This question assumes that there is a qualification for someone to win a soul and lays a focus on ‘who’ is going to win a soul. But the truth about salvation is that it is the message that brings salvation.
The message of Salvation can be passed by both humans and non-humans. A tract, poster or banner containing the prayer of salvation will get anyone.
So it is not about the vessel but the authenticity of the message that is being preached. The truth is the truth regardless of where it comes from. Even if the person that preaches the message does not believe in what he preaches, it will work for anyone who believes in it.
The power is in the ‘word’ not the speaker.
In the book of Philippians, Paul talked about some Christians who preached the gospel out of selfish ambitions but even though their ambitions were not right, the message of the gospel was still being preached.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
Philippians 1:15-18 (NIV)
The major thing about Salvation is that Jesus must be preached. The message must affirm that Jesus is the son of God, He died for the sin of mankind on the cross, He was buried and He resurrected. Anyone who believes this and confesses it will be saved. It is just like sharing a piece of news, whether it is passed by a child, a parrot or a newspaper does not change the facts of the news.
Paul outlines the process of accepting salvation in the book of Romans 10:9-10.
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)
In summary, the 2 important parameters for salvation are:
- The message of the gospel
- The acceptance and confession of the message by a person
This does not mean that the message should be preached out of a selfish motive as we see in Philippians 1:15-18. On the last day, God is going to church for our labours in the gospel.
But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
1 Cor. 3:13 – 15 (NLT)
It also makes no sense for you to preach a message you don’t believe in. Hardly would you find anyone who is not born-again preaching the gospel of Christ. So for you to preach a message clearly with all conviction, you have to believe in it.
Every Christian has received and accepted this message and every Christian is qualified to win souls by preaching the gospel. There is no classification of who can or cannot. It is not a supreme task reserved for a privileged task. Jesus commanded all His followers to go into the world and preach the good news.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
It is the duty of every Christian. Other forms of sharing the message are always sponsored by Christians as well. This implies that every preaching of the gospel through any media is sponsored by someone who has given his or her life to Jesus.
As a Christian, you can preach the gospel through any medium of your choice, either animate or inanimate.
You can sponsor ads on TV and radio. You can create video commercials. The actors in the commercials don’t always have to be Christians. You’re paying them to act and you are born again, you know the truth. All you need to do is to ensure the message is clearly passed.
You can print flyers with the gospel written in them and pay people to distribute them all over your city. The distributors must not be Christians, but it is good they are. After they work for you you can lead them to Christ as well. Their not being Christians will not alter the message in the flyer, the words in it will still be potent and able to save anyone who reads them.
So once again, to the question –
Who is Qualified to Win Souls?
Anyone or anything that can clearly pass the message of Jesus with an affirmation of his Lordship, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection.
These are always Christians, so all Christians are qualified to win souls.
But if anyone will preach this message even without accepting it (which is not possible), the message will still work because salvation is not in the person preaching it but in the message.
The only person that is important in the salvation process is Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ has done all that needs to be done to get anyone saved. He did it once and for all.
If you have not given your life to Jesus, kindly say the prayer below:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I thank you for dying for my sins.
I believe you died, you were buried and you resurrected to give me life.
I accept that I am a sinner and therefore I need your help.
I believe your blood was shed for the forgiveness of my sins,
I give my heart to you and I accept you now as my Lord and my Saviour.
Thank you for loving me first Jesus,
I love you too.
I am now your child.
Halleluyah.
To learn more about how to live as a Christian, click here.
For a template of Salvation Prayer, click here.