The Person Who Cares Nothing for the Fate of His Soul – (Matthew 22:37)

I. Show Them That They Are a Great Sinner

Why? First, because they have broken God’s commandments, and second, because there is coming a judgment at which every person will have to answer to God for their deeds.

1. Explain to the person that in order to be a sinner before God, they do not need to have stolen or killed. It is enough to have broken the first and greatest of God’s commandments. What is that commandment (Matthew 22:37-38)?

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38)

Whoever does not keep the greatest commandment is the greatest sinner.

2. Every person is accountable to God.

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. (Romans 14:12)

12 “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.” (Amos 4:12)

16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. (Romans 2:16)

II. Show Them the Terrible Consequences of Sin

1. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

2. There is no peace for the sinner (Isaiah 57:21).

21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 57:21)

3. The sinner is a slave of sin.

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. (John 8:34)

16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

III. Show Them the Horror That Will Overtake Those Who Do Not Believe in Jesus Christ

1. All who do not believe are condemned already (John 3:17-19).

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:17-19)

2. Unbelief in Christ is the greatest sin (John 16:8-9).

8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; (John 16:8-9)

3. Those who trample Christ underfoot will be severely punished (Hebrews 10:28-29).

28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:28-29)

IV. Show Them the Terrible Consequences of Unbelief in God and the Gospel

1. Without faith, a person cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

2. Those who do not believe in Christ will die in their sins (John 8:24).

24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:24)

3. Those who do not obey the gospel will be punished (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10)

4. Unbelievers will be thrown into the lake of fire.

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

V. Show Them That the Only Thing a Person Must Do in Order to Perish Is to Neglect Christ’s Salvation

1. How shall “we escape” if we neglect salvation (Hebrews 2:3)?

3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. (Hebrews 2:3)

2. Whoever does not listen to Christ the “prophet” will perish (Acts 3:22-23).

22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ (Acts 3:22-23)

3. Those who despise forgiveness will perish (Acts 13:38-41).

38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 41 “‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’” (Acts 13:38-41)

4. God’s wrath remains on those who do not believe in Christ (John 3:36).

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. (John 3:36)

VI. Show Them God’s Wonderful Love for Them

When every other approach fails to help, do your best to show them God’s love for them. In many cases the awareness that God loves the sinner will save the heart of the person you are speaking with, and they will seek salvation.

1. God loves all sinners and gave His Son for their deliverance (John 3:16).

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

2. Christ was “pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5).

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

3. Christ became a “curse” for us, in order to deliver us.

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (Galatians 3:13)

24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

4. God’s love leads to repentance (Romans 2:4-5).

4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. (Romans 2:4-5)

VII. Read Them Some Powerful, Compelling Verses

In case the person you are speaking with does not wish to talk with you for long, choose some powerful verse and read it to them several times, saying to them: “I am going to pray that God will seal this verse in your heart”—and of course you must do what you have said. Here are a few suitable verses: