How do you talk to people about sin?

[McPhersonX]

I asked someone in my family if he ever prays. From time to time I ask him about what he believes, I cannot push it because he just closes the subject.

I have thought, hoped prayed that over time I had influenced him to some extent, that some understanding has taken place.

He just replied no, he never prays because he has nothing to pray about. He says he is not a sinner and is 'hardly on death row'. Then he shut down and I knew subject closed.

I am so disappointed because he hasn't understood even the most basic thing that we are all sinners. That not one of us is sinless.

I do not know how to broach the subject again as I feel so disheartened. I shall just pray privately for him. I worry for his soul.

People don't buy things they don't think they need. The same goes for the gospel. If people don't see the need they won't investigate it. Also just saying that people are sinners and need to repent isn't the best sales pitch.

I think the biggest thing is that we should always approach it with love. And not just that you love them, but that they feel the love coming from you.

Also keep in mind that repent means to turn around. Indicating that when we sin we are turning or walking away from Christ. And that when we repent we are turning back to him. Repentance is a gift of mercy that allows us to access his atonement. So repenting is less of a whipping as much as turning into the arms of a loving father who is hurting because we are choosing through our actions to leave him.

This is what the parable of the prodigal son is all about.

So the best way to help people repent is ultimately helping people come unto Christ. As we come to know our savior we will feel his love and will have a desire to be closer to him which comes from daily repentance and constantly turning to Christ.

 

[timemeddler]

Here is the correct order these things should follow. As someone who had it done in to me in reverse it's to be done like this for good reason.

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

 

[oldman]

Hi Mary,


So instead, she started praying that God would take away the peace he had with how he was living.

!

this is spot on advice. I would add that any satisfaction from sin be taken as well

 

[Nehemiah6]

I am so disappointed because he hasn't understood even the most basic thing that we are all sinners. That not one of us is sinless.

1. Just ask him if he knows that all human beings will die. He will have no option but to say "Yes, of course".

2. Then ask him "Do you know why people have to die?" And he will be stumped.

3. Then ask him if he would like to know the reason from the Bible? If he says "Yes" show him Romans 5:12 and ask him if he can figure out who that "one man" was? If he says "No" ask him to think about it and get back to you. You cannot force the issue.

4. If he cannot tell you who that "one man" was take him to Genesis chapter 3, and show him the meaning of sin -- disobedience to God and violating God's commandments. And that Adam as the first man did exactly that.

6. Then ask him if he now knows that all human beings die because all have sinned and inherited the sin nature from Adam? He would say "Yes".

7. Then ask him if he knows where he would go if he died tonight. Ask him to think about it and get back to you.

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

I asked someone in my family if he ever prays. From time to time I ask him about what he believes, I cannot push it because he just closes the subject.

I have thought, hoped prayed that over time I had influenced him to some extent, that some understanding has taken place.

He just replied no, he never prays because he has nothing to pray about. He says he is not a sinner and is 'hardly on death row'. Then he shut down and I knew subject closed.

I am so disappointed because he hasn't understood even the most basic thing that we are all sinners. That not one of us is sinless.

I do not know how to broach the subject again as I feel so disheartened. I shall just pray privately for him. I worry for his soul.

Here is one way to lead him to Christ.