I. QUALITIES OF AN EFFECTIVE PERSONAL WORKER
A. Genuine love for the Lord and for the lost
(I Corinthians 13:1-13)
B. Paul's formula for soul-winning
(I Thessalonians 2)
1. BOLDNESS vs.2
2. TESTIMONY vs. 3
3. RESPONSIBILITY vs. 4
4. SINCERITY vs. 4
5. HONESTY vs. 5
6. SOUGHT NO GLORY vs. 6
7. GENTLENESS vs. 7
8. LOVE vs. 8
9. LABOR AND TRAVAIL vs. 9
10. A GODLY EXAMPLE vs. 10
11. A WALK WORTHY OF GOD vs. 12
C. Clearness of the message
(I Thessalonians 2:4; II Corinthians 3:12; I Corinthians 14:8.)
II. STEPS IN LEADING A SOUL TO CHRIST
A. Establish the fact that all men are sinners.
(Romans 3:10; 3:23; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; James 2:10)
B. Establish the fact that the penalty of sin is death.
(Romans 6:23; Ezekiel 18:20)
C. Establish the fact that you must be perfect to enter heaven.
(Revelation 21:27; Habakkuk 1:13; Psalm 5:4)
D. Establish the fact that a man can do nothing of himself to obtain this perfection.
(Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16; Romans 4:5)
E. Show how God provided a sin-bearer and imputes to man His righteousness.
(II Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Isaiah 53:6; I Peter 3:18)
F. Establish the fact that man needs only belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior for salvation.
(John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10; John 1:12; Acts 16:31)
G. Establish the fact that man can be certain of his salvation now, and that his salvation cannot be lost because eternal life is eternal.
(John 6:37-39; 10:28; I Peter 1:5; Hebrews 10:10-14; I John 5:13)
III. REMARKS:
Of course, there are no set steps in leading a person to Christ. This is a general plan that has proven very successful in actual practice, the emphasis being shifted from one point to another, depending upon the need of the particular individual.
Repentance is not left out of the above steps, but is included with different wording. One of the counterfeits Satan is using today is the misuse of the word “repent.” To insist upon repentance that in any sense includes a demand for a change of conduct either toward God or man is to add an element of works or human effort to faith.
Penance is payment for sin. Penitence is sorrow for sin. Works and something of self is turning from sin. But repent (metanoeo) means a change of mind. Repentance in salvation means a change of mind from any idea of religion that man might have and accepting God's way of salvation. Man's great need is to understand God's way of salvation and to accept His sacrifice. Nowhere does the Scripture use the phrase “repent of sin” to be saved. Scripture says in Acts 20:21; “repentance toward God.” (change of mind), and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.