RUSSELL SANDERS
11-24-2020
WITNESSING VERSES – LESSON 1
JOHN 3:16
2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.” The job of an ambassador is to speak or carry the message of the King (President, Prime Minister) to wherever he is assigned or sent. Jesus has sent us (believers) into the world (all believers) to carry His message. The most important message is that of salvation. You and I (every true believer) are to carry that message to those who are lost. We need to lead them to salvation through faith on Jesus.
Most Christians are unprepared to do that. Perhaps the most important first step is to know what scriptures to use. The Word of God is powerful, and you must use it. Since you do not carry a Bible everywhere you go, it is critical to memorize certain key scriptures that you may need to use in talking to a person. These scriptures are good even for your own benefit whether or not you ever witness. I will give you at least seven of them that you must memorize.
We will start with one which you likely memorized years ago, John 3:16. It says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV).
I would advise that your memorization be from either the King James Version (KJV) or the New King James Version (NKJV). Do not use the New International Version (NIV) or the English Standard Version (ESV); They are corrupt versions. (More on that later.)
John 3:16 asserts God’s love for us. That is an extremely important emphasis. So many people do not think God even cares about them as an individual. Love is the strongest appeal of the gospel.
The verse also gives the unique identification of Jesus as God’s “only begotten” son. The word “begotten” is absolutely essential. God has many sons, but only Jesus was begotten in the flesh from God’s own seed (via Holy Spirit). Any translation that leaves that single word out is corrupt because it fails to properly identify which “son of God” came to redeem us. Jesus is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” He is divine God, the very manifestation of the Father God to the World.
Any modern translation that says “only Son” or “one and only Son” is corrupt and should be avoided. They are good for only one thing, and that is to cross-reference with KJV, NKJV, or MEV for study purposes.
After this series, I will present to you a list of good reliable translations as reading alternatives. I will also list the unreliable ones.
However, for now, memorize John 3:16. Write it down and take it with you wherever you go, then take it out from time to time to go over it. Whenever you get a moment, quote it silently in your mind. Speak it out loud when you are alone. Do that with each of the seven scriptures that I will give as you prepare yourself to be Christ’s ambassador.
