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JUST ONE SOUL…

Soul-Winning, A Work Based on Trust

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Our theme for this year is:  “Just One Soul.”

 

B.      The purpose of this theme is to encourage each of us to seek and to save at least one lost soul in 2018.

 

C.     This means that we must leave the comfort of our homes and the safety of our church building.

1.      These moves take great courage on our parts.

2.      This courage is based upon certain trusts that we have as soul-winners.

 

D.    The title of our lesson is:  “Soul-Winning, A Work Based upon Trust.”  Let’s look at some of the things you and I trust as we take the gospel to a lost and dying world.

 

I.                   WE TRUST THE CERTAINTY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

 

A.    The New Testament is our sole standard of faith and practice today.

1.      Hebrews 8:6

 

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

 

2.      Hebrews 9:15

 

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament…

 

B.      When we go into the world, it is the message of the New Testament of Jesus Christ that we speak to the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15).

 

C.     Before we proclaim its words, we must trust in the certainty of this covenant.  We must be sure it is true from first to last.

1.      Any doubts will keep us from proclaiming the message in its fullness.

2.      Any doubts will be easily detected by those to whom we speak the message.

 

D.    Two verses:

1.      Paul (Acts 26:25)

 

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth words of truth and soberness.

 

2.      Paul to Titus (Tit. 2:7-8a)

 

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works:  in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned…

 

II.                WE MUST TRUST IN THE CORE OF THE GOSPEL

 

A.    When we say the core of the gospel, we have reference to its central facts.

 

B.      Paul sets forth these facts for us in I Corinthians 15:1-4.

 

Moreover brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

 

1.      The death, burial, and resurrection are the foundational facts of the gospel.

2.      Christianity either stands or falls on these facts.

a.      In His death, Jesus shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins.

b.      Being placed in the tomb confirmed that He died.

c.       When He arose on the third day, He proved He is the Son of God and became victorious over Satan and the grave.

 

C.     If we trust these facts, we will tell them to others.  Paul did (I Cor. 2:1-2).

 

And I brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

 

III.             WE MUST TRUST IN THE CLEASING BLOOD OF CHRIST

 

A.    Many, many passages in the New Testament speak of the importance of Jesus’ blood.

1.      Matthew 26:28

 

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

 

2.      Romans 5:9

 

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 

3.      Ephesians 1:7

 

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

 

4.      Hebrews 9:12

 

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

 

5.      I Peter 1:18-19

 

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and spot.

 

6.      Revelation 1:5b

 

…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

 

7.      Revelation 7:14

 

…These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

 

B.      Important points:

1.      The penalty for sin is death (Ezek. 18:20).

a.      Life is in the blood (Lev. 17:11).

b.      When blood is shed, life is taken, and death is inevitable.

2.      The blood cannot be tainted with sin.

3.      The blood has to be the blood of a human.

4.      Only Jesus could provide the blood needed for the forgiveness of man, and HE DID!

 

IV.             WE MUST TRUST THE COMMAND TO BE BAPTIZED

 

A.    Jesus shed His blood in His death.  It is at the point of baptism in the conversion process that we contact Jesus’ death (Rom. 6:3-4).

 

Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

 

1.      If you are not baptized, you do not contact the death of Christ.

2.      If you do not contact the death of Christ, you do not contact the blood of Christ.

3.      If you do not contact the blood of Christ, you cannot be forgiven of sins.

4.      If you are not forgiven of your sins, you are still lost.

 

B.      Baptism is an absolute necessity in the salvation process (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

 

C.     When Peter was at the household of Cornelius, he commanded him and his household to be baptized (Acts 10:47-38).

 

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord…

 

D.    My friends, we can do not less than this today.

1.      Even though may reject baptism in the plan of salvation, we cannot.

2.      We trust this command from God.

 

V.                WE MUST TRUST THE CHURCH FOR WHICH JESUS DIED

 

A.    The church is NOT a non-essential, temporary expedient in the plan of God.

 

B.      God designed the church as the place wherein His people would be separated from the world.

1.      It contains the redeemed.

2.      The church, therefore, is that group of people for which Jesus shed His blood (Acts 20:28).

 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

3.      The moment a person obeys the gospel, the Lord adds that individual to the church (Acts 2:47; I Cor. 12:18).

 

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it pleased him.

 

C.     One day, Jesus will return.  He will be looking for His church (Eph. 5:27).

 

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

VI.             WE MUST TRUST IN THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

 

A.    We just noted that when Jesus comes, He will be seeking His bride, the church.

 

B.      This should be the day for which every Christian yearns.

1.      Our salvation will be secure.

2.      We will be with our Lord.

3.      The toils and struggles of this life will all be ended.

4.      The heavenly reward will be ours to enjoy.

 

C.     When Jesus ascended back on high, the angels promised His ultimate return (Acts 1:10-11).

 

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing into heaven?  This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 

D.    This is the day when all of our efforts as soul-winners will pay off.  Many will be saved that day due to our efforts!

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Yes, the soul-winner enters the mission field with much courage.

 

B.      This courage is based upon some things in which he deeply trusts.

1.      The certainty of the New Testament

2.      The core facts of the gospel of Christ

3.      The cleansing blood of Jesus Christ

4.      The command for all men to be baptized

5.      The church for which Jesus died

6.      The coming of Jesus Christ