“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15 ESV)

 The Rev. Billy Graham tells of a time early in his career when he arrived in a small town to preach a sermon. Wanting to mail a letter, he asked a young boy where the post office was. When the boy had told him, Dr. Graham thanked him, and said, “If you’ll come to the Baptist Church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven.”

“I don’t think I’ll be there,” the boy said, “You don’t even know your way to the post office.”

 The above story is funny, but it does make a serious point about showing someone the way to know God; why would anyone ever ask you for directions to find Him if you don’t seem to know the way yourself? 

If you were asked, could you?

If someone handed you a Bible and asked you you to show them what it says about how to become born-again, could you? If not, you’re not alone, most Christians can’t. That’s too bad, because if they could and if they freely shared the way to find Jesus, the world would be a different place. 

 The great commission is a command to all believers 

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)

We are to be prepared to share 

The following are a few questions you can ask others along with some Bible verses to bring them into a relationship with Jesus. 

 Questions to ask others

• Would you like a new life with a new purpose?

• Would you like to know how to have a victorious, happy life, here and now?

• Have you ever thought about eternal life?

• Would you like forgiveness for the past and hope for the future?

If their answer is “yes” to any of the above questions. Share the following with them.

1. Realize that you have “fallen short” and are departed from God because of your sin. 

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

2. God’s free gift to you is eternal life. It was paid for you by Jesus Christ, when he died on the cross for you. 

 “For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

3. Christ died for you, taking your sin penalty upon himself, to bring you to God.

 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)

4. You need to repent (change your attitude toward sin). Tell God that you are sorry for your sin and turn away from it. 

“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3)

5. Thank Jesus for dying on the cross for you and ask him to forgive you of your sins. 

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

“In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:14)

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raided him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

6. Pray to receive Christ 

Pray like this:  

“Dear God, I believe by faith that Jesus, your Son, died on the cross to be my Savior. I believe he arose from the grave to live as my Lord. I turn away from my sin. I ask You, Lord Jesus, to forgive my sin. I trust you as my Savior and receive you as my Lord. Thank you, Jesus for saving me. I pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and savior, Amen.” 

7. Assurance - God’s Word assures you that you now have eternal life in His Son, Jesus Christ.

“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:11-13)

Quote:

“The purpose of the Bible is simply to proclaim God’s plan to save His children. It asserts that man is lost and needs to be saved. And it communicates the message that Jesus is the God in the flesh sent to save His children.” - Max Lucado

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“With God all things are possible!” (Matt. 19:26 NASB)

Over the years, I have heard people quote this verse exactly this way, out of context, therefore, I put it exactly that way on purpose to make a point. And that point is to say it is dangerous to quote only half or part of Bible verses because in doing so you could say or imply something that was not meant in its complete and proper context. 

The statement, “With God all things are possible” is not factual!

There are some things that God is incapable of doing, such as lying or denying Himself (Hebrews 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:13; Titus 1:2). That’s why it’s always important to consider the context of scripture verses to understand what is actually being said.

A good principle to remember, “text out of context is pretext”

So, let’s look at this verse again with some earlier text and background added to it. Jesus had just finished talking to the rich young ruler who had just gone away sadly after Jesus had told him, “sell all you have, give it to the poor, and follow me.”

Jesus used the incident to teach his disciples. “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, “Who then can be saved?”  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matt: 19:23-26 KJV)

So, it is best to remember that the context of this statement “but with God all things are possible” is in reference to salvation. God made a way when the way was impossible for us.

God does what is impossible for man

God’s omnipotence or power is unlimited (Job 11:7-11, 37:23; Revelation 4:8). That is, God can take the things that are impossible to man, and make them possible because His power is unlimited, while ours is limited. The context of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:26 is a perfect example of His unlimited power because, while it is possible for man to be saved, it is impossible for man to save himself by his own merits or for the law to grant eternal life. The grace offered only by Jesus Christ is necessary.

God may not “do all things” but He can and does do “impossible things”

Scripture is full of verses that portray God making the impossible possible. When Abraham and Sarah were awaiting the promise of a son, even after they were well past child bearing years, God told them, “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)  In the book of Numbers when the Israelites were complaining to Moses about food, the Lord told Moses that he was going to feed over half a million people for an entire month.

Moses was skeptical, but God said, “Is the Lord’s power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not.” (Numbers 11:23 NASB)

In the book of Job, after forty-two chapters of trials, Job was able to answer God and say, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2 ESV) 

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1 NASB)

Jeremiah said, “Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.” (Jeremiah 32:17 NASB)

Finally, in foretelling the birth of Jesus, the angel Gabriel told Mary, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37 NASB) And that statement, too, is understood best in its proper subject-matter context!

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“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)

This is undoubtedly the best-known promise in the Bible. You see John 3:16 posted prominently in many places, such as on billboard signs, on the sides of buses, on bumper stickers, and even painted on people’s faces and bodies, at televised sporting events.

But, sadly, most people don’t understand what it means!

Let’s define the words within the verse

– For God (the creator, Himself)

– So loved (cared for deeply and affectionately)

– The world (the whole of human civilization)

– That He gave (He freely transferred the possession of)

– His only (the only one He had)

– begotten Son (born son)

– that whosoever (whoever, anyone, any person)

– believes (truly accepts, wholeheartedly trusts, puts confidence in)

– In Him (the Savior, Jesus Christ)

– should not perish (not destroyed, not permanently lost)

– but have everlasting (eternal, endless)

– Life (intimate relationship with the living God)

Make it your personal promise!

John 3:16 is a very wonderful and personal promise! You can personalize it and apply it to your life this way: Add YOUR NAME everywhere you see an asterisk * below.

“For God so loved * that He gave

His only begotten Son, that if *

believes in Him. *  should not perish

but * shall have everlasting life.”

Signed in His Blood, Jesus Christ

Why God did this wonderful thing

Most people have heard John 3:16, but not the very next verse, John 3:17, which explains clearly why God sent His Son into the world.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17 NKJV).

God sent Jesus to save the world!

You must receive Him for yourself

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12 KJV)

It changed my life!

I received Jesus Christ into my life many years ago while driving down a busy road! I had just read a little gospel booklet that I had found in a glove compartment. It explained to me how to pray a simple prayer of faith to ask Jesus for forgiveness and to be my Savior.

I prayed, “Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for me!  I believe in you and need you! Please forgive me of my sins and come into my life. I invite you to be my Savior! In Jesus Name, Amen!

That simple prayer changed my life dramatically forever that day! 

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“He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.” (Job 12:22)

Before I had personally prayed to commit my life to Jesus I had been attending church on Sunday mornings with the family I was living with. I wasn't interested in religious things really, and was only going to church because I felt duty bound to do so because they were committed to it.

A simple prayer changed everything!

Then, one afternoon while driving, I prayed a simple heartfelt prayer and asked Jesus to come into my life and help me. I had been struggling with alcohol and prayed the simple prayer in a fit of desperation. Afterwards, I felt a great sense of relief.

A big difference

The following Sunday I was back in the same church as usual, but something was very different! The pastor seemed to be preaching much better and clearer than before! He was interesting! I could understand what he was talking about! I enjoyed it! Afterwards, I complimented him on his “new and improved” style of preaching. I told him I was glad he changed his preaching style and hoped he continued to preach this way instead of the boring way he usually did. He just looked at me and said, “Mike! I haven't changed! I spoke exactly the same way I always do! So, if it isn't me, something obviously must have changed with you!” I then remembered that I had prayed to invite Jesus into to my life.”

The light had come on with me!

Jesus is “the light of the world” and after I had received him, he brought his light into my life. That's why I was suddenly different. I was a new creation in Jesus! I had come to see the light!

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12 NIV)