Those who have taken even a short course in first aid should be familiar with techniques for use when encountering an apparently unconscious person.  One priority is to ascertain whether the individual is responsive to stimuli.  This may be accomplished by gently shaking a shoulder (or tapping the body firmly) and asking, “Are you okay?” or words to that effect.  What to do next is dependent upon the victim.  If there is a reaction, one path is taken; if no reaction is observed, another path is indicated.  Omitting this simple check could lead to a range of bad outcomes, from mutual embarrassment to bodily harm.

Imagine for example, that the ‘victim’ has momentarily fainted.  A well-intentioned intervenor starts CPR.  At the first compression, the patient’s eyes fly open and she cries out, “WHAT are you DOING?”  Or picture a park bench on which an older man has curled up for a power nap.  A would-be heroine swoops in and begins mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, at which point our startled sleeper awakens and lashes out blindly, trying to beat back his “attacker.”  Passers by who witness the scene, call police and helpfully post video of the incident on social media.

In a similar way, it can be easy to forget the importance of uncovering the spiritual condition of those with whom we long to share the gospel, before rushing in with remedies for which no need is felt and no problem has been identified.

Contrary to the wishful thinking of some evangelists, not everyone senses a need for God, especially if, in their own opinion, they seem to be doing just fine without Him.  The Devil is as happy with contented worldliness that daily drifts more and more distant from God, as he is with troubled lives of disappointment and despair.  Equally, the news that Christ died for my sins is of no interest if I don’t know what sin is, what sin does, or the fact that all have sinned (including me).  To tell me the following helps:

• “…Sin is the transgression of the law” [of God] (I John 3:4).
• Sin separates people from God: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
• Sin brings God’s judgment—the sentence is death and eternity in hell: “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (II Thessalonians 1:9).

Yet even if I know these things, I may not be bothered by them.  I can still rationalize and trivialize my guilt.  I can still imagine—which is easier and more comfortable than checking what the Bible actually says—that I will be shown leniency if my good deeds outweigh my bad, if my conduct is compared to that of fellow sinners whose offenses far exceed my own, or if God sees the good in me (then, surely He will happily excuse the ugliness that is also there in my heart).

Show me gently and respectfully, that such thoughts are not the result of careful study of revealed truth, but the products of self-delusion and denial.  These false hopes must be dashed before I can see that I’m in trouble and certainly before I’ll entertain any talk of solutions.  And don’t forget to tell me about God’s yardstick, not human ones.  Many are unaware that God’s standard is perfection, not “pretty good” or “better than some.”  Teach me:

• “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).
• “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).
• “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).
• “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (I John 3:15).

Make it clear that even If I do the right thing out of sinful motives, God will find me out:

• “…the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart”  (I Samuel 16:7).  
• “For the word of God is…a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Explain that God expects me not only to avoid sins of commission (thinking, saying, and doing what I shouldn’t), but also to avoid sins of omission (failing to think, say, and do as I should).

By now, I should have begun to realize ‘That’s IMPOSSIBLE!  No one could meet that bar.  There’s no way I’ll escape conviction.  I’ll be found guilty for sure.  And God, if He’s an honest judge, will have to give me what I deserve—the sentence prescribed in the law.’

Point out that if God is good, He is righteous and judges in righteousness: “…Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25); “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war” (Revelation 19:11).  This Judge can be counted on to do the right thing.  “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).  And though it gives Him no pleasure, He will ensure that these wages are paid.

Be ready when I howl in protest against the death sentence, “God is love, isn’t He?”  [Yes.]  “He loves everyone, doesn’t He?”  [Yes.]  Help me understand that this fact does not and cannot save me.  If it did, there would have been no reason for God to send His Son to suffer and die in my place, to pay the price for my sin.  Explain that we are saved by God’s undeserved favor, through faith in Jesus Christ: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Be prepared for last gasps like, “We’re all God’s creatures, aren’t we?” [Yes.]  “So, we’re all God’s children, right?”  [Wrong.]  Show me that God’s word clearly says otherwise: “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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).

When I ask you questions I’d much rather avoid, like: “Do I really need to believe in Jesus?”  don’t hide—tell me the truth.  [Okay.  Yes, you do, if the facts you’ve heard about the road you’re on concern you.]

• “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”(John 14:6).
• “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5).
• “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment” (I John 3:23).
• “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
• “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)

At about this time I’m really starting to wonder how God truly feels about me.  Reassurance on that score is welcome and vital.

• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
• “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

Encourage me.  Tell me “Yes, ‘…the wages of sin is death.’ Yet, there is hope.”  Read me the rest of the verse: “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

What is eternal life?  It’s having an everlasting, ever-deepening personal relationship with God: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3).  It’s made possible by the forgiveness of sins fully paid for on the cross by Jesus Christ, through His suffering and death, His burial and His resurrection on the third day, just as the scriptures foretold.  It’s about enjoying a fuller, more joyful life now, and one day ruling and reigning with the Lord forever in heaven.  If you’re interested, read on.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words, and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams, and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “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)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)