> As Christians, we often encounter unbelievers who know the facts of the gospel but whose hearts have not yet been transformed to love and trust God. This can be a challenging situation, but it is crucial to remember that God’s work in an individual’s heart is often a process, not an instant transformation.
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Below are some guidelines to help Christians properly counsel unbelievers, nurturing them towards genuine faith without succumbing to frustration or giving up. Above all, pray for the Holy Spirit to prepare the unbeliever’s heart to receive and embrace the truth. Also pray that God would work in and through you to enable you to be an effective minister of the gospel of reconciliation.
Recognize Fear as a Starting Point
The journey towards genuine faith can sometimes begin with a fear of eternal punishment. Here are some key points to understand and guide an unbeliever starting from fear:
- Awareness of Sin and Judgment: the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of individuals to reveal the truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment. This conviction helps people recognize their separation from God and their need for salvation through Jesus Christ (John 16:8). Understanding the reality of sin and its eternal consequences can lead an individual to seek God’s mercy and grace (Romans 6:23).
- Fear of the Lord as Wisdom: The Bible tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). This reverential fear can serve as a foundation upon which deeper spiritual understanding and relationship with God can be built.
In guiding an unbeliever, gently acknowledge their fears while steering them toward the broader, compelling truth of God’s love and grace.
Encourage Obedience with Grace
While obedience to God’s commands cannot earn salvation, it can serve as a prelude to experiencing God’s transformative work. Encourage obedience, but with the right motivations:
- Obedience as Exposure to God’s Truth: Obedience can expose an unbeliever to God’s moral standards and truths, preparing their heart for the gospel. It’s a practical step that could lead them to realize their need for divine help and grace.
- Recognizing God’s holiness: Understanding God’s nature and how He relates to His creation is crucial for grasping our broken relationship with Him. God’s holiness signifies His complete separation from sin and moral imperfection. He is utterly pure, set apart in His divine majesty and moral excellence. This holiness is not merely an attribute among many but is central to who God is; it informs every part of His character and every action He takes. (See Habakkuk 1:13, Isaiah 59:2, Psalm 5:4, 1 John 1:5, Proverbs 15:26, Nahum 1:3, Romans 1:18, and Revelation 21:8.)
- Recognizing Human Inadequacy: Encourage people to attempt to follow God’s commands, not as a means of salvation, but as a reflection to reveal their inability to meet God’s standards perfectly (Romans 3:20). This underscores the necessity of Christ’s atoning work. Also, Galatians 3:24 describes the law as a way God uses to point us to Christ. The verse states, “So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.”
To underscore the mistaken reliance on self-righteousness, Jesus taught that God judges not only our external deeds but also our words and our hearts. (See Matthew 5:21-22, 5:27-28, and 5:33-34.)
Moreover, Paul recognized his sinfulness not through his boast in outward observance of God’s commands but by acknowledging his inner violation of the commandment against coveting, revealing his deeper understanding of human inadequacy and the need for Christ’s atonement.
Highlight God’s Role in Regeneration
Salvation and regeneration are the work of the Holy Spirit. An unbeliever’s fear-induced obedience should lead them to a fertile ground where the Holy Spirit can work:
- Regeneration by the Holy Spirit: Emphasize that true transformation – being “born again” – is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-8). They need to be open to this divine intervention.
- Pre-evangelistic Steps: Use their fear as a pre-evangelistic step that prepares them for the seed of the gospel (Matthew 13:1-23). It’s a part of the spiritual preparation where they become more receptive to God’s love.
Lead Unbelievers from Fear to Love
It is critical to transition the individual from a place of fear to an understanding and acceptance of God’s love:
- Perfect Love Overcomes Fear: Teach them that while fear may be a starting point, God’s perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). This love provides a deeper, more sustaining motivation for obedience and faith.
- Present the Full Gospel: Always present the full gospel, emphasizing that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ, not through human effort or obedience alone. Use scriptures like Ephesians 2:8-9 to underline that it is by grace we are saved through faith.
Avoid Pitfalls for Unbelievers
There are potential dangers in guiding unbelievers, mainly legalism and superficial transformation:
- Avoid Legalism: Ensure that the individual understands that their obedience is not a means to earn salvation or mitigate punishment. Faith in Jesus, not works, justifies us (Galatians 2:16).
- Seek True Heart Transformation: Remember that superficial changes in behavior are not the same as heart transformation. Genuine faith brings about a lasting change that stems from a personal relationship with Christ.
Be Persistent and Patient with Unbelievers
Above all, do not give up on the unbeliever. God’s timing and methods are often different from ours:
- God’s Timing: Understand that God works in His own time (2 Peter 3:9). The journey to faith can be long and winding, but persistence in love and truth can yield fruit.
- Faithful Witnessing: Be a faithful witness through your counsel, prayers, and example. Let your life reflect the transformative power of the gospel you share.
Conclusion
Guiding an unbeliever who knows the facts of the gospel but whose heart has yet to be transformed is a delicate but critical mission. Starting from their fear of eternal punishment, encourage them towards obedience as a precursor to experiencing God’s truth and grace. Always emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, and guide them from fear to embracing God’s perfect love. Avoid legalism and aim for genuine heart transformation. Patience and persistence, rooted in prayer and faithful witnessing, are essential. Remember, it is God who ultimately changes hearts and brings them into His marvelous light.
