Witnessing 101
1. Hold up the mirror — There is nothing more honest than looking in the mirror. We can see ourselves and our good points and blemishes. And we know them because we know our appearance. It’s the same with the 10 Commandments. The Lord provided the 10 Commandments as a mirror to our soul. Following the 10 Commandments does not get you into Heaven. It shows you that can’t get to Heaven on your own! Because we all have a sinful nature, nobody is able to follow all the Commandments (except for Jesus). Therefore, You are a sinner in need of a savior. And that Savior is Jesus Christ.
Examples — Asking someone “What do you think is going to happen to you after you die?” Other questions can be “do you think you’re a good person?” or “If you had to stand before God and explain why He should let you into Heaven, what would you say?”
Then go to the Commandments….. quickly!
“How many lies have you told in your life?” (this is violating the 9th Commandment
“Have you ever felt hate towards someone?” — Jesus said if you have hate towards another person you’re a murderer in your heart. This violates the 6th Commandment – Thou shall not murder.
“Have you ever taken the Lord’s name in vain?” – This a violation of the 3rd Commandment. It’s called blasphemy.
“Have you ever looked at another person with lust (sexual desire)?” — Jesus said to look upon a woman with lust in your heart makes you an adulterer. This violates the 7th Commandment.
Once the person has answered these questions THEY are proving that they are sinners. You don’t need to accuse anybody of anything. By their own statements, they are stating that they are lying, blaspheming, murderous thieves.
2. Take them to court — The Bible tells us that God is our judge. And He is a perfect judge. The Bible says if we violate the law of God in one area it’s just like we are guilty of all of them (James 2:10). And God is not going to let one sin slide by. All sin must be punished.
So after someone has just admitted that they have been sinning ask them:
“So if you were in court before a judge and just confessed to all these things, do you think the judge would find you innocent or guilty?”
Now you remind them that God is a perfect judge and He’s not going to take bribes. Oftentimes, when people have to talk about being guilty before The Lord, they go into self-defense mode. They’ll say things like “But I’m not that bad!” or “But I’ve done lots of good things in my life.” And then you just bring them right back in the court room.
“If a man brutally attacked, tortured and murdered a group of schoolchildren and then confessed to the judge that he did it. But then he says ‘Your Honor, it’s true. I attacked, brutally tortured and then killed these small children. But I’d like you to know that the other days of the year, I was pretty good. I didn’t bother anyone. I participated in some charities and I was very polite to people.’ What is the judge going to say? He’s going to say ‘that doesn’t matter! You’re still going to prison!'” If the judge let the person off without punishment, we’d say he was a bad or a crooked judge. God is a PERFECT Judge. So He’s going to make sure every sin is punished. And the Bible says “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)
3. The Good News — So now that you’ve shown the person is guilty before God, you show them the good news.
“But there’s good news in all of this. Since God loves us so much, He sent His Son to die for us so that Jesus could take our punishment. Jesus came to Earth to live a perfect life as a man. To never sin and then offer Himself as a sacrifice to take the punishment for us on the cross. Jesus chose to take the wrath of God for all people. He paid the penalty for our sin.”
If they still don’t understand it, take them back to court. “Imagine if you were in court and the judge ordered you to pay a million dollar fine. And then someone walked in, wrote out a check for a million and gave it to the judge. What would the judge say? He’d tell you that you’re free to go. Justice has been served. Your debt has been paid. Jesus did that for us.” But you have to choose to believe and put your faith and trust in Him as your Savior. You have to pray and confess your sins only to God (for repentance — meaning you don’t want to do them anymore) and tell God that you want Jesus to be your Savior and that you believe in Him. ”
— Encourage your friends and loved ones to pray to God for their salvation. But make it clear that it’s their true belief in Jesus dying for them that saves. Not just talking the talk. They then have to start living to build a relationship with God by reading the Bible, going to church, praying and living a better life (meaning less sin).
Verses you should know:
John 3: 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18He 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.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
