There is a right and wrong way to share the Gospel with people. The wrong way to share the Gospel with people is to motivate them to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior by promising a happier and more prosperous life.

It is certainly true that God wants everyone to experience a happier and more prosperous life, but the problem with this modern reward method is if everything doesn't turn out better right away, people could be easily turned off, totally inoculated against the Gospel, refusing to follow Jesus Christ.

God's way of sharing the Gospel with people is different from the "feel good" reward approach that could produce eternal disaster. Instead, the Law (Ten Commandments) is shared at the beginning of the witnessing presentation. The Law is the backbone of the Gospel presentation because it prepares the heart for grace, the Gospel.

Until sinners humble themselves by admitting their guilt of breaking God's Law, they are not ready for the grace of the Gospel. The Church has been filled with way too many Christians leading spiritually unfruitful lives because they have not been confronted with the Law and the seriousness of breaking the Law. Breaking just one of the laws can send a person, saint or sinner, to hell if they do not repent. And hell is just a holding tank until they are thrown into the lake of fire, experiencing spiritual death because, "The wages of sin (breaking God's Law) is death" (Romans 6:23a).

But what about the happier and more prosperous life God has made available to the Christian? Do you not share this good news with them? Yes, but only after your presentation of the Law.

There are four steps to get people saved and serving God. These four steps are the Approach, the Law, the Gospel and the Cost. Memorize the acronym ALGC (Approach, Law, Gospel, Cost) to help you remember the four steps. Let's get started.

Step 0ne - The Approach

Unless prompted by the Holy Spirit, you shouldn't walk up to someone and immediately start talking about Jesus. It could be like shining a very bright light into their eyes? Very offensive. You need a more tactful approach. Start out in the natural realm (speaking about everyday things) and then switch to the spiritual realm (speaking about spiritual things). That is what Jesus did in John 4:7-26 with the woman at Jacob's well. He approached her with something natural (He asked the woman for a drink of water). Then He directed the conversation to spiritual things ("living water"). Below is an approach example to help you see the process in action.

Approach Scenario - Witnessing to A Man Fishing at a Park Lake

Christian "Hello, fish biting?"

Unsaved "Yes, I've caught a couple of nice rainbow trout."

Christian "What kind of bait are you using?"

Unsaved "Cheeze."

Christian "Ever use fishing lures?"

Unsaved "Once in while I'll use a little spoon lure."

Christian"By the way, are you familiar with this area?"

Unsaved "I live just a mile away."

Christian "Do you know of a good church in the area."

Step Two - The Law

After you have been successful with your approach (natural realm), it is now time to shift to the Law (spiritual realm). The Ten Commandments are God's standard of perfection. No one before Jesus Christ could keep the Ten Commandments because they had a fallen Adamic nature incapable of obeying the Law. That is why they had to have a priesthood that would offer up animal blood sacrifices that would temporarily cover their sin, protecting them from the curse for breaking God's Law.

Why is the Law such a powerful convicting agent? It is because the Law bypasses the intellect and penetrates the conscience, convicting the person of sin. Paul said, "Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet" (Romans 7:7).

To begin your presentation of the Law, ask them, "Would you say you are a good person? Whether they say yes or no, ask them, "Have you kept the Ten Commandments?" Whether they say yes or no, say, "Let's look at a few."

9th Commandment

You might start with the ninth commandment ("You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor") because most people will admit to lying at least once. Ask them, "Ever told a lie?" If they say no, then ask them, "You never told not one lie when you were a child?" Eventually they should admit to lying. Ask, "What does that make you?" They should say, "A liar."

8th Commandment

Next, try the 8th Commandment ("Thou shalt not steal") and ask them, "Ever stolen anything small or large?" Most people will say yes. "What does that make you if you have stolen something?" They should say, "A thief."

7th Commandment

Now use the 7th Commandment ("Thou shalt not commit adultery") and ask them, "Ever commit adultery?" They will probably say no, but tell them, "Jesus said if someone looks at a woman to lust after her, he has committed adultery in his heart. Have you ever looked with lust after someone?" They will usually say yes to this. "What does that make you?" They should say, "An adulterer."

3rd Commandment

You can use the 3rd Commandment ("Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain"). Ask them, "Ever taken the Lord's name in vain? If they say no. Ask them, "You mean you have never used God's name in anger?" When they finally admit to using His name in vain say, "So, instead of using a four letter cuss word, you used His name to express anger. That is called blasphemy."

Use as many of the Ten Commandments as you feel necessary before going to the 3rd step: The Gospel.

Note: Because Jesus Christ is our Sabbath (Hebrews 4:9-11), the forth commandment ("Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.") does not apply to the Christian today. Hence, this commandment is not used to convince a person of breaking one of God's laws. However, because He is our Sabbath, it does not give us the license not to go to church. Hebrews 10:25 makes it clear we are not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is."

Now ask them, "On Judgment Day, if God judges you by the Ten Commandments, will you be found innocent or guilty?" " If they say innocent. " Remind them they just told you they had broken God's laws. "By your own admission, you're a liar, a thief, an adulterer at heart, and a blasphemer. Will you be innocent or guilty?"

If they still say they are innocent, tell them if they say they are innocent when the Bible declares them guilty for breaking God's laws, then they are calling God a liar. It is impossible for God to lie according to Hebrews 6:18. Ask them, "Won't you be honest and admit your guilt?"

If they say, "But I have not done those things for a long time." You say, "If you said that in a court of law, the judge would not ignore your crime. He would make sure justice was served and you were punished no matter how much time had elapsed. Will you be innocent or guilty?"

If they say, "But I have done more good than bad." You would answer, "It doesn't matter. In a court of law you are guilty of breaking the law, no matter how many good deeds you have done. Would you be innocent or guilty on God's Judgment Day?"

They might say, "But those are man's laws and God is different." You would say, "That's right. God's standards are higher than the standards of a human judge. God loves justice and He has promised to punish all evil doers including murderers, rapists, liars, thieves, adulterers and blasphemers. You're in trouble, aren't you?"

What if they admit their guilt but don't seem alarmed or concerned? Your job is to get them alarmed and concerned because they are in great danger. Without being saved they will go to hell and eventually spend eternity in the lake of fire. Tell them when they stand before God on Judgment Day every secret thought both good and bad will be laid bear before God. Without the shed blood of Jesus to blot out their sins, they will be cast into the lake of fire.

Ask them, "Will you go to heaven or hell?" Most will say, "Heaven," but some will say "Hell." If they say, "Heaven," tell them in a court of law if you were standing trial for a crime with a $100,000 fine and you told the judge you were sorry and you would never commit that crime again, do you think the judge would let you go because you said you were sorry and would not commit that crime again. Of course not. There is a $100,000 fine to be paid. And God as judge must also punish you for breaking His laws. Justice must be served.

Tell them the Bible makes it very clear that your sins will send you to hell. Ask them, "Does that concern you?" If they say they are not concerned or show no signs of a desire for God's forgiveness, describe what hell is really like until until they reveal signs of concern. Tell them, "The Bible says hell is a place of torment,' their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched' (Mark 9:44). In hell 'there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth' (Luke 13:28) and in the lake of fire 'everlasting punishment' (Matthew 25:46). You will be eternally separated from God and all that is good."

If at this point they still seem proud and self-righteous, don't feel you must share the Gospel (the 3rd step) with them. Even Jesus did not present the Gospel to the rich young ruler because he needed first the law to humble him. Until a sinner humbles himself before God and admits he is guilty before God, he is not ready to receive the Gospel because, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6). Just pray that God will send the right Christian laborers to them and that the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sin and the need for the Savior.

Step 3 - The Gospel

Assuming they have humbled themselves by admitting they are guilty of breaking God's Law, you can now present them with the "Good News," the Gospel. The Gospel is "the good news concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation." Begin your gospel presentation by asking them, "Do you have any idea what God did for you so you would not have to go to hell? God loved you so much that He provided a way for your sins to be forgiven by sending to the earth His only begotten Son to suffer, die on the cross and be raised from the dead by the glory of God so you could have eternal life. In a nutshell, you sinned by breaking God's Law and deserved the fine of death, but Jesus paid your fine though His own bloody death on the cross."

Tell them, "By repenting, turning from your sin and putting your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior you will be forgiven and be granted everlasting life. You will be born again, born of God. You will not have to go to hell, but you will spend eternity in heaven." Now ask them if they understand what you have told them. If they are willing to confess they have sinned and are willing to turn from their sins and trust Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation, have them pray and receive Jesus Christ into their heart. Here is a prayer you can have them pray. You say the prayer and have them repeat it. Ask them to be sincere, praying with all their heart.

The Prayer

"Heavenly Father, I admit I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried and resurrected on the third day. With your help I turn from all sin and now invite Jesus Christ into my heart. Help me to obey your Word as I follow Jesus Christ, the Lord of my life."

Tell them,"If you were sincere when you prayed that prayer, then you are saved and your name is written in the Book of Life in heaven." God says in Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Step 4 - The Cost

Share with them that if they are to trust Jesus Christ for their salvation, they must take this new life seriously. They must count the cost of being a follower of Jesus Christ. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ they must surrender their will to God and allow Him to become first place in their lives. They must die to their own self-will and take on God's perfect will, living for Jesus and not for themselves as said in the scripture below:

"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:30).

The good news is that now God, not the world, is to be their source for everything they would need or desire: peace, joy, love, wisdom, victory, humility, power, success, faith, health and more. Jesus Christ stood for righteousness. As an ambassador of Jesus Christ to the world, the new Christian's life is to exemplify the righteousness of Christ. That means they are to turn from sin. No more lying, cheating, lusting, hating, cussing, stealing or any other sin. "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). As a Christian, this is what we are all called to do.

But what if they slip and fall and make a sinful mistake? God has the answer:

"If we confess our sins, he faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

What Would God Have Them Do Now?

1. Read, memorize, meditate, assimilate and obey God's Word daily. You have assimilated God's Word (promises of God) when you believe the Word in your heart and not just in your head.

2. Develop your relationship with God by spending a quite time with Him daily. Also set aside a time of thanking, praising and worshipping Him.

3. Be a soul winner and share your love for Jesus Christ with others so they can be saved.
"He that winneth souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30b).

4. Be baptized in water and be baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues according to Acts 2:4.

5. Thank, praise and worship the Lord with other believers in a bible believing church. Also, very important for your spiritual growth is to daily thank, praise and worship the Lord in the privacy of your home.

6. Learn to live by faith not by sight.

7. Above all, love God more than life and walk in love towards others and forgive others as Jesus Christ forgave you.

Want to have overcoming faith to witness? Click on "Overcoming Faith" below.

Author's Bio: 

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Philip C. Jones writes online articles.

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