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The two ideas of witnessing and winning souls were derived from two separate Scriptures, one from the Old Testament and one from
the New Testament. Solomon said, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life: and he that winneth souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30). In the
New Testament we read, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me
both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). While these Scriptures are
distinctly different, there is a definite link connecting the two. The connection, as I see it, is that by witnessing we win souls.
It is important for us to realize that witnessing is not merely a New Testament concept. It is noteworthy that David desired to convert
sinners (Ps. 51:13), and God spoke of His people as witnesses (Is.43:10, 12). It is therefore understandable that the New Testament Jews were
very evangelistic. The scribes and Pharisees traveled across sea and land to make one proselyte (convert). I think it should also be pointed
out that according to Jesus their converts were "twofold more the child of hell" than themselves (Mt. 23:15). This fact is important and
we should exercise great care not to allow those who go about this noble work in the wrong way and for the wrong reasons to deter or
discourage us from doing it for the right reason and in a scriptural way. The responsibility to witness is clearly ours, in view of the fact
that early Christians gave witness to God's work of grace wherever they were driven by persecution.
Let us now consider what is meant by witnessing and winning souls. A witness is simply a person who gives testimony. In a court of law
a witness is someone who establishes a fact by giving testimony through knowledge of the incident. The witness may be an eyewitness, but
he does not have to be; he may simply provide information pertaining to the case. It is for this reason that the ninth commandment warns
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" (Ex. 20:16). To win is to take, to receive, or to gain (Phil. 3:8). Therefore we witness
as we give testimony which is directed toward gaining people to our way or idea. Now when we apply this concept to the religion of
Christianity, we regard witnessing as telling facts about the truth of God's Word and the Christian concepts and doing so with the intent
to gain another to our way of worship and service to God. Our spiritual endeavors were not designed to redeem souls from everlasting
destruction nor to save people to the eternal glories of heaven, for only God is able to lift individuals from sin and make children of
God of them. All the witnessing and winning we do will not add one soul to heaven, since Jesus is the only Saviour (Acts 4: 12).
What then is the purpose and importance of witnessing? It is the same today that is was when the Bible was written. When the eleven
disciples were sent out by Christ in what we now call "The Great Commission," it was not to make children of God, but to baptize
and teach (Mt. 28:19~20).The witnessing work of Paul was two~fold: to give illumination of spiritual truths (Acts 13:47) and to deliver
people from the power and practice of sin (Acts 26:18). It is still important for us to witness with both objectives in mind. If people
substitute error for truth they are likely to substitute sin for righteousness. James said, "Brethren, if any of you do err from the
truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death,
and shall hide a multitude of sins" Games 5:19~20).We should witness to turn people from error and sin so that they might not die to truth
and righteousness. Such witnessing is soul-winning and such witnesses are wise. Daniel wrote, "And they that be wise shall shine as the
brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever" (Dan. 12:3).
Next we need to consider the subject and substance of our witnessing. The essential and irreplaceable element in all Christian witnessing
is the person and work of God. It is obvious that Jesus, His work, and His words were the subject and substance of New Testament
witnessing. Those early Christians would start witnessing by declaring Jesus as the Son of God and move on to declare that He was their
Savior, or they would take some divine working and point back to Jesus as the source of the miracle. We can observe this pattern when
the lame man was healed at the temple (Acts 3: 1,10), and Peter began to witness of Jesus (Acts 3: 11,26). What a marvelous way for us to
witness today! When prayers are answered in the sending of rain during dry times, or when the sick are restored to health, then we
should be willing to witness of the power of God who answers prayer. When special blessings are received, we should gladly witness about
God, acknowledging Him as the source of every good and perfect gift Games 1:17). God, not good luck, should get the praise for keeping
us from serious injury or death when an accident occurs. Most important in our witnessing is the declaration that we are saved by
grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. He will be glorified if we witness (give testimony) of His goodness.
Because of the nature of witnessing and winning, only the saved can witness as I have described. Before we can believe the Sonship
of Jesus, it is necessary for us to be born again (1 John 5:1), and we must have experienced grace to be able to testify of it. Peter said, "For
we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). We are taught to witness what we know or have experienced.
David exhorted, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he [God] hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy ..." (Ps. 107:2). God has
redeemed us and this He did by grace. He chose us before the world began (Eph. 1:4), predestinated us to be conformed to Jesus (Rom.
8:29), sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins (1 John 4:10), and quickened us by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:1). No part of this is done
by mortals; it is wholly the work of God and, though we bear witness of it, we impart no measure of it to another. Nevertheless, as we declare
those ancient doctrines of grace, we bear witness to God's work that He might be glorified. We should study to rightly divide the Scriptures
(2 Tim. 2:15) and then declare them to others as we witness. David declared, "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare
what he hath done for my soul" (Ps. 66:16). Only those that fear God will hear and believe our witness. If God's Holy Spirit does not precede
our witness, it will be fruitless; nevertheless, we are to witness about Christ (Acts 2:36, 4:12, 9:15), and we are to witness of that which
He has done for us (Luke 8:39, Acts 4:20, John 9:25).
Finally, let us consider the methods of our witnessing and winning. There are two of them: by word and by deed. By word we tell others
about Christ and things which pertain to Him John 1:45). Like the Samaritan woman, we tell what we know about Him. She said,
"...Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" John 4:29). Yet, if we do not live consistent with
our witness, it is not likely to avail anything of much importance. By holy example, we have our strongest witness. More have been won
by a good example (which shows the way) than by the words of those who say but do not (Mt. 23:3). Peter said, "Likewise, ye wives, be
in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of their
wives... " (l Peter 3:1). By witnessing we may win husband or wife, parent or child, friend or perhaps foe; most of all we acknowledge
the goodness of God and bring glory to His Son, our Saviour.
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