Matthew 25: 41-46 and the soul of man

[Jim Parker]

Over the years of attending "Pastor's Conferences" and fellowship meetings, the one thing that stuck in my mind was the pride and arrogance of many of the Pastor's. Some would strut around boasting of their new converts. Others would boast about the number of baptisms. Not that that is terribly sinful in and of itself, but their fault was, there wasn't any credit given to Christ Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

Because I didn't join in on that kind of parade, I wasn't considered in their "hall of fame". The Lord Jesus was so kind to me in the work that He called me to, He and His Spirit was always a step before me setting up the next sinner for me to speak to for Salvation. All praise to Jesus, the greatest Evangelist the world has ever known.

Like the Mark said....Mark 16:20 "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."

Like Chopper said....Chopper 16:20 "And Chopper went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with him, and confirming the Word with many saved and baptized.

Those whose works are approved by the Lord will be applauded by the Lord.

 

[Chopper]

How many people would refuse the Gospel, if we simply advised them that Jesus Loves them? This is not a difficult Gospel to share! It is in fact a complete delight!

I have yet to find ONE PERSON who disagrees. How else are we to plant? By threat? By force? By sectarianism?

No. No person in their right mind refuses the Love of God, period. I don't even provide that as an option when I witness to anyone.

1 Timothy 4:16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

There are three aspects of the life of Jesus that are the basis of my approach to someone who I'm going to witness to. The first is the love of God thru Jesus. Second is the forgiveness of sin. The third is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus and His coming back for those who respond to the good news.

If I don't get a positive response from these primary statements, I don't go on because I believe the Holy Spirit is not leading this person to Salvation. If I hold to my Calvinistic line of questioning, I ask a person, "Have you been thinking about God lately?"

 

[smaller]

There are three aspects of the life of Jesus that are the basis of my approach to someone who I'm going to witness to. The first is the love of God thru Jesus. Second is the forgiveness of sin. The third is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus and His coming back for those who respond to the good news.

If I don't get a positive response from these primary statements, I don't go on because I believe the Holy Spirit is not leading this person to Salvation. If I hold to my Calvinistic line of questioning, I ask a person, "Have you been thinking about God lately?"

Although I've spent most of my life as a closer (I'd make a great closer Baptist) I refuse to engage in that type of witnessing.

If we examine the witnessing playing field, here's what we should be cognizant and be RESPECTFUL of in the Word's depictions in the construct of the person:

Acts 26:
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Do we see just and only a person in the above construct? No! We see a captor and a captive. Are we witnessing to the captor? No! We are trying to open their eyes, and turn them from same. Now, knowing this, why would we instead cast the captive into possible eternal damnation, RATHER than trying to open their eyes to God in Christ? That to me doesn't make any sense whatsoever. I already know that captor IS heading to eternal damnation in the LoF. The adversary is not apt to be giving up it's hold. THAT takes the "work of God Himself" to turn back that CAPTOR in order for the "captive" to "hear" the Word of God in Christ.

Here's the same picture, again:

2 Corinthians 4:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Do we see the same construct? Assuredly so.

Here it is again:

Ephesians 2:
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience

Do we see how blind we ourselves are in our witnessing IF we are not cognizant of the condition of the captive in that captor slave relationship and we are quite vainly and futily appealing to what we falsely suppose to be a person, able to make a decision? I don't think they are able at all, UNLESS God Himself allows. It is God in Christ who has the power to turn back the CAPTOR for the captive to hear.

The question is then, just how do we go about working and witnessing in accord with Gods Word? I think this matter is exceptionally easy. We hold forth the LOVE OF GOD in Christ to the captive and only the captive. There is no need of threatening and condemning the slave, the captive. That is NOT our quest. We are trying to strike A DIVISION between these two parties. We express the unconditional Love of God in Christ, of forgiveness, to the captive, period, end of conversation. Not condemnation. I don't even provide grounds for objections on His Love, because I KNOW where those objections are coming from, from the CAPTOR. I leave off my witnessing at this point of delivery.

This then invariably turns to this question: Why are you not condemning me to hell? THEN I will speak to them of "evil present" with them, that is NOT them, that KEEPS them from believing the Love of God in Christ. But if they believe that God in Christ Loves them, and that Gods Own Love raised Jesus from the dead, IF you believe this, IF you get past that blockade of petty evil in heart that keeps you from understanding this, you also will be thusly raised. And this is NOT HARD to believe. There is no harm, no foul, intended to YOU Mr./Mrs./Ms. (captive) in what I'm telling YOU. The door is entirely OPEN to you to believe this simplicity of Gods Love in Christ. And whether you believe it or not, God STILL loves you and has expressed that Love in Christ.

Invariably, this is extremely effective, because it is NOT delivered on the ground of offense or of stumbling.

I find the process extremely personally engaging myself. It's just a complete delight to witness of Christ to anyone, in this fashion. I have, with my own eyes, seen the expression of frustration on their faces, put there by the CAPTOR, because I flat out REFUSE to condemn the captive. And yes, this does work upon their mind and heart.

In every case, I have not offended that person. And the door remains open for further scriptural engagements from my end, because I have not SOILED that captive.

Just flung open the door of the prison. Wide open. Disabled the prison guard, effectively neutering same. And I have the very pleasant option still on my own table, of loving my "neighbor" as myself, having not cast them aside.

There are other battle strategies beyond this that not only can, but WILL set the HOOK of Christ in their heart. But these, God Himself will show any, if we can get past our own prideful headiness in resorting to "instant damnation" when the CAPTOR shows it's disagreement.

 

[Chopper]

Ok, I'm glad that that line of witnessing works for you. Just a note, I don't believe that, in the process of sharing Christ Jesus to someone who's lost, that I've ever mentioned hell or the lof. When I decide to witness to someone, first, I need to know if the Holy Spirit has been there before me. I believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is the One who controls any witnessing situation, not me! I'm just the vessel that He uses.

As I said previously....When I start a witness, I share three aspects about Christ Jesus. This is where I find out if the Holy Spirit has been active in drawing the person to Salvation. The first is the love of God thru Jesus. Second is the forgiveness of sin. The third is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus....Now, if I find some resistance to any of the three aspects, I consider ceasing the witness because the Holy Spirit may not be involved. I say "may not" because if I'm alone in the witness (no Holy Spirit) then I'm only going to spoil any further chance for someone else to witness to this individual.

As a Baptist, traditionally, the Holy Spirit is my guide in sharing the Good News. That's what I have to give anyone who is not saved, GOOD NEWS. Not bad news of hell.