He That Winneth Souls — John R. Rice

The Sevenfold Sin of Failing to Win Souls

About the very serious subject. The sevenfold sin of those who do not win souls. Yes you understood me the first time. Sin. The sevenfold sin of those who do not win souls. If you are saved if you're born again if you're not a soul winner you're living in sin every day.

Every Christian is commanded to win souls. It's the first duty of every Christian. Every Christian who does not win souls is guilty of seven terrible sins. And I'll prove that by the Word of God may God open our hearts to the importance of the main business he left for us to do.

Sin One: Disobedience to the Great Commission

First of all I want you to see that the Great Commission as given in Matthew chapter 28 and verses 19 and 20 plainly says that every Christian should win soul. In this scripture Jesus said all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I've commanded you. And though I'm with you always even unto the end of the world.

I remember that Jesus said that the twelve apostles were to go to all the world and preach the gospel. But there were only twelve. They couldn't go to more than twelve places. And long since these centuries they've been dead.

Jesus must have meant for somebody else to do the work too. And he told them when you get somebody converted you baptize them and then teach the new converts to observe everything I told you to do so everybody that was saved when Peter preached everybody that was won by Andrew by Philip and by others of the Apostles was commanded take on yourself the Great Commission.

You do what Jesus commanded these other apostles to do. Every Christian ought to win souls. That's the plain command of God. In fact that's the main command Jesus Christ left for us. We call it the Great Commission.

No commission no plan no work he ever commanded us to do could be more important than this. And these are marching orders for Christians. We're to win souls. Jesus repeated that command when he met John on the isle of Patmos.

Later and over in Revelation 22 17 Jesus said when he met John on the isle of Patmos the spirit and the bride say come and let him that hear it say come. Everybody who hears it is commanded to say come.

Did somebody tell you. You're commanded to tell of this. You can't get out of this plain obligation. It's the main thing the Lord Jesus left for his disciples to do. I remember so well when my mother lay dying.

I was less than six years old. Yet how well I remember the very word she said. I remember how she looked that day. I remember the gladness in her face. And she told us what we should do. We must meet her in heaven.

And then so I remember the last words that Jesus gave to us all before he went to heaven were in this Great Commission to go to the wall the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And if we do that we'll be so winner.

If you don't take the gospel like Jesus said and get people converted and teach them to be baptized and then teach them to do everything Jesus commanded the Apostles to do in the way of preaching the gospel and getting souls saved.

If you don't do that you're in rebellion. You're in disobedience. Let me say then sin number one of a Christian who does not win souls is a sin of disobedience to the main command that Jesus ever gave.

You're guilty. You're a wicked backsliding disobedient Christian. If you are not a soul winner now then sin number two if you do not win souls it's because of the sin of lack. That too in John chapter 14 remember the Savior said in verse 15 if you love me keep my command 23.

Sin Two: Lack of Love for Jesus Christ

If his commandments it's quite clear then that in proportion as we love Jesus Christ we'll do what he tells us to do. As you love the Lord Jesus who died for you you'll love me keep my commandments. If a man loved me he will keep my words.

Sometimes we say well I'd win sold but I don't have a gift or soul wedding. No no. You say I'd be a soul winner but I don't have a gift of get love the dear Lord Jesus as you are you're living in the sin of a cold heart of lack of love.

Or you do what Jesus said. This is back of all. This is the reason for our disobedience. The main command. Sin number two is lack of love for Jesus Christ. He so it said so himself. Number three. Sin number three.

Sin Three: Failing to Follow Jesus

If you're not a soul when it's because you do not follow Jesus. You know we sing so many songs about following Jesus trying to walk in the steps of the Savior. And we sing where he leads me. I'll follow.

And you never win a soul. Why sing a lie 19 follow me and I'll make you fishers of men. And Jesus said it in Mark 1 17 come you after me and I'll make you to become fishers of men. If you're not a soul winner it's because you don't follow Jesus closely.

You know he commanded us to follow him. He said if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. You remember the scripture says let this mind be in you. Which was also in Christ.

And Jesus said in John chapter 20 that even as my father sent me even so send I you. We should follow Jesus. But if you don't win souls you're not following Jesus. Someone says I don't know how to win souls.

I wish I could grow to be a soul winner. You can. It's easy. Just follow Jesus. He'll make you into a soul winner. And everybody who isn't a soul winner it's because you don't follow Jesus. It's an open-and-shut case.

Those who follow Jesus he makes them into soul winners. If you don't follow him then you're not a soul winner. And it's your fault. You're living in rebellion and disobedience. You're not following Jesus.

You're a far-off. I don't say you're not saved. I don't say you haven't been converted. But I say that you're living in sin. The sin of not following Jesus. If you don't win souls. So says the very clear word of Jesus himself here sin number four.

Sin Four: Not Abiding in Christ

And I ask you to think carefully about it. Remember that in John chapter 15 we are told that you are to abide in Christ. John 15 4 and 5 abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine.

Except you abide in me I am the vine year the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringing forth much fruit. Somebody says I tried to win souls. I intended to but I I can't. I can't get anybody saved.

I invited people to church and they won't come. I talked to my children. They won't listen to me. I can't get anybody saved. Somebody says I know I know why. Jesus just said you can't do it except you abide in me.

And he said I'm the vine year the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bring it forth much fruit not just a few. You can. Well that's what he said. So let's face what Jesus said. Now you're saying if you do not win souls is the sin of not abiding in Christ.

As Christ said it. I didn't say it. And here's a plain command that you have this. So says the Word of God if you are a soul winner and bringing forth much fruit it's because you abide in Christ abiding in you.

You know when up flows right on through into the branch and there's the power they awesome. And then the. And if you don't it's because the sin of not winning. So that when souls a serious charge isn't it.

Sin Five: Dishonesty in a Sacred Trust

That's a terrible rights to the people of Rome. And he says in verse 14 and verse so as much as in me all said you know why. I don't care if I get in jail. I don't care if I'm there with a chain on my hand in two years.

I don't care if I get my head chopped off. I'm bound to come to Rome. What's the matter. Paul. Paul says I have a debt to pay and I'm an honest man. I've got to do it. What is your debt. Paul you remember.

Don't you one time Paul said whoa if I preach it willingly then I I receive a reward. If I don't preach it willingly. A station of the gospel blood of Jesus Christ keep me out of hell. And you are not much of the blood of Christ to keep you out of hell as it did me or as it did any preacher as it did the Apostle care the gospel to those to whom you're disobedient you're crooked.

You're dishonest in a sacred trust. I'm thinking of a man who died and left his estate to be administered by his part. It was understood that the widow should be cared for and the children would have money laid by so they could go to college.

But when the time came the children should go to college. The money was all wasted. And says and the money was squandered and Jesus died. And he gave you a plain command. He gave you a command and you're to pass it on the gospel to others.

Did you think. Did you think that Jesus died for you alone. Sometimes we use John 316 like this for God so loved John Rice or Bill Brown or Jane Smith. God so loved you that he gave us only begotten son.

That you or me. Or that John Rice believing in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Listen. John 316 is more over 2 billion living now. He died for them and for the billion to live before he died for them get it is to take all the blessing for myself.

And so I'm so glad I'm saved. I knew a woman one time rise up in revival service and say I think we ought to close this meeting. My boy was saved. Same chance to be saved as mine. And now if they're not saved it's their fault.

I think what a close you see. If you don't win souls you're guilty of the terrible sin the sin of dishonesty in a sacred trust. You remember that Jesus told the parable of the talents and the parable of the pounds and he ended them with these words.

Did you take my own then and give it to the bank. And I'd have interest on my money when I returned. The Lord Jesus feels about anybody who takes this sacred trust and uses it for your own joy and not take anybody with me to heaven.

How I'd feel guilty. And for a million years in heaven. How ashamed I'd be. That I was dishonest. That I took only for myself. That which the Lord Jesus gave to all who would have it. Let's take the gospel to others.

You have a debt to pay. You're dishonest and crooked if you don't pay it. If you don't care the gospel to others. That's sin number five. And now let's have sin numbers. Sin number six. The sin number six of a Christian who does not win souls is the folly of a short-sighted fool.

Sin Six: The Folly of Short-Sightedness

Now listen to the Bible language before you condemn. Righteous is a tree of life whose is why ought to be the kind of a tree that brings forth fruit and brings forth. And he that winneth souls is wise.

And in Daniel 12 3 the scripture says. And they that turn men into righteousness as the stars forever and ever. You know who's a wise man. The man that uses his money and his time is to live for today.

How silly it is that my money my time my influence and my talent should all be sensible. The scripture says in Daniel 12 3 that they to be wise shall shine as the bright and many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.

What a what a silly thing it is. How foolish how thoughtless to waste your time. The chapter. The scripture says so plainly that one day the fire shall cry of a man's work of what sort it is. And if he shall suffer loss solely shall suffer loss.

But if his works abide he shall receive a reward. Not that your soul is lost and that you have money in his souls but a sin to live as if there were no head or soul winning jurors or comforts of life as if those things mattered by the side of the weight of any mortal soul.

One of these days you'll be mighty glad if you one soul. I preached a funeral sermon for a boy in Fort Worth and the father came to me the next day and said I've been so much comforted by your sermon.

Our twelve-year-old boy has gone to heaven said. I was out in the garage this morning and I found his roller skates and his ball and back and love. And he said I. I decided that oh my heart clutched and I thought if Scotty only had his toys he would enjoy them.

Then I laughed to myself to think what I said to myself old fella you better get your mind off your off your toys. You'll go off and leave them one of these days. You'd better get your mind on something that'll last forever.

And I want to lay on your heart this sin of ignoring eternal verities and filling your mind and thought with the things of the world they'd be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament. And they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.

I know that we soul winners are called fanatics and fools. I know that many times evangelism is marked in the south and the west to sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God. I think I'll be mighty glad that I was away from my home and I left other business and I put my soul into the matter of keeping people out of hell.

Sin Seven: Spiritual Manslaughter Through Unwarned Souls

Oh the glad robber silly fool. Any of us old is spiritual manslaughter. Attention to a solemn scripture over in Ezekiel chapter 3 and verses 17 and 18. God says son of man I have made thee a watchman under the house of Israel.

Therefore hear the word at my mouth and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked thou shalt surely die and thou givest him not warning nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life.

The same wicked man shall die in his iniquity but his blood. When I require you to account you don't have to get everybody saved but you have to warn them. All the foolish alibis we give. How will they sound when you meet the Savior.

And you find you've let people go to hell. You didn't mean it. You didn't do much about it. You just let them go. I had a postcard when I lived in Dallas Texas and broadcast on a radio station. And an old man about 81 years old wrote to say I've been hearing you on the radio.

I'm not saved. Won't you come and see me and pray for me. I have a cancer. The doctor says I won't last long. I hope you'll come and tell me how to be saved. I was so busy I was in a big revival campaign.

I plan to go tomorrow. I put that card upon my desk and said I'll go tomorrow. But tomorrow is busy in two services a day leading my own singing and writing the advertising. Oh I never could get there.

It seemed. The radio mail held me up and day after day it was postponed until in two weeks time I finally set a man to see this old man. He found the people had gone to his funeral. But I wish now I'd missed a meal or missed a night's sleep and made sure that poor old man knew how to meet.

God asked if he asked me why I say what a sin it is. Souls unwarned. So then Jesus hear the scripture says Ezekiel was a literal one aimed if we have to face him and if we have my message is about done.

Repenting of the Sin of Not Winning Souls

These seven sins of those who do not win souls are these. First disobedience to the Great Commission the main command of Jesus Christ. Second it's lack of love. If you love me keep my commandments. The third sin of those who do not win souls is not following Jesus.

Follow me and I'll make you fishers of men. Jesus said the fourth sin is not abiding in him. For he said if you abide in me you can bear much fruit. You can get people saved. And again number five it's a sin of dishonesty and a sacred trust.

You remember Paul said I'm a debtor to the Greeks and Barbary. And so as much as in me as I'm ready to preach the gospel to them at Rome also. And sin number six it's a folly of a short-sighted fool not to win souls and to be occupied with anything else.

And then sin number seven it's spiritual manslaughter unsaved souls. You might have warned and blood at your hand this sin of not winning souls and confess it as a sin. Never mind about all your talk of a deeper life unless it makes your soul winner.

Never mind your claim to holiness or sanctification or to everything else. If it does not make your soul winner fullness of the spirit and the deeper life and sanctify us. And make us holy and separated.

But all of that today in turn from this sin of not winning souls.