In responding to a question regarding the proper method to share the Gospel to someone who believes to be converted but shows no evidence of God’s transforming work David gave the following things to think about which I thought were worthy of a post. (Bear in mind this stems from the previous post from Matthew’s Henry’s commentary.)

David said;

1. The first couple of sentences spoke of the differentness of Christ’s Gospel. When you reach out to someone that already believes they are saved you have to make sure of your own belief. Is your message clearly different from that of what she already believes? What does she need to move from and what will she be moving to? If not, what will be your reason for bringing this up to her? If she does not evidence the working of Grace in her life, you have to be able to pinpoint that to her.
2. Christ preached a great deal in parables. He used common things that people could relate to in order to teach them at their level. Keep in mind that whatever is done in her will only be done by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. However, we must be instant in season and out and able to rightly divide the Word of Truth ourselves. It may be helpful, once you have thought through item 1 to actually study the Parable of the Soils. It is all about the False Convert in contrast to the True Child of God. Using that parable may be the tool to open her eyes to her current condition.
3. We must bear with the infirmities of the weak. We must earnestly seek the good of our deceived brothers. If you have not spent time in prayer for her, check your own heart to make sure your motives are pure. You will not accomplish anything by a good argument. However, the Holy Spirit through power, truth and your love and honest rebuke and exhortation may pluck a child from the fire.
4. Knowledge! Light! All things we must be emersed in and be able to share in a biblical way.
5. Your goal should not be to convince her! You must awake her to action! You must tell her the truth about herself in love and in tears. Be ever mindful that you are not trying to win an argument. You must jar her awake and be there for her whenever she may need it. The Holy Spirit does the heart work. I find that after I have shoved someone out of bed, they often return to me with questions, rather than go to the people that comfort them where they are at.
6. This is all extremely important. Proceed with caution and great fear. Look at the threats! If she were to die in her sins, she will spend an eternity in the agony and torture of hell and after an eternity she will realize that it is but a point and an eternity without rest or respite lies ahead of her. Proceed in Holy Fear.

I was especially convicted by Number 3.

Do we love those in our lives enough to share the truth with them, even though this truth might drive them away.

Tags: argument, false assurance, gospel, hell, love, Salvation, truth