Winning People Without the Word
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word by won by the conversation of the wives;” (1 Peter 3:1-2)
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) This is the Great Commission, a standing order for Christians of all generations to tell others about Him. If you know Jesus as Saviour, this command is for you.
John 1:12 says, “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:” You become a Christian by coming to the Lord Jesus in repentance for forgiveness of your sins and receiving Him by faith into your heart and life as your personal Saviour.
If you have done that, think about how you came to receive Jesus. If you grew up in a Christian home, no doubt your family encouraged you to do that. If you didn’t grow up in a Christian home, you may have been told about Jesus by a friend, co-worker, or neighbor. In any case, God used someone who obeyed the Great Commission to reach you. God also wants you to obey the Great Commission and reach others.
Our opening passage talks to Christian women with unsaved husbands. Peter tells the ladies to conduct themselves in such a way that the husbands could be convinced to receive Jesus by the “conversation,” or behavior, of the wives. That principle is helpful for wives to win unsaved husbands, husbands to win their unsaved wives, and Christians to reach unsaved family members, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers.
Matthew 9:36 says when Jesus “…saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” Jesus didn’t focus on their race, age, gender, economic status, or personality. He focused on whether they knew Him as Saviour. Many of them were lost, headed for hell, and needed to be reached with the gospel, which is why He said, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:38)
Likewise, many people today are without Christ. That’s why Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) People may not want to hear about their need for Christ, at least not at first. Yet the Lord can use our behavior to provoke people to think about their need for Him and open a door for us to share the gospel.
Philippians 1:27 says, “Only let your conversation [behavior] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:” You may not always have a chance to witness, but you often have chances to behave in a Christlike way.
Romans 12:18 also says, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Strive to be at peace with people, even those you may not like or who may not like you. You don’t want personal animosity to hurt your Christian testimony or cost you an opportunity to share the gospel.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 talks of “…the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” The more you read the Bible and obey it, the more the word of God affects your heart and your behavior. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” God works miracles in people’s hearts as they spend time in His word. The more you let the word of God guide you in your personal behavior, the more you learn to see people as God sees them.
If you have never seen from the Bible how to have your sins forgiven and eternal life in heaven, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 3/8/2024