Part 2
what?" then make it clear from what you have already said under the preceding points, that it is to receive Him as sin-bearer, to receive Him as a risen Savior, to receive Him as our Lord and Master. "Will you just take Him as your sin-bearer now, as your risen Savior, as your Lord and Master? Will you take Him to be whatever He offers Himself to you to be?" "I will." "Then {38} what does this verse show you that you have a right to call yourself?" "A son of God." "Are you a son of God?" Oftentimes the inquirer will hesitate, but go over it again and again until it is as clear as day to him. Another excellent passage to use for this purpose is John 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." Ask the inquirer who it is that receives eternal life. "Whosoever believes in Him." "Do you believe in Him as your sin-bearer?" "Do you believe in Him as your risen Savior?" "Do you believe in Him as your Lord?" "Well, then, what have you?" Another good passage to use is Acts 10:43: "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM shall receive remission of sins." Still another is Acts 13:39: "And by him ALL THAT BELIEVE are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." V. SHOW THE NEED OF CONFESSING CHRIST WITH THE MOUTH. No conversion is clear and satisfactory until one has been led to confess Christ with the mouth before men. Perhaps the best passage to show the need of such open confession with the mouth is Romans 10:9-10: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." When the inquirer has read it, ask him what is the
first thing this verse tells us that we must do if we are to be saved. "Confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus." "Well, will you confess Jesus as your Lord with the mouth now?" Wherever possible, it is good to get the persons dealt with to make a public confession of Jesus just as soon as possible. If you are dealing with them in an after-meeting, have them make this confession right then and there; if somewhere else, bring them to a prayer-meeting, or some other service where they can make the confession, as soon as possible. {40} VI. LEAD INTO ASSURANCE. It is not enough that one should be saved, one ought to have the assurance that he is saved. He ought to be brought to a place where he can say confidently and joyously, "I KNOW I am saved, I KNOW I have everlasting life." After an inquirer has been led to the acceptance and confession of Christ, an excellent passage to use for this purpose is John 3:36: "He that believeth on the Son HATH EVERLASTING LIFE: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." When the inquirer has read the passage you can say, "Now this passage tells us that there is some one who has everlasting life; who is it?" "He that believeth on the Son." "What does God say in this passage that every one who believes on the Son has?" "Everlasting life." "Is it absolutely sure that every one who believes on the Son has everlasting life?" "It is; God says so." "Well, do you believe on the Son?" "Yes." "What have you then?" "Everlasting life." "Are you absolutely sure that you have everlasting life?" "Yes." "Why are you sure?" "Because God says so here." In many cases, probably in the majority of cases, it will be necessary to go over this again, and again, before the inquirer says that he is absolutely sure that he has everlasting life because he believes on the Son, but do not let him go until he is thus absolutely sure. VII. GIVE DIRECTIONS AS TO HOW TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. It is not enough that a person be led to accept Christ, that is only the beginning of the
Christian life, and if one is not shown how to lead the Christian life which he has thus begun, his life is likely to be largely one of failure. The reason so many Christian lives are comparative failures is because of a lack of definite and full instruction to the young convert as to how to lead the life which he has begun. The following instructions should be given to every one who has been dealt with as described above; and not only to them, but to every other class of inquirers that may be led to the acceptance of Christ by the methods described in the following pages or in any other way. You will speak to the inquirer somewhat as follows: "You have just begun the Christian life; now you wish to make a success of it. There are six very {41} simple things to do, and it is absolutely sure that any one who does these six things will make a success of the Christian life." 1. "You will find the first of these in Matthew 10:32. Please read it very carefully: "Whosoever therefore shall CONFESS ME BEFORE MEN, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." This verse tells us that Christ confesses before the Father those who confess Him before men. You will make a success of the Christian life only if Christ confesses you before the Father, so if you wish to succeed in this life that you have begun, YOU MUST MAKE A CONSTANT PRACTICE OF CONFESSING CHRIST BEFORE MEN. Improve every opportunity that you get of showing your colors, and stating that you are upon Christ's side, and of telling what the Lord hath done for your soul." 2. "STUDY THE WORD OF GOD REGULARLY, AND HIDE IT IN YOUR HEART." To make this point clear, use the following passages: "THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MINE HEART, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11. "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." 1_Peter 2:2. One of the most frequent causes of failure in the Christian life is neglect of the Word of God. One can no more thrive spiritually without regular spiritual food than he can thrive physically without regular and proper physical nourishment. 3. "PRAYER WITHOUT CEASING." To make this point
clear, use "Pray without ceasing." 1_Thessalonians 5:17. "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 faith." Isaiah 40;31. Have the young convert read these verses again and again and mark them in his Bible. 4. "SURRENDER YOUR WILL ABSOLUTELY TO GOD, AND OBEY HIM IN ALL THINGS." To make this plain use Acts 5:32: "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given TO THEM THAT OBEY HIM." {42} Show that obedience is a matter of the will more than of the outward life, and that God gives His Holy Spirit to them that obey Him, or surrender their will absolutely to Him. Insist upon the need of this absolute surrender of the will to God. 5. "BE A CONSTANT AND GENEROUS GIVER." To make the necessity of this plain to the convert, use 2_Corinthians 9:6-8: "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." It is well sometimes to use Malachi 3:10 as a side light: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Go over and over it again and again until it is fixed in the young convert's mind that if he is to enjoy the fullness of God's blessing, if God is to make all grace abound toward him, he must give to the Lord's work as the Lord prospers him, that he must be a constant and generous giver. Many young Christians make little headway in the Christian
life because they are not plainly instructed on the necessity of regular, systematic and generous giving to the Lord. 6. "GO TO WORK FOR CHRIST AND KEEP WORKING FOR CHRIST." To show the necessity of this, use Matthew 25:14-30, explaining the teaching of the parable, that it is the one who uses what he has who gets more, but the one who neglects to use what he has, loses even that. Go over these six points again and again; write them down with the texts, and give them to the young convert to take with him. The directions given above may seem to be very full, and it may occur to the reader that it will take a long time to follow them out. This is true, and oftentimes it will not be necessary to use all the texts, but at the same time it is best to be sure that you do thorough work. There is a great deal of the superficial and shoddy work done in soul-winning today, and this kind of work does not {43} stand. It is better to spend an hour, or two hours, on one person, and get him really rooted and grounded in the truth, than it is to get a dozen or more to say that they accept Christ, when the do not really understand what they are doing. One of the most common and greatest of faults in Christian work today is superficial dealing with souls. {44} @06 CHAPTER SIX 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 Matthew 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. THIS IS 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 am a sinner, but I do 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 {45} 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 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. I asked 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 he would. I said, "Why, then, do you not become a Christian tonight?" 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 Matthew 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 commandment." 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 Romans 14:12: "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." The great 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 to God. When he has read it, ask him, "Who has to give account?" "Every one of us." "Whom 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?" Amos 4:12 can be used in much the same way: {46} "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 Romans 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 you 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 Romans 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 Isaiah 57:21: "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Another verse declaring the fearful consequences of sin, is John 8:34: "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commiteth 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 {47} 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, Romans 6:16: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves 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. A good passage for this purpose is John 3:18-19: "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he that 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 deliberately rejecting the light of God, and choosing darkness rather than light. Another very useful passage for the same purpose is Acts 2:36-37: {48} "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 today? 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 Hebrews 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 offense 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 {49} 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?" IV. SHOW HIM THE AWFUL CONSEQUENCES OF UNBELIEF. For this purpose begin by using Hebrews 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:
"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for 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_Thessalonians 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 {50} 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 Revelation 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." Revelation 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 Hebrews 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 today; 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." {51} "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 12:38-41: "Be it known 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 work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." "These verses tell us about Jesus. They tell us of something that is preached to us through Him. What is it?" "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?" "They are justified from all 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 John 3:36: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." When the passage has been read, ask, "What does every one 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 every 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 John 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." {52} 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 as vile as a woman of the street. She told me the story of her life in a most shameless and unblushing way, half-laughing as she did it. I made no further reply than to ask her to read John 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 Isaiah 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 Savior, 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 Galatians 3:13 and 1_Peter 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 on a 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 Romans 2:4-5: "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; 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, "We have been looking at the love of God to you; now let us see what God tells us is the purpose of that love, and what will be the result of our despising it." Then have the passage, Romans 2:4-5 read by the one with whom {53} 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 the 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 he will become so interested after the use of the first or second passage that he 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, Matthew 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 him, repeating it again and again, and then as he goes, say to him 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 Romans 6:23, Mark 16:16, John 3:36, Isaiah 57:21. When the inquirer has been led by the use of any or all of these passages to realize his need of a Savior, 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, which 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 thoroughgoing 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 {54} 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 sidetrack. Do not permit him to do this, but hold right to the matter in hand. {55} @07 CHAPTER SEVEN 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 possible, 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 than 1_Timothy 1:15: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world TO SAVE SINNERS; 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 not a Christian, he replied, "I am too great a sinner to be saved." I turned him at once to 1_Timothy 1:15. No sooner had I read the verse than he replied, {56} "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 not?" "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 this class is Matthew 9:12-13: "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." 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 Romans 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 tonight for prayer?" "Yes." "Why then are you hurrying away?" 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 Romans 5:6-8 and read the passage through. "Now," I said, "if you are the meanest thief in Minneapolis, {57} you are a 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 commit 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 for 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 Isaiah 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, "I 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 to a young man who was the complete slave of drink and other sins' and urging him to accept the Savior. 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 {58} 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 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 not a 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. Isaiah 1:18 is very useful in such a case. One night I 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 shall 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 Psalm 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 bloodguiltiness, and then turn to Psalm 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. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin." {59} 3. GENERAL REMARKS. (1) NEVER GIVE FALSE COMFORT BY TELLING THE INQUIRER, "YOU ARE NOT A VERY GREAT SINNER."
This mistake is often made. Tenderhearted 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 is a greater sinner than he ever thinks or realizes. (2) After meeting the specific difficulty, show the inquirer how to be saved. The method of doing this is explained in Chapter Five. 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, I am lost." "Very well, I have a promise for you." Turn to Luke 19:10 and 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 John 6:37, the last half of the verse, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." You can say, "You think your heart is so hard and wicked that 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 his 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?" Ezekiel 36:26-27 is helpful in many cases. You can say to the inquirer, {60} "Yes, your heart is too
hard and wicked, but let us see what God promises to do." Then have him 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_Corinthians 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 a new man. Let me show you what that way is." Then let him read the passage. When he has read it, ask him, "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 is a 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 Matthew 9:12-13: "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?" "To a physician." "Who is it needs a physician, well people {61} or sick people?" "Sick people." "Ought a person who is sick to wait until he gets well before he gets 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?" Luke 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, that 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. Luke 18:10-14 also applies. You can say, "Here are two 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 accept?" "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_Peter 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?" {62} 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 I have believed, and am persuaded that HE IS ABLE TO KEEP that which I have committed unto him against that day." 2_Timothy 1:12. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10. "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." Isaiah 41:13. A passage which will help by showing the absolute security of Christ's sheep, is John 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. My Father, 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 Hebrews 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 STRONG. The best passage to use in such a case is 1_Corinthians 10;13: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (2) THOSE WHO DWELL UPON THEIR OWN WEAKNESS. "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2_Corinthians 12:9-10. "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." Isaiah 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 Isaiah {63} 40:29, "He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." "You say you have no strength, that is, no might; now this verse tells us that to those who have no might, that is to people just like you, God increaseth strength." The Holy Spirit took the word of comfort home to his heart at once, and he put his trust in Jesus Christ then and there. V. "I CANNOT GIVE UP MY EVIL WAYS." 1. YOU MUST OR PERISH. In order to prove this statement, use: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Galatians 6:7-8. "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." Revelation 21:8. Drive this thought home. Show the inquirer no quarter, but keep ringing the changes on the thought, "You must give up your evil ways or perish." Emphasize it by Scripture. When the inquirer sees and realizes this, then you can pass on to the next thought. 2. YOU CAN IN THE STRENGTH OF JESUS CHRIST. To
prove this, have the inquirer read Philippians 4:13 and John 8:36: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." 3. SHOW THE RISEN CHRIST WITH ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH. It is in the power of the risen Christ, and through union with Him, that we are enabled to give up our evil ways, so the one who has this difficulty should have the fact that Christ is risen made clear to him. The following passages will serve well for this purpose. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I {64} also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." 1_Corinthians 15:1-4. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18. "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." Hebrews 7:25. 4. SHOW HOW TO GET VICTORY OVER SIN. There is perhaps nothing in the Bible that makes the way of victory over sin more plain and simple than Romans 6:12-14: "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." You can say to the inquirer, "In this verse we are told how to get victory over sin: we are told what
not to do, and what to do. What is it we are told not to do?" "Not to let sin reign in our mortal body; not to yield our members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin." "What are we told to do?" "To yield ourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead; and to yield our members as instruments of righteousness unto God." "Now do you believe that through union with the risen Christ your Savior, you are alive from the dead? Will you yield or present yourself unto God as one alive from the dead? Will you now and here present your members as instruments of righteousness unto God?" After the inquirer has been led to do this, show him that whatever we yield to God, God accepts, and that he can now TRUST God for victory over sin, and have deliverance from his evil ways. VI. "I HAVE TRIED BEFORE AND FAILED." Those who have tried to be Christians and have failed in the attempt, very naturally hesitate about trying again, and such a case needs to be dealt with, with great care, wisdom and thoroughness. 1. The first thing to do is to say to such a one, "I CAN SHOW YOU HOW TO TRY AND NOT FAIL." Then point him to 2_Corinthians 9:8: "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." {65} When the person has read the verse, to be sure that he gets its meaning you can say, "This verse tells us that God is able to make all grace abound toward us, that we, 'always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.' It is clear then, that there is a way to try and not fail." 2. FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. In finding out the cause of failure, there are seven points to be looked into: (1) DID YOU PUT ALL YOUR TRUST FOR PARDON IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST? This is a very frequent cause of failure in the attempt to be a Christian, the person has never been led to see clearly the ground of his salvation, and to trust wholly in the finished work of Christ for pardon. Isaiah 53:6 is a useful passage at this point:
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (2) DID YOU SURRENDER ABSOLUTELY TO GOD? Many are led to make a profession of faith in Christ without having been led to absolute surrender and the Christian life thus begun, is very likely to prove a failure. The passage to use at this point is Acts 5:32: "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." (3) DID YOU CONFESS CHRIST OPENLY BEFORE MEN? This is one of the most frequent causes of failure. I have talked with very many who have said that they have tried to be Christians and failed, and a very large proportion of them I have found failed at this very point, the lack of a constant, open confession of Christ. Good passages to use at this point are Matthew 10;32-33 and Romans 10;10: "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." {66} (4) DID YOU STUDY THE WORD OF GOD DAILY? Here is another frequent cause of failure, neglect of the Bible. Very few of those who have really begun the Christian life, and who have made a practice of daily study of the Word, fail in their attempt to be Christians. Good passages to use at this point are 1_Peter 2:2 and Psalms 119:11: "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." "Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee." (5) DID YOU LOOK EACH DAY TO GOD ALONE, AND NOT TO SELF AT ALL, FOR STRENGTH AND VICTORY? To emphasize this question, use: "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." Isaiah 40:29.
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2_Corinthians 12:9. "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." 1_Peter 5:5. (6) DID YOU PRAY CONSTANTLY? Use at this point: "Pray without ceasing." 1_Thessalonians 5:17. "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." Isaiah 40:29-31. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16. (7) DID YOU GO TO WORK FOR CHRIST? Here use Matthew 25:14-29. VII. "THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS TOO HARD." 1. If a person states this as his difficulty, first show him that THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT HARD. In Matthew 11:30 Christ tells us His yoke is easy: {67} "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Proverbs 3:17 shows us that wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." 1_John 5:3, that God's commandments are not grievous: 1_Peter 1:8 pictures the Christian life as a life of joy unspeakable and full of glory: "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." In using the latter passage you might say, "We have a picture of the Christian life in 1_Peter 1:8, let us see if it is a hard life." Have the
inquirer read the verse, and then ask, "What kind of a life according to this passage, is the Christian life?" "A life of joy unspeakable and full of glory." "Do you think that is hard?" 2. Show him that THE WAY OF SIN AS HARD. Show the inquirer that it is not the Christian life, but the life without Christ that is the hard life. For this purpose use the last half of Proverbs 13:15, and Isaiah 57:21: "But the way of transgressors is hard." "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." VIII. "THERE IS TOO MUCH TO GIVE UP." This is often the difficulty even when not stated. 1. First show the inquirer that NO MATTER HOW MUCH THERE MAY BE TO GIVE UP, IT IS BETTER TO GIVE UP ANYTHING THAN TO LOSE ONE'S SOUL. For this purpose use Mark 8:36: "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" 2. Show the inquirer that THE ONLY THINGS WE HAVE TO GIVE UP ARE THE THINGS WHICH WILL HARM US. This is made clear by Psalm 84:11: {68} "For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord will give grace and glory; NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD from them that walk uprightly." When the inquirer has read the verse, ask him, 'What does this verse tell us that God will not withhold from us?" "Any good thing." "The things then that God asks you to give up, are what kind of things?" "Evil things." "Then all God asks you to give up are the things which are harmful to you. Do you wish to keep them?" I have found Romans 8:32 very effective, for it emphasizes the thought that if God loved us enough to give His Son to die for us on the Cross, He will freely give us all things: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" I once had a long conversation with a young woman who was having a great struggle about accepting Christ. She was very fond of the world and certain forms of amusement, which she felt she would have to give up if she became a Christian. Finally I said to her, "Do you think God loves you?" "Yes, I know He does." "How much does God love you?"
"Enough to give His Son to die for me," she replied. "Do you think if God loved you enough to give His Son to die for you, Me will ask you to give up anything that is for your good to keep?" "No, certainly He will not." "Do you wish to keep anything not for your good to keep?" "No." "Then do you not think you had better accept Jesus Christ right here and now?" "Yes," and she did. Another verse which is useful as showing the inquirer that the things which he has to give up are the things which are passing away, is 1_John 2:15-17: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." 3. Show the inquirer that WHAT WE GIVE UP IS NOTHING TO WHAT WE GET. For this purpose use Philippians 3:7-8: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." {69} You can call the inquirer's attention to the fact that it was Paul who spoke these words, that perhaps no one ever gave up more for Christ than he did, and yet he here tells us that what he gave up was to what he got only as the refuse of the street. IX. "I CANNOT BE A CHRISTIAN IN MY BUSINESS," (or "It will hurt my business," or "I will lose my position.") This is a very real difficulty with many, and must be met honestly and squarely. 1. It is well to bear in mind that even when a man really thinks this is true, it is not always so. Many people have an idea that it is impossible to be a Christian in any line of business except Christian work. They must be shown that this is a mistake. When a man makes this excuse, it is often well to ask him what his business is, and why he
cannot be a Christian in it. Sometimes you will find that it is a business in which there are many Christians, and you can tell him that there are many Christians in the same business. 2. But oftentimes it is true that the man with whom you are dealing is in a business in which it is impossible to be a Christian. For example, the man may be a bartender or a theatrical manager or something of that sort. In that case say to the man, "You had better lose your business (or position ) than to lose your soul." To drive this statement home, use Mark 8:36: "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Do not pass on to the next point until the man sees this and realizes it. Make the man feel that he had better lose every dollar that he has in the world than to lose his soul. When the man sees {70} this, and is ready to give up his business at any cost, you can use Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." This verse will show him that if he puts God and His kingdom first, all needful things will be supplied to him. It is better to starve than to reject Christ, but no man who accepts Christ will be left to starve. Another very useful passage is Mark 10:29-30: "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." X. "I WILL LOSE MY FRIENDS." Many a person who contemplates beginning the Christian life has none but ungodly companions, and he sees very clearly that if he becomes a Christian he will lose these friends, the only ones that he has; so this difficulty is a very real one. 1. First show the inquirer that he is better off
without these friends, for they are enemies of God. Use for this purpose James 4:4: "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." Before giving it to the inquirer to read, say, "Yes, it may be that you will lose your friends, but if your friends are godless, you are better off without them. See what God's Word says about it." Then show him the passage. If this verse does not prove sufficiently effective, follow it up with Proverbs 13:20: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." Follow this up with Psalm 1:1-2: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. {71} But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Call the inquirer's attention to the fact that God has promised an especial blessing to those who turn their backs upon godless friendships in order to obey Him. 2. Having made this first point clear, you can say, "You may lose your godless friends, but you will get better friends," and turn him to 1_John 1:3: "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." When they have read it you can say, "If you do lose your godless friends by coming to Christ, what two new friends do you get?" "The Father and His Son Jesus Christ." "Which would you rather have for friends, your godless worldly companions, or God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ?" All this may be followed up again by Mark 10:29-30. XI. "I AM AFRAID OF RIDICULE." 1. Show the awful peril in being governed by the fear of man. Use Proverbs 29:25: "The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." You might explain that this snare which catches