Question: "What does the Bible say about how to lead someone to Christ?"
Answer: The Bible does not give us a specific method for leading someone to Christ, so there is no religious formula we must follow. Over the years, Christians desiring to lead people to Christ have employed methods such as Evangelism Explosion, Dare 2 Share, the Way of the Master, and handing out gospel tracts. Each of these methods can be effective in leading someone to Christ.
While there is no specific method taught in the Bible for leading someone to Christ, there are specific elements that must be included in a gospel presentation. When we are well-grounded in those biblical truths, we are prepared at any time and any place to lead someone to Christ.
The Romans Road to Salvation is one way of explaining what it means to become a Christian. Because the book of Romans is such a thorough explanation of God’s grace and what it means to receive it, we need to look no further when we want to lead someone to Christ. However, it is important that we become comfortable with God’s Word enough to locate other critical passages that answer questions for non-believers. The Four Spiritual Laws is a tract that explains the key parts of salvation in a clear and direct manner and is another useful tool to use with someone inquiring about Christ.
These are the basic elements to keep in mind when trying to lead someone to Christ:
First we identify the problem:
1. Every human being is a sinner (Romans 3:10, 23). Sin is any word, thought, or deed that is contrary to the holiness of God. Depending on the person’s understanding of spiritual matters, it may be helpful to turn to the Ten Commandments to illustrate and define what sin is (Exodus 20:1–17).
— We can ask the person: “Have you ever lied? Stolen? Lusted? Disrespected your parents?”
2. God is holy and just. Perfect justice cannot overlook our sin. The only right consequence for high treason against our Creator is eternal separation from Him in hell (Romans 6:23).
— We can ask the person: “What do you think happens after you die? The Bible says we will all die, and after that we face God’s judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Then we explain the solution:
3. God is not only just; He is love. Because of His love, He chose to rescue us from the consequences of our sin. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to take the punishment we deserve. He took on human flesh, lived sinlessly among us, and then laid down His life to be crucified as payment for our sin. But three days later, God raised Christ from the dead. He conquered death so we could live forever with Him (John 3:16–18). Jesus became sin for us, when He had never sinned Himself, so that we could be declared righteous and forgiven (2 Corinthians 5:21).
And we ask for a response:
4. Every human being must respond to God’s offer of salvation by accepting by faith that Jesus’ death and resurrection were sufficient payment for our own sin. We transfer ownership of our lives to the lordship of Jesus, and in that divine exchange we receive a full pardon from God and the assurance of eternal life in heaven (John 1:12; Romans 10:9–10). The Bible calls for repentance and faith. When we repent, we agree with God about how bad our sin is and purpose to turn from following it to following Christ (Acts 2:38; 3:19). When we have faith, we faithfully trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, and we are unreservedly committed to Him.
If they are willing, we can lead them in a prayer of surrender such as this:
“Father in Heaven, I confess to you that I have sinned against you. Thank you for sending your Son to die in my place. Thank you for raising Him from the dead so I could have eternal life. I give you my life now and ask you to come and live in me and make me your child. I love you and want to live for you from now on. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Once a person has asked Jesus to save and be Lord of his or her life, we should give the new believer some idea of what to expect next. Jesus likened the salvation experience to being “born again.” When we are born again, our record of sins is wiped clean, and God gives us a new heart that wants to please Him (Luke 9:23; John 3:3; Colossians 2:14). The Holy Spirit moves into our spirits and begins to transform us from the inside out (2 Corinthians 5:19). The goal of every Christian is to become a worshiper who patterns his or her life after that of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).
Becoming familiar with the verses listed above gives us more confidence when we share our faith. We are not making up some religious code; we are explaining truths from God’s revealed Word. We don’t have to rely on our own expertise; rather, we can rest on the foundation of God’s written Word and His Holy Spirit, who gives us the words we need when we need them (Luke 12:12).
While there is no specific method taught in the Bible for leading someone to Christ, there are specific elements that must be included in a gospel presentation. When we are well-grounded in those biblical truths, we are prepared at any time and any place to lead someone to Christ.
The Romans Road to Salvation is one way of explaining what it means to become a Christian. Because the book of Romans is such a thorough explanation of God’s grace and what it means to receive it, we need to look no further when we want to lead someone to Christ. However, it is important that we become comfortable with God’s Word enough to locate other critical passages that answer questions for non-believers. The Four Spiritual Laws is a tract that explains the key parts of salvation in a clear and direct manner and is another useful tool to use with someone inquiring about Christ.
These are the basic elements to keep in mind when trying to lead someone to Christ:
First we identify the problem:
1. Every human being is a sinner (Romans 3:10, 23). Sin is any word, thought, or deed that is contrary to the holiness of God. Depending on the person’s understanding of spiritual matters, it may be helpful to turn to the Ten Commandments to illustrate and define what sin is (Exodus 20:1–17).
— We can ask the person: “Have you ever lied? Stolen? Lusted? Disrespected your parents?”
2. God is holy and just. Perfect justice cannot overlook our sin. The only right consequence for high treason against our Creator is eternal separation from Him in hell (Romans 6:23).
— We can ask the person: “What do you think happens after you die? The Bible says we will all die, and after that we face God’s judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Then we explain the solution:
3. God is not only just; He is love. Because of His love, He chose to rescue us from the consequences of our sin. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to take the punishment we deserve. He took on human flesh, lived sinlessly among us, and then laid down His life to be crucified as payment for our sin. But three days later, God raised Christ from the dead. He conquered death so we could live forever with Him (John 3:16–18). Jesus became sin for us, when He had never sinned Himself, so that we could be declared righteous and forgiven (2 Corinthians 5:21).
And we ask for a response:
4. Every human being must respond to God’s offer of salvation by accepting by faith that Jesus’ death and resurrection were sufficient payment for our own sin. We transfer ownership of our lives to the lordship of Jesus, and in that divine exchange we receive a full pardon from God and the assurance of eternal life in heaven (John 1:12; Romans 10:9–10). The Bible calls for repentance and faith. When we repent, we agree with God about how bad our sin is and purpose to turn from following it to following Christ (Acts 2:38; 3:19). When we have faith, we faithfully trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, and we are unreservedly committed to Him.
If they are willing, we can lead them in a prayer of surrender such as this:
“Father in Heaven, I confess to you that I have sinned against you. Thank you for sending your Son to die in my place. Thank you for raising Him from the dead so I could have eternal life. I give you my life now and ask you to come and live in me and make me your child. I love you and want to live for you from now on. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Once a person has asked Jesus to save and be Lord of his or her life, we should give the new believer some idea of what to expect next. Jesus likened the salvation experience to being “born again.” When we are born again, our record of sins is wiped clean, and God gives us a new heart that wants to please Him (Luke 9:23; John 3:3; Colossians 2:14). The Holy Spirit moves into our spirits and begins to transform us from the inside out (2 Corinthians 5:19). The goal of every Christian is to become a worshiper who patterns his or her life after that of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).
Becoming familiar with the verses listed above gives us more confidence when we share our faith. We are not making up some religious code; we are explaining truths from God’s revealed Word. We don’t have to rely on our own expertise; rather, we can rest on the foundation of God’s written Word and His Holy Spirit, who gives us the words we need when we need them (Luke 12:12).
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