Who converts people to Christ?
A Christian, in a poorly attended church, attended the weekly prayer meeting and prayed,
“Lord, we need you to act, because we are powerless to change anyone.”
Is this right? There have been many churches that had such ideas and held weekly prayer meetings and even weekly evangelistic meetings but that have closed down because they were getting older and smaller and no-one was becoming a Christian. Oh yes, they prayed that God would convert people but it just didn’t happen.
Whose responsibility is this? Is Christian conversion just the work of God and can we leave it to him?
In many Bible teaching churches, it is often seen that those who have become Christians have been introduced to the faith by a very small handful of people. It seems that many Christians, even some ministers, go through life without ever having the privilege of helping others become Christians. Why is this? Is it a lack of prayer or is something else wrong? Are we training out people so that they know how to talk about the gospel?
When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth he addressed this issue.
“Remember this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6
What we do matters a great deal. A determined mindset does affect what we achieve.
“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” 1 Corinthians 9:19
Is it our responsibility to win people for Christ! Could it be that we have a mindset problem and that we do not see this as a priority? The bible is clear that religious people, such as Jews and Muslims, as well as unbelievers all need the forgiveness that Christ alone can give. As Paul explains,
To those under the law I became like one under the law . . . so as to win those under the law. . . I became like one not having the law . . . so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Paul values winning people for Christ much as an athlete values getting a gold medal or at least getting on the podium and receiving a medal. He works hard for this.
“Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly . . .” 1 Corinthians 9:26
This apostolic example is certainly not one of passivity, he didn’t leave it to God!
“Nobody should seek his own good but the good of others.” 1 Corinthians 10:24
The ‘good of others’ in Paul’s mind is their conversion to Christ, their salvation. He continues,
“For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” 1 Corinthians 10:33
Of course a life-long commitment to serving Christ will only occur if God puts his spirit into individuals but we, God’s people, have a major role in this transformation. Involvement in this responsibility is for all Christians. This has been expanded on in my book ‘The Duty of a Disciple’ but Paul puts it more succinctly,
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
“Therefore I urge you to imitate me.” 1 Corinthians 4:16
Neither Jesus nor his apostles were passive about their life’s work of winning and training people to be workers in God’s kingdom. They did not think, ‘That is God’s work.” His role was to persuade people about their need of Jesus.
Paul understood where responsibilities lay. He wrote,
“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in christ. To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works within me.” Colossians 1:28-29
So in our prayers, both individual and corporate, let us focus on those we have talked to within the past week about the Lord Jesus, given Christian literature to, invited to church or to our Bible study group. Let us pray how we may follow them up effectively and ask that God will step into their lives and give them his Spirit. Let us not be so concerned withtemporal problems, such as Aunt Maud’s bad knee, that we forget their eternal needs, the primary work for whichChrist has chosen us.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . . and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” Mathew 28:19-20
BVP
January 2022
