By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
HENDERSONVILLE — The act of rescuing a person from a fire is done with urgency and, in most cases, with great force.
Roc Collins, director of strategic objectives for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, says that is the approach Christians need to take when dealing with individuals who don’t know Jesus.
Addressing the state convention during the morning worship service on Nov. 14 at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Collins said, “We’ve been called, and commissioned, to rescue those who are perishing, those who are dying, those who are headed for a devil’s hell.”
Roc Collins
Collins, a former Tennessee Baptist Convention president, noted that there are nearly four million lost people in the state of Tennessee, which is more than 50 percent of the population.
Among those, he said, there are many who have misconceptions about Jesus. “There are those who doubt that Jesus is who He says He was,” said Collins. “There are those who doubt He lived a sinless life and was the Son of God. There are those who doubt if He really did rise from the dead.”
Collins, preaching from Jude, said that while we need to have mercy on those who don’t believe that Jesus is the Savior, we need to act immediately, helping them escape from eternal separation from God.
Collins said Jude 1:23 — which states that we should “save others by snatching them from the fire” — is a direct call to action.
“The word ‘snatch’ means to grab or seize by force with the intent of removing,” he said. “That sounds awfully active to me. It sounds like it needs some energy. You aren’t going to snatch anyone by just sitting (in a pew).”
Collins said people who believe Jesus was a good man, but not the Messiah, are traveling a dangerous road. It is our duty, he said, to make them aware that “Jesus is either Lord of all or not at all.” There is no between, he said.
Collins said Christians need to seek out the lost and be diligent in the duty of “snatching them out of hell.” But many times, he said, Christians fail to take on the challenge because they have misconceptions about eternity.
“I’m afraid that we don’t believe in hell anymore,” said Collins, referring to society as a whole. “Do I believe there is a literal flame? Well, the Bible said there is — and that’s enough for me to believe it.”
Collins said Christians, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, should be able to sense those who are in danger.
“We ought to be sniffing when we walk up to folks,” he said. “When they are smelling like smoke, we ought to get real urgent in the matter.”
Collins said people often get tricked into believing that their good works will be a ticket to salvation. “From Memphis to Mountain City, there are people who are trusting in their own goodness to get to heaven.”
As Christians, it is our responsibility — and, even more, our privilege — to point people to Jesus, Collins said.
“We are to snatch those who even smell of smoke,” said Collins. “No one is so dirty that He can’t make them worthy.”
