Lesson 4: Good Points to Make

(Christian) “Okay, if you are right and I am wrong I just go into the ground and thats it, no more. But if I am right and you’re wrong then there is a lot at stake!”

The non-Christian is hopefully prompted to think more upon the situation after being shown the seriousness of the situation. If he/she does not respond to the gospel leave him or her with a tract and contact information to get a hold of you or the church in the case the spiritual seed you planted in him or her grows.

Credit: Dr. Eric Turner, Hannibal-LaGrange University Professor, 2016 (Some changes and altering of the argument, mine)

A Good Judge (You are not a good person)

The Point

The point of this one is to show that the person is indeed a sinner and needs to be saved.

Argument

(Non-Christian) Argues that he is a good person. He might even say he has never sinned, or that the good that he has done in his life make up for the wrong that he had done.

(Christian) “How many lies do you think you have told in your life?”

(Non-Christian) “100, 1000, 10,000, etc”

(Christian) “What do you call a person who lies?”

(Non-Christian) “A lier...”

(Christian) Right! “Now have you ever stole something?”

(Non-Christian) “I suppose so...”

(Christian) “And what does that make someone?”

(Non-Christian) “A thief.”

(Non-Christian)

(Christian)

(Christian) Right. “Now Christ gives that whoever looks upon a women in lust has committed adultery in his heart ().”

English Standard Version Chapter 5

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

(Non-Christian)

(Christian) “Have you ever looked upon a man or woman lustfully?”

(Non-Christian) “Yup”

(Christian) Have you ever looked upon a man or woman lustfully?

English Standard Version Chapter 5

(Christian) “Now have you ever taken God’s name in vain?” ()

(Non-Christian) “Yes.”

(Christian) “Do you know what that’s called?”

(Non-Christian) “Uhh blasphemy?”

(Christian) “That’s right! That is taking the name of the one who gave us life and everything precious to us and using his name, which scripture gives is the Name above all other names, as a substitute as a four letter filth word to express disgust.”

(Non-Christian)

English Standard Version Chapter 5

(Christian)

(Christian) “Now Christ gives that whoever looks upon a women in lust has committed adultery in his heart ().”

English Standard Version Chapter 5

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.)

(Christian) “Christ is directly making it a matter about the heart. Have you ever looked upon a man or woman lustfully?”

(Non-Christian) “Yup.”

(Christian) “So by your own omission you’re a lying thief and a blasphemous adulterer at heart and that’s only four of the ten commandments.”

(Non-Christian)

(Non-Christian) “Yikes”

(Christian) “This is how God sees all mankind. Wouldn’t you agree that we have all done the same things at one point?”

(Non-Christian)

(Non-Christian) “Yeah… Probably.”

(Christian) “So if God would judge you by the ten commandments do you think you would be innocent or guilty?”

(Non-Christian) Sigh, “Guilty.”

(Christian) Good you’re being honest. We all are guilty!

(Non-Christian)

(Christian) If God gave you justice from His holy place of righteousness according to your sins would you spend eternity in hell or heaven?

(Non-Christian) “Hell…”

(Christian) Explain that by God’s standard, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” () and that “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ ()!” Go into explaining the rest of the gospel.

Alternative reply

(Non-Christian) “Heaven!”

(Christian) “Heaven? why?”

(Non-Christian) “Because now that I am an adult I have learned that these things are not alright. I don’t steal, I try not to look at other people with lust, and I’m a pretty honest person compared to what I have been, etc...”

(Christian) “So you’re saying you learned from your mistakes?”

(Non-Christian) “Yeah I do my best.”

(Christian) “So if a man, who has raped and murdered a girl 5 years ago, standing before a judge tells him, ‘Judge I don’t do that anymore, in fact its been five years! I have since been helping out at a shelter making no money only giving my time to those in need. Doesn’t that make up for what I have done?’”

(Non-Christian)

(Christian) “Should the judge let him go?”

(Non-Christian) (Sigh) “No...”

(Christian) “So you see the dilemma?”

(Non-Christian) “Yeah...”

(Christian) “I care about you and that’s why I’m sorta putting you on the hot seat right now because I want you to appreciate the cross more than what you ever have in your whole life. Fair enough?”

(Non-Christian) “Fair enough.”

(Christian) “If God gives you justice the Word of God says, all liers will have their place in the lake of fire () and every time we sin we store rath up for ourselves ().”

(Non-Christian)

(Christian) “So as a self admitted sinner, you wouldn’t go to heaven but hell. Does that concern you a little?”

(Non-Christian) “Absolutely!”

(Christian) “It does me too! But that’s why God sent his Son Jesus Christ, God became a man, lived a sinless life, suffered and died on the cross as an expression of His love for sinners like you and me. It goes like this, you broke God law and Jesus payed your fine in His own life’s blood so that you could go free when your court case is up if you accept Him as your Lord and Savior and that means turning from your sin, believing in Christ and every thing He had done, trust in Him, and choose to make Him your Lord.”

Allow the Lord to stir their conscious.

(Christian) “So now what happens to the person who dies without Christ?”

(Non-Christian) “...”

(Christian) “If God gives them justice?”

(Non-Christian) “...”

(Christian) “According to the Bible?”

(Non-Christian) “Their not gonna go to heaven...”

(Christian) “Where are they gonna go?”

(Non-Christian) “Hell...”

(Christian)

(Christian) “It’s an uncomfortable Word to utter isn’t it?”

(Non-Christian) “Yeah, definitely!”

(Christian) “Yeah its scary. But until we perceive that this is where we are going to go, if a just Judge of the universe hates sin as much as He does, then we will never be able to appreciate Christ’s death on the cross and all that has been given us at the extent of which we should. Does that make sense?”

(Non-Christian) “That makes perfect sense.”

(Christian) “So that’s my thrust in wanting to talk with you and other people because I don’t want them to go to hell. I want people to know that God demonstrated such an amazing act of love and that people need to know God and know Him personally! Makes sense?”

(Non-Christian) “Makes perfect sense!”

(Christian) Ask the non-christian if they would like to respond to the gospel.

Some additional scripture references. (Christ pays our debt), (He loved us), (Mercy triumphs over judgement), (God is not willing that any should perish).

Credit: Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort (Some changes and altering of the argument, mine)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqNDdCzOGTI

Why Does a Good God Send People to Hell

The Point

Showing that God is good and is also fully justified in sending someone to hell. Once you explain this it might un-harden their heart towards God.

The Argument

(Non-Christian) “If God is a good God how could he send his prized creation to hell for their sin. It seems to harsh for even the worst of criminals! It’s so unmercifully, unloving, and cruel!”

(Christian) “Here let me explain! Christianity believes God is infinite and eternal.”

(All Understanding: , ; Omniscient: ; ; ; Omnipotent: ; ; ; Omnipresent: ; ; ; )

(Non-Christian) “”

(Christian) “Now suppose you go up to your friend and slap him in the face for no reason and he slaps you back you, do you think you deserved that?”

(Non-Christian) “Haha yeah I do!”

(Christian) “Now what do think if you go up to a complete stranger and slap him in the face for no reason. Depending on the size of the stranger it is quite possible you’re going to be beaten up, for all he knows he’s defending himself from a knife in the back next! Do you think you deserve that?”

Omniscient: ; ; ;

(Non-Christian) “Hmm, probably.”

; ;

(Christian) “Now what if you do this to a cop?”

Omnipotent: ; ; ;

(Non-Christian) “You get beaten up and arrested.”

; ;

(Christian) “You think you deserve that?”

Omnipresent: ; ; ;

; ; ;

(Non-Christian) “Yeah I would.”

(Christian) “Exactly, what about a king?”

(Non-Christian) “I’d get killed!”

(Christian) “Now what do you think the consequences are when we sin against an infinite eternal God?”

(Non-Christian) “I guess an infinite and eternal punishment...”

(Christian) “That right and its all because we don’t play by God’s rules and we sin against him daily! God is infinite and perfect in his justice, and if you think that’s still too cruel, know also He is infinite and perfect in His love as well as perfect in His mercy, because God sent His Son, becoming God in the flesh to die in our place so that we could be saved. Makes a little more sense?”

(Non-Christian) “Yeah a little bit.”

(Christian) “You see it makes perfect sense for infinite eternal God is the only one that can pay, once for all, an infinite eternal offense in our stead! God is a God of love, hope, peace, and mercy simply because He made a way out for all those who accept His Son as their personal Lord and Savior. Hopefully that puts things in perspective.”

(Non-Christian) “Yeah I think it does.”

Credit: David Platt, Secret Church 2016 (Some changes and altering of the argument, mine)

Why Does a Good God Allow Evil and Suffering?

The Point

To help the sinner reconciled that God is good in a world that is so broken and evil.

Argument

(Non-Christian) “I can’t understand how God could exists or even that He is a good one if He is real!”

(Christian) “How come?”

(Non-Christian) “Well look at the world why does He allow all the evil and pain to go on in it?”

(Christian) “I cannot pretend to have all the answers for this but I might be able to shed some light on this subject for you.”

(Non-Christian) “Go on.”

(Christian) “You see in order to explain evil we must define it! Augustine defined ‘evil not as a thing in and of itself, but as a parasite on good. Something that is lacking and is not a thing in itself.’ For instance evil could simply not be following through with the commands God gives humanity. Adam and Eve failed to obey, instead of obeying God’s commands to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they simply did not obey. Another way to define evil or sin is something that distorts the image of God! God created us to worship Him only but what have we done, we stopped functioning as we ought! This can go much deeper but I think that’s an alright summary of evil’s definition if anything.”

evil not as a thing in and of itself, but as a parasite on good. Something that is lacking is not a thing in itself.”

(Non-Christian) “But if evil and suffering exist, God must not exist!”

"See," they say, "since evil and suffering exist, God must not exist."!”

(Christian) “So if God doesn’t exist, on what basis is something deemed evil?”

"See," they say, "since evil and suffering exist, God must not exist."”

(Non-Christian) “Well our own.”

(Christian) “A lot would claim there has to be higher standard, other then men, to set a moral code for all humanity if evil and righteousness have any real substance. Who else would set this moral code other than God. Lets get back on track to your original question.”

(Non-Christian) “”

As we noted earlier, there's a difference between moral and natural evil. Moral evil is explained by the fact that human beings commit evil against one another. People lie, cheat, steal, hurt, and more. This does not argue against Christianity, but instead proves the point that there is something very wrong with human nature as it now is.

But what about natural evil? Couldn't there be less suffering? Why doesn't God stop things like earthquakes and tsunamis? Again, this ties into the broad Christian explanation of the human predicament. Paradise has been lost due to human moral shortcomings. As a result, we live in a fallen world, east of Eden. As a result, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" (, NIV).

The good news is that although this is not the best world, it is the best way to the best possible world. Some day God will ultimately and finally overcome evil entirely.”

(Christian) “As we noted earlier, there's a difference between moral and natural evil. Moral evil is explained by the fact that human beings commit evil against one another. People lie, cheat, steal, hurt, and more. This does not argue against Christianity, but instead proves the point that there is something very wrong with human nature as it now is.”

(Non-Christian) “But what about natural evil? Couldn't there be less suffering? Why doesn't God stop things like earthquakes and tsunamis?”

(Christian) “Again, this ties into the broad Christian explanation of the human predicament. Paradise has been lost due to human moral shortcomings. As a result, we live in a fallen world, east of Eden. As a result scripture gives that the, ‘ whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time (, NIV).’”

“The good news is that although this is not the best world, it is the best way to the best possible world. Some day God will ultimately and finally overcome evil entirely.”

(Non-Christian) “Okay but couldn’t God create a world that has no evil influence.”

(Christian) “Again I don’t understand everything but we must understand that we are talking about a God who says, “My ways are not your way… my ways are higher than your ways. ()” and this ultimately mean we don’t have the ability to comprehend God’s reasons for everything, but only give it our best guess our shot.

“First he could of just not create anything! If God had not created anything, where evil didn’t have a chance to become a thing would it be good. This would be a world without morality because nothing would exist accept for God. What if God created a world where people could not choose? God could force everyone to stop before they were able to carry out evil behavior. But is such a world where freedom does not exist good? If man doesn’t have a choice to do evil than how can he love. If being evil means hitting your wife or good lovingly withholding your fury, was your love not borne in choice? God wanted a world where people had the choice to choose and love Him.

“If God had not created anything, where evil didn’t have a chance to become a thing would it be good. This would be a world without morality. What if God created a world where people could not choose? God could force everyone to stop before they were able to carry out evil behavior. But is such a world where freedom does not exist good? If man doesn’t have a choice to do evil than how can he love. If being evil means hitting your wife or lovingly withholding your fury, did you not have a choice? God wanted a world where people had the choice to choose and love Him.

God knows best and, as such, He knows that our world is the best way to the best possible world. Yes, there will be evil and suffering along the way. We can rejoice with the apostle Paul when he wrote, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (). Does this help make sense?”

(Christian) “”

(Non-Christian) “Yeah a little.”

(Christian) “Again God’s ways are higher than ours, implying that there will be somethings that we are unable to rationalize or comprehend! But the good news in this world of evil is that He gives us the choice to accept Christ and one day be made perfect again as He is perfect. His Son, God in the flesh, suffered and died because of our evil hearts, in order that he might save all those who accept Him as there Lord and Savior. So the irony is that this thing that happened was because we ourselves are evil yet it turned out to accomplish something very good, that is to make us whole once again and bring us in right standing before God because Christ paid our debt by dying in our place and rising again on the third day!”

Credit: Robert Velarde (Some changes and altering of the argument, mine)

(Christian) “”

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/becoming-a-christian/is-christ-the-only-way/how-can-god-allow-so-much-evil-and-suffering

(Non-Christian) “”

(Christian) “”

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