Listen:  144.2

First of all, it is very encouraging to read of the desire you have to see your friend turn to Christ for salvation. Being an atheist, he can’t appreciate how blessed he is to have a Christian friend that wants his soul to be saved. We will be praying for your testimony to him to be used of God in his conversion.

When someone claims to be an atheist, they’re rejecting both God and His Word. And yet some atheists will still “listen” to the Word out of courtesy to a friend or loved one. If he is willing to listen, it is a blessing to know that the Word of God is powerful and can change his thinking.  Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Now let’s try to answer your specific question. I have to say that I do not know of one specific verse in Scripture that would definitely turn an atheist to Christ. God alone knows his heart and He also knows just what scriptures to use to bring them to faith in Christ. Romans 1:16 reads, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” Romans 10:17 says, “For faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  We know from these two verses that God uses His word in the gospel message to produce saving faith in a sinner. But we don’t know exactly what verses He will use. I say “verses,” for God will usually use more than one verse to turn someone to Christ. Why do I say that? Because a person will never believe the “good news” of salvation through Christ until they have heard and believed the “bad news” that they’re a sinner!

Let’s consider several verses that we can use to show them the “bad news.”  In Romans 3:23 we see, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Then in Romans 6:23 and Hebrews 9:27 we learn the penalty of sin, “For the wages of sin is death…And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Before anyone can be saved, they MUST come to see that they are a sinner and that their sins deserve DEATH and JUDGMENT.

After they do see their need of being saved from death and judgment, we can then show them the “good news.” One of my favorites is 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” This verse can surely be used to bring peace to the one who feels the burden of their sin. Another good verse is Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.” Verses like these clearly show the “sinner,” the one who is “lost,” that the Lord Jesus came into this world to save them. We could use John 3:16, John 5:24, John 10:9, John 14:6, Acts 16:31 and many more verses that show God’s “good news” of salvation through His Son. The Lord gave me the assurance of my salvation through John 19:30 where Jesus cried out from the cross “It is finished.” When I saw that Christ finished the work to save a sinner like me I knew I was saved!

Again, we will pray for you as you witness to your friend. May you pray for the Lord to give you just the right verses to give to your friend and then pray that the Lord will work in his heart and save him!  (144.2)  (DO)