Sometimes when witnessing, you will reach a point where the person understands that their sins are against God and that they need forgiveness. However, they may say something like this: “Well yes I’ve sinned but God is forgiving and besides Christ died for everyone.” This statement is often an excuse to avoid a personal commitment to Christ.

Explain that it is true that Jesus died for all, but only those who repent and trust Him personally will be saved. A person must respond and receive the gift of salvation. For example, Jesus told Nicodemus “You must be born again.”[1] And in Luke 13:3 Jesus said “unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” He also said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. ‘When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from.’”[2] And Paul tells us, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,”[3] and that “Christ lives in me” and “loved me and gave Himself for me.”[4] Notice the personal pronouns in all of these verses. Therefore, knowing Christ personally is necessary.

Remember, they need to know that a person is not saved by default. Only those who repent and place their trust in Jesus will be saved.