How to Win Souls

The one task that all Christians are responsible to do for the Lord is to tell others how to go to Heaven — winning souls. If we are saved, God wants us to tell people what the Bible says one should do to go to Heaven. The actual salvation of a soul is the Holy Spirit’s job, but our ministry is to be the delivery boy of the Good News that Jesus loves them, can save them, and will change their lives. Most of us are saved because someone told us how!

Here is some of what the Bible teaches about how to win souls:

One is often saved by the effort of another. Telling others how to have an eternity with Christ is achieved by labor, and this labor is not always easy.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30 “Winneth” implies that an effort must be made so that a person does not “lose” and go to hell.

The Calvinistic belief that a person will get saved only if it is ordained of God is not biblical! Salvation is “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord …” Those that are saved, were saved by the efforts of another; by a preacher, parent, teacher, what was written by someone on a tract, by a tidbit of Scripture they heard on a television program ….

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Dan. 12:3 As a sailboat is turned against the direction the wind wants to take it, so must a person be turned from going in the wrong eternal direction.
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” I Cor. 9:19 “Servant” implies a personal relationship and humbling to another. This “work” will win (gain) them to the truth.
“Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:20 Effort must be made in order for a person to be saved from hell.
“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:30-31 A person has to be guided by another!

What will win others to Christ is the truth from God’s Word!
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
God’s Word from the Bible will win and change souls:

Not our opinion!
Not what we think they should do!
Not what a denomination says to do!
Not believing like we do in matters not related to salvation!
Not correcting their lives! That is the Holy Spirit’s ministry!
It is God’s heaven, and only His way will get anyone there! That way is according to His Word.

One is won by clearly giving God’s way of salvation. Salvation should be the main conversation!

A soul-winner’s main goal is to tell people how to go to Heaven.
Our goal is not to tell them our view on some biblical doctrine. We are not witnessing to them so that they will believe that the rapture happens before the tribulation, that the KJV is the only preserved Word of God, or any other subjects we are interested in.
If a biblical question does come up, ask them if you could answer it after you tell them what the Bible says one must do to get to heaven.
If the witnessing gets off track, bring it back to salvation.

When witnessing, avoid:

Using terms they do not understand. Our main task is telling them how to go to Heaven when they die! Do not use terminology (until you explain what it means) like:
“Are you saved?”
“Are you born-again?”
“Did you ask Jesus to come into your heart?”
“Are you a Christian?” (Many may think they are, but are only trusting in their religion, not a personal relationship.)

“Have you asked Jesus into your heart?”
“Do you know Jesus?” Satan knows Jesus as has talked with Him, but the enemy of God and His people is not going to Heaven.

These are biblical concepts, but most lost people will not understand what you are talking about.

Some religious teach those terms to their people, but they mean something much different than what the Bible teaches. Avoid confusion and misunderstandings.

Talking about “religion”; yours, their’s, or another’s. Always get back to salvation. Stay on track. The “author of confusion” (Satan) often uses sidetracking to get one from delivering the truth.
Arguing. Arguments rarely win anyone.

“A person convinced against his will, is of his own opinion still”

Have a plan!

You will most likely go through the plan of salvation differently with each person, but have a plan of how you will present the Gospel clearly, and quickly. One quite often does not have much time, especially if the person is not interested; so plan how to get God’s way to Heaven out as quickly as possible. Quite often I use what many call the “Roman’s Road” of salvation. I show and discuss these verses in this order: Romans 3:23, Rom. 6:23, Rom. 5:8, Rom. 10:9.
Make sure they know what you are presenting is from the Bible. It is a good idea to put your finger on the verse, and read it (or have them read it), so they know it is from the Word of God and not just your opinion.
It is a good idea to premark the passages you will use in your Bible. If you are nervous, or distracted it will be easier to find the next verse. I often put a little note next to a verse that says, “Go to …” so the next verse is there if I forget.

First, show them they are lost!

One will not be rescued from destruction in Hell, unless they first know they are lost!
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Rom. 3:10
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Rom. 3:23
A drowning man will not want to want to be rescued, unless he knows that he is drowning.
Make sure they know what sin is; and that they are a sinner! If they are unclear about what sin is, I often take them to Romans 1:21-31. There I read the list of sins, and define what they mean. I make it very clear to them that if they are guilty of only one sin, they are a sinner. If one steals only a small screw from work, in God’s eyes he is a thief. If one lies only one time, and we are guilty of much more, we are liars.

They need to know that because of their sin, they cannot go to heaven!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Rom. 5:12
“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15

There are only two destinations: Heaven or Hell!

Now, tell them the good news! There is hope for those that believe and trust in what Jesus did for them. Make it very clear that there is nothing we can do to earn our way to Heaven. Good works and deeds do not get anyone to Heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). The only payment for our sins that God will accept is Jesus’ blood sacrificed on the Cross.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8 Jesus loves us so much that He gave the ultimate sacrifice for our sins — His life!
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” I Pet. 3:18
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” I John 4:9

God loves sinners, so much that He sent His only Son to die for them. Jesus paid their sin debt with his life!

Give them the rest of the good news! There is a way they can know for sure that they will go to heaven if they trust in Christ’s death as payment for their sins!

If they believe that He paid for their sins, all they need to do is ask God to save them.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13
“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.” Rom. 10:9

Make it clear!

Ask them if they understand, and if they want to be saved now! Encourage them not to put off being saved now if they feel the Lord is speaking to their heart. Putting salvation off for another time may be telling God, “No!” when He is speaking to their hearts.

Tell them they can pray now, and trust Christ as their Saviour.
If they are unsure of how to talk to God, suggest, “Can I pray with you, and you can pray after me?” Make sure they know that the prayer is not “magic”; it is their “heart” that God is “hearing”. He knows if one is really trusting in Jesus’ death for salvation, or is just saying words. When I pray along with someone, I include the fact that they admit they are a sinner, know that because of their sin that they cannot go to Heaven, but they believe that Jesus died for their sins, that He rose again, and that they want the Lord to save them!

With children, I simplify the prayer to be something like: “Heavenly Father, I am a sinner. I am so sorry for my sins. Because of my sins I will not go to Heaven, but I believe that your Son, Jesus, loved me so much that He died for my sins on the Cross and rose from the dead. I know through what Jesus did for me all my sins are forgiven. Please save me!”

If you sense they are not ready to be saved, do not have them pray! Leave the door open for another time when they may be ready. Suggest they read some Scripture (or tract) and think about it. Invite them to a good Bible-believing church where they can hear more of the Good News on how to be saved.

If they have prayed and trusted Christ as Saviour:

Make sure they know they have done what the Bible says one must do to get to heaven.
Ask them what they just did. Sometimes I will put the date of their salvation in the first pages of their Bible, so they will always remember there was a time that they accepted Christ as Saviour.
Make sure they know that God heard them.
If there is time, give Scripture about what has happened on their behalf: rejoicing, and their name written down.

“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20

If there is time, go over some Scripture on assurance.
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” John 10:28-29

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37

Do not give up on those that you have given God’s message to. Pray for them. Revisit them if possible. Be patient. In most cases, you did not get saved the first time you heard how to be saved.

If you have led someone to the Lord, revisit and encourage them. Do not leave them on their own to find the right way to grow. Encourage them to read their Bible. Invite them, or direct them to a good church that is near them to hear more of what the Bible teaches. Disciple them (Mat. 28:19-20), if it is possible.

After reading about winning souls, will you be wise? Will you win souls! Many will not hear about the Good News if you do not tell them!
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Prov. 11:30