’
“Yes,’’ you can say to the one in trouble, ‘‘your heart is too hard and wicked, what you need is to be made all over new; there is a way to be made all over, to get a new heart and to be anew man. Let me show you what that way is.’’ Then let them read the passage. When they have read it, ask them, ‘‘What does the one who accepts Christ become?’”’ ‘A new creature.”” ‘*What becomes of the old things?’’ ‘*They are passed away.’’ ‘‘Do you want to be a new creature, and have old things pass away?”’ ‘‘Yes.’’ ‘*‘What then is all that you have to do?” ‘‘Accept Christ.’’ ‘Will you do it?’’
III. “I must become better before I become.a Christian.” This isa very real difficulty with many people. They sincerely believe that they cannot come to Christ just as they are in their sins, that they must do something to make themselves better before they can come to Him. You can show them that they are utterly mistaken in this by having them read Matts9.: 12): 13° “But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what
that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice: for I am not come
to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”’ When they have read it, if they do not see the point for themselves, you can ask, ‘‘To what does Jesus compare Himself in this verse?’’ ‘‘Toaphysician.’’ ‘‘Who is it need a physician, well people or sick people?’’ ‘‘Sick people.’’ ‘‘Ought a ae person who is sick to wait until he gets well before he gets to the doctor?’’ ‘No, of course, not.’’ ‘‘Ought a person who is spiritually sick to wait until he is better before he comes to Jesus?’’ ‘‘No.’’ ‘‘Who is it Jesus invites to come to Himself, good people or bad people?’’ ‘‘Bad people.’’ ‘‘Is then the fact that you are not good a reason for waiting or a reason for coming to Jesus at once?”’
voLuke 15: 18-24 also fits the case exactly. Show the
inquirer that we have in this story a picture of God’s relation to the sinner, and God wishes us to understand that He would have the sinner come in all his rags, and that He will give him a hearty welcome, a robe, a ring and a feast if he comes just as he is.
i i Luke 18: 10-14 also applies. You can say, ‘‘Here are two
a men who came to God. One came on the ground that he was
A sinner, the other came on the ground that he was righteous.
(Which of the two did God i aie ‘*The one who came on
” the ground that he was a sinner.’’ ‘‘Well, God would have
you come just the same way.’’
IV. “I cannot hold out,” (or “I am afraid I shall fail if I try”).
1. General treatment,
First see if the inquirer is in dead earnest, and if there is not some other difficulty lying back of this. Many a man gives this as a difficulty, when perhaps it is not the real one.
There is perhaps no better verse in the Bible for this difficulty than Jude 24:
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.’’ Its application is.so plain as to need no comment. Another useful passage is 1 Pet. 1:5: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”’ When the inquirer has read it, ask him by whose power it is that we are kept. Then you can say, ‘‘It is not then a question of our strength at all, but of God’s strength. Do you think that God is able to keep you?”’ Other passages which are helpful along the same line are:
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom IJ have believed, and am persuaded that he ¢s able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Tim, 1: 12.
“Pear thou not; for Iam with thee:: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strefigthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’’, Is. 41: Io.
“For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.’’ Is. 41: 13.
A passage which will help by showing the absolute
security of Christ’s sheep, is Jno. 10: 28, 29:
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. MyFather, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
In many cases a good passage to use is Heb. 7: 25:
«‘Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”’
2. Special cases.
(1) Those afraid of some temptation that will prove too
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The best passage to use in such a case is 1 Cor. 10: 13:
‘‘There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; put God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but wili with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to beat it.”
(2) Those who dwell upon their own weakness.
‘‘And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my Strength ts made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon Mes 2) COL. Fe” O4stOs
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”’ Is. 40: 29-31.
One evening a lady called me to a man whom she was trying to lead to Christ and asked me if I could help him. I said to him, ‘*What is your difficulty?” He replied, ‘‘I have no strength.”’ ““Ah,’’ I said, ‘I have a message that exactly fits your case,”’ and read Is. 40: 29, ‘‘He giveth power to the faint, and to