“Let’s Win Souls”

Grady Simpson

I have never saved anyone, but I have been the instrument that God use to lead people to our Lord Jesus Christ. This article is one way to lead people to the Lord, but it is not the only way.

These words are not mine, but the words of a man by the name of Dr. Curtis Hudson. I hope you enjoy this article.

Explaining the Plan of Salvation With Helpful Illustrations

(Part Four)

After showing the person that he is a sinner, that he owes the sin debt, and that Jesus Christ died to pay his debt, I then ex­plain what it means to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

I ask Mr. __________, you do understand that you are a sinner?

“Yes, I understand that.’

“And you understand that as a sinner you owe the penalty of sin, which is the second death, the lake of fire?”

“That’s right, that’s what the Bible says.”

“And, Mr._______, you understand that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay your sin debt?”

“Yes, Sir. I understand it.”

Then I continue, “Sir, the Bible says in Acts 16:31, ‘. . . believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . . .’ John 3:16 says, ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ John 3:36 says, ‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. . . .’ Now Mr. ______, the main problem is understanding the word ‘believe.’ ‘Believe’ means to trust; to depend on; to rely on the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Let me see if I can illustrate that for you. Suppose I was going to fly to Miami, Florida, and you took me to the airport. When we arrived, you asked me, ‘Dr. Hutson, do you believe that is a jet plane?’ Yes, I replied. ‘Do you believe that it will fly?’ Why sure, I believe it. ‘Do you believe the pilot knows what he is do­ing?’ Yes, I do. ‘Do you believe that plane is going to Miami, Florida?’ Yes, I believe it.

“Believing all the facts about the plane will not get me to Miami. I must not only believe that it is a plane, that it will fly, and that it is going to Miami, but I must completely trust myself to that plane and put my physical life in the hands of the pilot. I am completely trusting him to get me to Miami.

“Now, Sir, that is what it means to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You must not only believe that you are a sinner, that you owe a sin debt, and that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the debt which you owe as a sinner, but there must come a time when you will completely trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour. You must put your eternal life in His hands and trust Him to get you to Heaven when you die. Does that make sense to you?”

Usually the man replies, “Yes.”

At this point, I review the plan of salvation briefly. If he un­derstands it, I ask that we bow our heads for prayer. Then I begin to pray, and usually briefly. I simply ask the Lord to speak to Mr._______ ‘s heart and put a desire there to trust Christ as his Saviour. Then I stop in the middle of the prayer with my head still bowed and ask, “Mr._______, wouldn’t you really like to trust Christ as your Saviour?” When he says he would, I say, “If you mean that, put your hand in mine and let’s have prayer together.” When he reaches over and puts his hand into mine, I lead him in a simple sinner’s prayer, something like this: “Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner, I do believe that You died for me, and today, the best I know how, I do trust You as my Saviour.”

Then I say, “Mr._______, I want to close the prayer.” And I close the prayer thanking God for the man’s salvation, and praying that he will be a good Christian—that he will join a church and be baptized, read his Bible and pray, etc.

Then I say, “Mr.______, let me show you a verse from the Bible.⁴‘ Turning to John 3:36,1 read, ” ‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. . . .’ ” And I ask, “Mr._______, what does the Bible say you have if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?”

He smiles and says, “Everlasting life.”

I ask, “Then according to what Jesus says here, that means you would go to Heaven, doesn’t it?”

“Well, that’s what the Bible says.”                                                 ;

“Is the Bible true?”

“Oh, yes, the Bible is true.”

“Then if the Bible is true, do you have everlasting life?”

“Yes, I do.”

Sometimes when I have difficulty leading someone to the as­surance of salvation, I use other illustrations and more verses. But I never leave the man until he knows that he is going to Heaven when he dies. A lack of assurance is one reason some peo­ple never come forward in the church to make a public confession or be baptized.