Here is the first of twelve verses to be memorized by April 23rd as part of The Challenge II!
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“For all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23
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Don’t rush past the bad news in a hurry to get to the Good News! Otherwise, people will not realize how really good the good news really is.
How can a person be saved if they don’t realize that they are lost? The first 
step toward salvation is the realization that one needs a Savior. That is why knowing this verse by heart is so important when presenting the Gospel.
Jesus was very clear on this point. He said, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17), and again, “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
All have sinned. That’s all-inclusive. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). The Greek word for sin means to “miss the mark (and so not share in the prize).” God demands perfection and we have come up short. Actually, we haven’t even come close! “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 46:6).
Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? When I was there and took this picture, I was absolutely amazed by the immensity of it. The idea that somebody might think that they could jump across that vast expanse was crazy! However much he might practice his long jump wouldn’t make a bit of difference. Whether he would jump out there one foot or twenty—he’s still going to fall short, way short! But the separation between God’s absolute perfection, holiness, and glory, and our sinfulness and depravity is much greater even than that.
So how can we effectively communicate this truth? Next time you’re in a conversation, try asking the following question:
“Would you consider yourself to be a Good Person?”
In this short and fun audio clip, Ray Comfort explains how he uses this practical question to start sharing the Gospel to four different types of people.
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Download MP3 (6 min)
Hell’s Best Kept Secret
This 40-minute video from Way of the Master with Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron shows in detail how you can help someone realize that they are a sinner in order to prepare them for the Gospel message.
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April 14th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Don’t rush past the bad news in a hurry to get to the Good News! Otherwise, people will not realize how really good the good news really is.
Very true Robert – they must be find themselves lost before they can accept being found!
April 16th, 2009 at 6:22 am
Wow! What a good point! I never thought about how important it is to shed light on the person’s sin and great need until now. Thanks so much.
April 19th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
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