What does it mean to win a soul?

            There is a lot of talk in Pentecost today about soul winning.  I agree that it is a necessity.  I also believe that very few of us are truly doing all we can to win the lost.

            However, there are some misconceptions as to when a soul is actually won.  Just because someone says they want to go to heaven and are baptized doesn't not mean they are won.  That is not what the Great Commission is all about.

            Let's examine the Great Commission.  Matthew 28:19-20 says "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost:  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world."

            Lets look at four key words in these verses:  1. Go!  That doesn't mean to set in a building and wait.  The harvest is ready, but the workers are few, so just go!  2. Teach!  Teach them the Acts 2:38 doctrine!  3. Baptize!  Now that you have taught them, they should see their need to be baptized for remission of sins.  4. Teach!  Once you obeyed the second key word to teach again.  Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

            Getting people to say they want to go to heaven, then rushing them to be baptized, even getting them to talk in tongues, is not the goal of a real soul winner.  Rather our goal should be to make them disciples.  When they become disciples you know you have won them. 

            I don't know about you, but I want to be a true soul winner.  Someone took the time to reach and teach me and I want to do the same for others.  How about you?

What Is Sin?

Proverbs 14:34 states, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." 1John 2:15 states, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." What is the world? Many born again christians are not told what John was talking about. 2John 1:9 also states, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." 1John 2:16 then states, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 
Lust of the flesh - that's an easy one we hear about a lot, but every day born again christians are guilty. 
Lust of the eye - another easy one to define, but every day it's going on among us. 
Pride of life - again, every day born again christians are guilty.

In Romans 7:13, Paul wrote, "Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful."

Folks, we have pastors to teach us, we cannot be offended when he tells us what we're doing is sin. This could be a heaven or hell decision. I Peter 4;17 says, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?