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Proverbs 11:30 states, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise.”
The New Testament continues to emphasize the winning of souls by teaching us to make disciples in Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15-16. Once one has been won to Christ, we are to continue being taught. In Acts 2:42 it tells us to be devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. Acts 8:39 tells us to continue to rejoice in our salvation. In 1 Corinthians 1:17 it tells us to keep preaching the gospel. When each Christian makes disciples, teaching the gospel, fellowshipping, praying, rejoicing and serving we will win souls. According to Acts 2:47and Acts 16:5 this is what the church did in the first century; they won souls daily.
When was the last time you “won a soul for Christ”? When was the last time you taught someone the scriptures about how to become a Christian? When was the last time you saw a person baptized and become a new creation in Christ? When was the last time you invited someone to worship services?
We have seen the church winning souls in the past and now it is time to get back to winning souls for Christ. Unfortunately, too many Christians are just baptized and are not involved in the work of winning souls for Christ. For too many Christians, they have not been taught that Christianity is a total conversion and commitment to the cause of Christ, which includes winning souls for Christ.
One’s conversion is just the beginning of one’s salvation. God wants our whole hearts, minds, bodies, and actions. He wants us to be totally converted to His cause. God wants every Christian doing and modeling His will in our daily lives. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal. 2:20) Can this statement be our statement, have we crucified our souls, minds, hearts, bodies, and actions with Christ? Are we totally committed to Christ and winning souls for the Kingdom of God?
Mark T. Tonkery
Camden Avenue church of Christ
Parkersburg, WV