Is the reason a person hasn’t become a Christian, that they don’t know enough? Usually not.
As Christians, we know the blessings of being one of God’s Children. We enjoy a daily relationship with the Creator of the Universe, who invites us to call him Abba, or “Daddy”. We have victory over the sinfulness still left in our life through the power of the Holy Spirit, and he comforts us when we go through tribulations.
It’s only normal that we would want to share these and the many other wonderful joys we now have with other around us – especially those we care for, like family and friends.
So why does a person become a Christian? – or, why does a person not become a Christian?
When sharing the gospel, we can remember;- The key issue is Wanting, not Knowing
- The change is Spiritual, not just Intellectual
- A person becomes a Christian when they have a spiritual change and don’t want their sin anymore
- So we aim at the Heart, not at the Head
Wanting, not Knowing
The Bible makes it plain that a person needs to hear the gospel, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved from sin and Hell. Paul asks, how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? He concludes that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:14,17).
But knowledge isn’t enough.
When we share the gospel with people, we can often begin with the idea of ‘Do you believe in God?’ And to help people to give a ‘Yes’ answer, we may provide them with facts about the existence of Jesus and why the Bible is true, especially in connection with history and science.
The best case scenario of these discussions is that we will provide a large enough quantity of true information, so our friend will agree about God. We aim for them to say; “God exists”, or “Jesus rose from the dead”, or “the Bible is true”. But, if we get them to this point, is that how they will become a Christian?
There are a large number of people who believe in the existence of God or even believe that the Bible is true. But many are not Christians.
I remember talking to a friend and long-time colleague. I said to him, ‘If Jesus Christ were to literally stand in front of you right here, having be resurrected from the dead, you wouldn’t believe him, would you?’ ‘Probably not,’ he replied. I had given him lots of information, but it hadn’t changed him.
An increase in knowledge is not what makes a person a Christian. Neither is it agreement with new knowledge and learned facts which changes a person into a Christian.
The key issue isn’t about knowing; it’s about wanting. The reason people don’t become a Christian is because they don’t want to.
All men and women intrinsically know that God exists (see Rom 1:20), but they choose to reject and supress that knowledge. They choose their sin. They want to enjoy the pleasures of sin, even if it means going to hell. Many people will even be so bold as to say so out aloud. This is called pride – basically, doing life ‘my way’.
On the other hand, a person becomes a Christian when they want something else, when they no longer want their sin and they start wanting Jesus Christ and forgiveness.
So when were are sharing the Lord Jesus with people, we are dealing with their desires and choices. Some information must be given and agreed with, but the core of the issue is what a person wants.
When witnessing, we are dealing with people’s desires.
Spirit, not Intellect
This leads into a related idea.
We know that an increase in knowledge is not why a person becomes a Christian. Agreeing with facts won’t change our lives.
This is because the knowledge part of getting saved is different – its knowledge about God, spiritual knowledge. The change that happens when a person becomes a Christian happens on the spiritual level, not the intellectual level.
The Lord Jesus says that saving faith is like what little children have (Matt 18:3). Believing in Christ is not a complicated matter, and doesn’t require a university degree. The mental component is very basic and forms a small part of the big picture.
The spiritual component is the large part. In fact, it’s the deal-breaker.
Paul recognised that the gospel is spiritual truth, not just intellectual. He knew that unsaved people don’t accept the things of God by themselves, and they can’t even know them (1 Cor 2:14).
So when he went to share Christ in the City of Corinth, he didn’t preach to them using fancy words or try to persuade their minds. He only spoke about Jesus Christ and his crucifixion. He relied on God’s power by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor 2:1-4).
The work of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to anyone becoming a Christian.
The Lord Jesus explained to Nicodemus that unless this religious leader was reborn by the Spirit of God, he would never enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
So why does a person become a Christian? Because the Holy Spirit has been at work in their lives, explaining spiritual truth to them and placing a responsibility on their will to choose Christ.
When we are witnessing, we need to speak spiritual truth (the Bible) and rely on the work of the Holy Spirit to explain it to people.
Heart, not Head
So where do we aim, when we’re witnessing?
The two essential aspects we’ve seen in someone becoming a Christian are; (1) a change in what they want, following (2) an understanding of spiritual knowledge.
We know from our own personal experience, that we can’t twist another person’s arm and make them believe or want something which they don’t. The only way a spiritual change happens is by prayer – God has to do the work.
So what’s our part?
We don’t provide facts, even true facts, for the purpose of getting a person agree with them or say they believe in God. Likewise, there’s no point trying to reason a person into becoming a Christian with logic or ‘prove God’ to them.
If we do this, we are speaking only to their mind and intellect. Any ground made will only win them over to our knowledge or reasoning skills – not to Jesus Christ. And they may well change their mind back again. This isn’t why (or how) a person becomes a Christian.
A Christian has embraced the Lord Jesus in place of themselves and in place of their sin. This transaction is a change of mind—yes, but it is also a change of want.
And this change is based on an understanding of spiritual truth. We share God’s words and pray for the Holy Spirit to explain their spiritual meaning and impact.
The Holy Spirit will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8) He will speak to them and explain the words of the Bible and lead them to be able to trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation.
A person becomes a Christian by a change in their heart. The change must happen in their heart – the place where spiritual choices are made – much than in their head.
When we are witnessing, we aim at the Heart, not the Head.
Living it out
So what does that look like in practice?
We have two very practical items ready to pick up and use.
Firstly, when we witness for the Lord Jesus, we use Scripture. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12)
The word of God is alive and powerful and cuts all the way down into the heart where thinking and choosing happens.
We need to use quotes from the Bible when witnessing to people. Ideally, we have a some gospel verses memorised. In the alternative, having a few on your phone ready to read is valuable.
These are the living words which address a person on the spiritual level and on the want level.
Secondly, when we witness, we are addressing them on the spiritual level. We pray for the Holy Spirit to convict people.
A person becomes a Christian because someone shared spiritual truth with them, the Holy Spirit explained it and they made a choice to embrace it.
When sharing the gospel, we can remember;
- The key issue is Wanting, not Knowing
- The change is Spiritual, not just Intellectual
- A person becomes a Christian when they have a spiritual change and don’t want their sin anymore
- So we aim at the Heart, not at the Head
