Help....I want to explain the Gospel

Do you have a desire to share the Gospel of salvation with those people that don’t know Jesus as Lord? Perhaps you have held back because of a lack of confidence in your ability, or maybe it’s because you don’t feel that you know enough scripture. Whatever your reasons, I hope that this will be a help to you.

This scripture leaves us with no doubt about what Peter is saying. It is one that I quote a great deal, especially when I run classes on personal evangelism.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15

Let’s consider how we can feel properly prepared, ready to speak at a moment’s notice when an opportunity to share Christ arises. Jesus said that we should have childlike faith, so with that in mind, pray for opportunities to share the Gospel and then expect the opportunities to come. Trusting in this way, you will discover that very soon God will bring people into your path whom He has prepared for the message. When you mean what you pray, asking the Lord for ‘God appointments’ like this, they will happen. It’s a fact!

Pastors, preachers and evangelists prepare messages to win the lost. Why don’t you do the same with the gospel message?

You can do this with your own testimony of salvation. I refer here to sharing when you have the opportunity, not necessarily from a pulpit, but rather sharing the Gospel on a one to one basis with your Bible. There is a well proven method known as the “Roman Road”. It is very simple and enables a person to explain the Gospel in an orderly way and it works extremely well. The reason for that is because it is the word of God!

Key Point: Prior preparation and planning prevents a poor performance

I suggest you write these scripture references on the inside cover of your Bible, so that you don’t have to memorise them, though the more you use them, you will find them easier to recall. You will be able to flick to and fro between the references and the scriptures. An onlooker will think you really know the way around the Bible.

It is very important to remember when you are with someone to always read scripture aloud and if possible let your listener see what you are reading by pointing your finger at the verses. Do this because scripture says:

 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10: 17

Please do note that I am not going into great depth here as I could write pages on each scripture.

Scripture One: As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one”. Romans 3: 10

This is a fundamental part of God’s word. It’s a good response to use when a person states “I will go to heaven because I am a good person,” or “Because I am not a murderer, I haven’t done anything wrong.” This verse gives you the ability to show them that there is nothing we can do to merit going to heaven, for no-one is without sin.

Scripture Two:  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3: 23 

This second scripture gives further confirmation of everyone being guilty of sin. When it comes to righteousness we can only compare ourselves with Jesus and every time we do, we will always fall short. He lived a perfect and sinless life, which means we will never be able to measure up to Him in any way.

Scripture Three: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12

This covers the fall of man with Adam and Eve. There will be occasions where you will have to explain who they are to someone who is unsaved. Quite often today younger people have never heard of them.

After the fall it was as if sin got into our DNA and as a result we were destined to a lost eternity in Hell - but the great news is that Jesus broke power of sin!

Scripture Four: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6: 23

Ask your listener why people get wages. You will get answers like, “We earn them” or “We deserve them for what we do.” Because sin is in our lives we earn a death and end up earning a lost eternity.

Scripture Five: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5: 8

If your listener has agreed with what you have said so far, the good news will become exactly what it say it is, GOOD NEWS. You can explain how Jesus took our sin upon Himself.

Scripture Six: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Romans 10: 9-13 

The last scripture is wonderful news, which will lead on to asking questions like “Do you want to accept Jesus today”. I will cover leading the person to Christ further on in this book.

Get these scriptures into your heart, read them over and over and meditate on them. They are powerful because God’s word is alive. The verse in John 3: 16 had a powerful effect on me and countless others. Don’t be afraid to use scripture, only make sure that they are relevant to your listener.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4: 12

I love that scripture because it fills me with confidence. Whenever you speak the word of God something happens. Sometimes it can annoy, anger and irritate - but that fact is, that it changes lives. I have seen it happen so many times, changing the hearts of even the hardest and the angriest, anyone who chooses to believe, in fact. God’s word speaks to everyone, regardless of age, gender, ability, knowledge or position; it is simple enough for a child to understand.

God wants to use you, and Jesus even commanded us to share His Good News. Let’s be obedient and believe God’s word will do what it says and ‘not return unto Him void’