When Jesus was on the cross, thirsty, bleeding, suffering extreme agony and dying, He prayed for all the enemies who put Him in such a state – Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” ……….. (Luke 23:34)
Those who crucified Jesus and those who wished Him crucified, of course, were self-conscious people, they were rational beings and they knew exactly what they were doing. It was a self-conscious decision or desire of the people to have Jesus killed, and the governor and the soldiers who were effecting their desire were self-conscious enough; yet, Jesus said, “…they do not know what they are doing.” The truth is, the unbeliever, though a conscious person, is very blind. The Bible says
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (believers): 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthian 4:3-4)
The devil has blinded the unbeliever; in consequence of this, they do not see; they do not understand spiritual things; neither do they see the eternal consequence of their evil deeds nor acknowledge Jesus, the Savior. They are spiritually blind; they are spiritually handicapped, yet they never realize it; that is what the devil has made them to be.
Christians really have to feel for the perishing unbeliever. Generally, we believe that the unbeliever is separated from God and consigned to hell – just that; but if God were to disclose to you in full what trauma the unbeliever stands to suffer in hell, you would have gone every length to ensure their salvation; if not for anything at all, at least to help them escape from an eternal state of torment. Surprisingly, some of these perishing unbelievers are people we claim to love – they might be our mothers, sisters, friends, husbands, wives, social network friends, and followers, etc. What better way can you express love to someone you love than to save him from eternal damnation? Is there any better way to express love than this?
In fact, it would be quite easier to help a person who acknowledges that he needs help than someone who does not. In a situation where a person does not realize his vulnerability and wretchedness, it is twice as difficult to help such a person. The unbeliever is the sort of person who is never aware of his spiritual misery. He is sinful; consumed of pride and ever rebellious towards God; hence the Bible says about him, “For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God (Job 34:37).” More so, they do not acknowledge God, let alone His salvation; hence the Bible says about them; “… they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation.” (Psalm 78:22). So how would you help such a person who is sinful, rebellious, unbelieving, etc. to be saved? This is what God commands you to do for the unbeliever –
Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. (Jude 1:23 NLT)
This verse of Scripture is very imperative and carries a connotation of aggression to the reader’s mind. In fact, you have a better feel of its aggression and imperativeness if you read the King James Version of it, which says –
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 1:23 KJV).
Mind you, God does not command you to do something beyond your strength or capability. If God says snatch or pull them from the fire, then He has given you the capability to execute it. The soul-winning ministry itself is very dear to the heart of God, and God is with the soul winner; and, the Bible says, with God all things are possible. That is to say, having God on your side or with God’s guidance and inspiration, you will be able to snatch or pull the unbeliever from the fire of hell — if only you are willing; if only you will not give up.
The use of the phrase ‘pulling them out of the fire’ – it sounds like it is all going to depend on you, the Christian. ‘Pulling’ is a forceful act; the object pulled, of course, would not contribute any effort to the act of it being pulled; it is all in the power and will of the one pulling. And it makes a lot of sense for the Bible to use the phrase ‘pulling them out of the fire’ for the unbeliever does not show any readiness to receive salvation; neither does he ever appreciate salvation or see the essence of it. In fact, in most cases, he would even put up an attitude that would deter you from making any attempt to win him for Christ. If the unbeliever would be saved, it would depend on you.
Jesus commanded that Christians should go and make disciples of unbelievers. However, the task of making disciples, in most cases, is no small hurdle. Sometimes you would do all you can, intending to lead the unbeliever to Christ; but he would not be yielding or would not be responding positively to your effort. The likely consequence is that you would be tired and give up on him. This is where Jude 1:23 comes into play; have mercy upon the unbelievers, ‘pulling them out of the fire’, seeing that giving up on them to die without Christ means they are heading to hell.
It is typical of the unbeliever to put up an attitude to discourage you from any attempt to win him for Christ. Procrastination and giving excuses is something they commonly do. Sometimes he might hate you for the sheer act of preaching the gospel to him. If Jesus could say about those self-conscious people who were crucifying him that they do not know what they are doing, then you can be sure that the unbeliever who gives excuses or keeps procrastinating, etc., does not know what he is doing; if they knew, they would not have done it. You can be sure that someday, the unbeliever would ever regret the decision of not accepting Jesus, but it would be too late for him to repent. This is the hour of grace, though he might hate you, insult you, give excuses, etc. yet still show him mercy and by the guidance of the Spirit of God, do all you can to pull him out of the fire of hell, saving him from the everlasting regret and he would ever be grateful.
Have mercy upon the unbeliever – the proud, stubborn, unyielding, hateful, disrespectful, etc. unbeliever. Pull or snatch him from getting into hell. Certainly, you know what means it takes to snatch him from hell; remember Jesus’ soul-winning strategies – visitation, invitation, evangelism, living uprightly, and using your spiritual gifts.