Outcome from Studying God's Word about reaching the lost

Tonight a small group of us looked at the Word of God to learn how to reach the lost. The Sriptures states that those who claim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and have been adopted into the Kingdom are commanded to reach out to the lost. John 14:21, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, Acts 10:42 to name a few.

It seemes like claiming to use the Law was not popular and a few had negative feelings about it. One comment came up to justify why NOT to use the Law was we must use the whole Bible as a way of sharing and not just those verses were the Law is mentioned. (How many Christian you know even know the whole Bible, seems like that would be another excuse and limit the number of Christians who could share.) So when I quoted those verses that Jesus, Paul, Peter, & James used, they didn't want to hear them?

I'm looking for some help on this subject because as one who is a follower of Jesus Christ I don't want to be mislead by emotial sentiment, that God is only LOVE and would never send anyone to HELL. Those of us who have not been happy because of bad decessions, like to much drinking, drugs, failed relationships, or sex, can escape the Wrath of God because God is LOVE. Their solution is just say this prayer and you will be in Heaven. Is this true?!

I welcome any comments you may have, as I think this is a very important subject.

Eveyone's eteranl life is at stake!

Pro. 27:17 states that Iron sharpens iron. My understanding of that is when that happens you get sparks...without it the iron can't be sharpened. So sometimes our discussions can promote sparks. But because we have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us, our spirits are not embittered. We know we are to love our neighbor as ourselves and as brothers and sisters in Christ there is no greater love.

Discussing the Scriptures should be a healthy experience. Sometimes what we believed about it may be a challenge and maybe we should examine why someone else sees it differently, we may be missing something. Would you agree that too many times we accept the meaning from what others tell us, without taking the time to discern for ourselves what the Lord is trying to tell us. Have you ever wondered why you don't hear much about the wrath of God, and that He demands justice for those of us who have violated His Law.

2Pet. 2: 1-3, states: But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (You may want to read the rest of this chapter as well.)

Remember when Moses came down form the mountain to find his people worshipping an idol? Read Ex 32:26-28. Moses by the Word of God had 3000 people killed that day. Also look at Ex. 32:31-35, You have Sodom & Gomorrah as well and then the man and his wife in Acts who lied about what they sold the property for died instantly, to name a few. (Doesn't sound like a loving God, does it ?)

Someone gave me a business card tract several years ago that showed a Blue Heart with a hole in it and only Jesus could fill that hole. It starts out with asking what's missing in your life, the well achieved goal, a degree, financial success, relationships that are exciting in the beginning but eventually fall short leaving a void. It's not like that when you invite Christ into you life.

Can't you see the misleading information in that message? So Jesus died so you would have success in this life? That's not what Jesus stated, that we should accept Him so we could be successful.

Read what He said in Mat 19:23-26, Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

So, if the above message with the Blue Heart tract is correct, then what do you say to the highly paid very successful man or women. They have it all, the goal achieved, the degree, and financial freedom, they probably have a maid and someone to clean their pool. Tell them God has a wonderful plan for their life and watch as they laugh at you for making such a statement. I pray that you can see how that message doesn't apply to all mankind! Paul made it very clear in Romans 3:23, ALL have sinned. So who is all? NOT the successful person because they have been blessed with everything that the rest of us who don't have. The above message states they can have it only if they have Jesus! If that's true then how can those who have succeeded have done it without Jesus?

This passage in Matthew seems very clear, that seeking things of this world would only condemn us to Hell. The above message with the Blue Heart trying to help a sinner be saved is flawed... directly from Satan, but it sounds great to those who are struggling and whoever presents this message will be liked by the one who gave it. I thought the goal was to help them look to Christ as Lord for salvation, and not to us who can help them get saved? If we claim we saved them then when they die we need to stand before a Holy God and present them as blameless. (To me it looks like God does the saving. I asked the question does the child choose the parent or does the parent choose the child? Does not Paul say that we are adopted into the Kingdom?)

Read another verse: (Mat 7:13-17) "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

So I ask you what makes the gate wide that leads to destruction? Could it be our culture wants to accept anything and everything So I ask you what makes the gate wide that leads to destruction? Could it be our culture wants to accept anything and everything we do as being okay in God's eyes. So to get more people into Church we tell them that God is a loving God and understands your problems and about all the issues mentioned in the above tract, so tell the person they need Jesus in their life and everything will be fine. (Is that the TRUTH?)

If you read (2Ti 4:3-4) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. You also have (1Tim 1:7-9), which tells us why we need to use the Law and names who they apply too.

I pray that you can see that we need to be warning people about the sin in their life, that's what will keep them from having eternal life, NOT making a statement that they believe in Jesus so to have a better life.

This morning I was reading (Mat.11: 20-24) and there it was again!

Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hell. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."

Isn't Repentance what Christ asked for? If we are to be faithful disciples then shouldn't we be telling others the same things? He didn't come to die so we would have a better life, He came to die for the sinners of this world. Are we more concerned about being liked, fearful that they may turn away from us rather then wanting to bring the truth and to warn them and then allow the Lord to convict them now, while they still have a chance? Have you every read (Eze. 3:18-20), about the blood will be on our hands if we don't warn them of the impending danger?

I pray that you read this and please feel free to comment on any of what I have stated, as I mentioned earlier that I do not want to believe in a lie. Jesus stated that the truth shall set you free, so I assume that a lie will keep you in bondage....Satan's domain!