SINS PRESENCE: The need for Good News (e.g. the Gospel) assumes a bad situation: Sin has entered each of our lives: John 8:7 – [Religious leaders] kept at [Jesus], badgering him. He straightened up and said, The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." (In presenting this truth, read the entire passage of John 8:1-11). Romans 3:23b – We’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us. (See Rom. 11:32; Gal. 3:22; 1 Jn. 1:8-10)
SINS POWER: Sin is a power that controls us and shapes our destinies: Romans 6:22 – The charge [is] that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin (Rom. 3:9b) But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
We are helpless by ourselves to overcome its grip on our lives: Romans 7:21 24 – So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (See Psa. 40:12; Isa. 6:5; Rom. 7:15, 17-19)
SINS PENALTY: We are doomed to eternal death: Romans 5:12 – Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. Romans 6:23a – You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we’re infirst sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death. (See Ezek. 18:20; Jms. 1:15; Rev. 20:14)
GODS INTERVENTION: God has mediated on our behalf through Jesus who has come to seek us out so that we may respond to Gods grace: Luke 15:1-10 Jesus account of the shepherd rescuing the one lost sheep. Luke 19:10 – For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (See Ezek. 34:16; Lk. 5:31; Rom. 5:6)
GODS GRACE: Jesus overcame sins power, offering us forgiveness: John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Romans 6:14 – For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Mark 2:5 – When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven." (See Rom. 6:18,22; 8:2-4; Gal. 5:1; 1 Tim. 1:14-16)
After presenting the above truths, ask:
- Do you understand what we have just read?
- Do you have any questions?
- Would you like to be forgiven of your sins and know that you have eternal life? If he answers yes, ask:
- Would you join me in reading Revelation 3:20? Read and explain the verse.
- Are you ready now to turn from your sin, receive Christ as your Savior, and follow him as your Lord? If he says yes, lead him in a simple prayer of repentance, inviting Christ to enter his life.
Read and explain his assurance of salvation from I John 5:11,12.
+ Adapted from Holeman Bible Dictionary, Copyright 1991 Holman Bible Publishers ++All Scripture is taken from The Message