That Was Easy!…Or Was It?- Part 3
Well this last post was over a month ago. I’m not sure what I was thinking in waiting so long. I became distracted with other things or procrastinated. Regardless of the reason why, here I am to complete this 3 part series.
To recap the last 2 posts, I say: Read them. 
I’ve been dealing w/ some non biblical approaches to Salvation and how some treat it as easy believism although they’ll vehemently deny it. The last post had a very good example to show this and we saw there were many Scripture references pulled out of context to fit the agenda of the author.
This final post will be one that shows a biblical approach to Salvation/Evangelism. It is vastly different and more in depth than what we’ve seen so far. It engages the person we’re speaking with more so than reviewing some trifold tract and getting them to admit a few things, to then pray a prayer and magically pronounce them saved. So let’s begin looking at this Biblical approach. But before we begin I want to make sure I preface this w/ the disclaimer that what is said here is just one way of working toward sharing the Gospel w/ the lost, but the one way I’ve seen that holds most closely to the Scriptures. In many of the points discussed below, I could go into greater depth, but I am trying to be brief for the sake of this post & this series.
One cannot begin sharing the Gospel with a complete stranger w/out first speaking to them about their own person/secular life. I think, if at all possible, one of the most important things that can be done in working toward sharing the Gospel w/ others is to build relationships w/ people. You build a relationship w/ a person, know them on a personal level, and you’ll eventually earn their trust enough to begin to share with them the truth of Scripture, and they’ll be more apt to listen. I must confess though, that as I write, I’m convicted of my own failures in this vital area of the Christian life. Obviously one thing you’ll find out in conversation is, if and where they might go to or have gone to church. We need to find out where people are spiritually. So many people either think they’re saved or they’re good enough, or hope they’re good enough when they die to go to Heaven. I know in the past how many I’ve spoken w/ who think this way. I’ve got so many family members who think this and I realize from personal experience that unless I build a relationship with them, I won’t have much influence on them for the sake of Christ. Now before I be accused of saying it is in our own power to win the lost, ultimately my effectiveness in sharing the Gospel is NOT my own. It is the Holy Spirit working through us. Let me make that clear, that’s it’s the Holy Spirit who touches the hearts of men, who takes out the heart of stone and puts in the heart of flesh. It’s the Holy Spirit that grants faith & repentance, and opens the eyes of the blind, & raises the dead to life.
A good question to ask someone is, “What do you think is a person’s greatest spiritual need” Obviously if they answer a relationship w/ Christ, it’s a pretty good indication they’re a believer, but if they give anything else we need to press ahead to some “tests.” Jumping into the Scriptures we need to dive head first right into the Ten Commandments. Let’s go right to the Law, b/c we know everyone is guilty of breaking at least one of these, and I’m certain that we’ve broken all of them. When one admits they’ve told a lie, that makes them a liar. When one admits they’ve stolen anything, it makes them a thief. What about when that same person admits they’ve lusted after someone other than their spouse? Now they’ve committed adultery. So they’re a lying, thieving, adulterer. Plus, if that weren’t bad enough, James tells us that when we’ve stumbled in one area of the law, we’re guilty of breaking all of them! So w/ that said we’re guilty, and in deserving of Hell. Though, not all will say that they’re guilty of Hell. Some will still think they’re good enough for Heaven! But what about what Matthew 7:22-23 tell us? This is where we hammer it down and drive full speed into the I John “tests,” of what a true Christian is/is not. Some good references are I John 1:5-10, I John 2:3-5, I John 2:15, I John 2:19, I John 3:14-15. Running through these Scriptures should help one see whether or not they’re in the faith.
What about Grace? We cannot go through the Gospel w/ someone w/out explaining the meaning of Grace. We need to make clear that salvation is a result of God’s Grace, and that Heaven is a free gift that’s not earned or deserved. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). We can’t earn our way into Heaven b/c we’ve all broken God’s law ( Matthew 5:48) & b/c we’re all dead in our sins (Ephesians 2) and need to be made alive beforehand.
What about God? He’s the creator of everything! ….Including us! (Psalms 24:1). He is also just & merciful. (Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 2:4). Our sin has separated us from God and there’s nothing we can do to change that fact. He can’t overlook our sin, it’s gotta be paid for. So either Christ has paid for it on the Cross, or we’ll pay for it when we die. Those are the only 2 options. It’s either or & not a combo of the two. I must say those who espouse to universal atonement combine the two and say that Christ died for everyone to be saved and it’s up to us to decide. But when this line of logic is followed to it’s conclusion, our salvation then rests at our feet, instead of Christ’s. Therefore the teaching of limited atonement, or effectual calling, is Scriptural. Christ did not die for a possibility, but he accomplished something definitive on the Cross.
Since we’re speaking of Christ let’s continue on. Christ is to be our substitute. But to qualify for this He had to be a man but He also had to be perfect. Christ died to redeem mankind. If Christ died for our sins, where our sins were laid on Him on the Cross, then we can say that He exchanged His life for ours. He died for all man kind but He did not die to save every man. He died for those He came to save, for His sheep. He gave His life for His church. We need to understand that if we repent and believe the Gospel, then we can proclaim Romans 5:8, that while I was still a sinner Christ died for me!!!! He exchanged His life for mine!!!!
God’s Word commands all men to repent. That does not mean all men will. Repentance is a change of mind resulting in a change of behavior. We are commanded to not only repent of our sins, but to place our faith in Christ alone as the means for salvation. However , both repentance & faith are gifts from God. In our lost, dead condition repentance & faith are not possible until we’re regenerated by God Himself.
If God uses us to share the Gospel with someone and they do profess repentance & faith it’s always a good thing, an important thing to follow up w/ prayer. Not that a prayer will save the person or “secure the deal” but to recognize & thank the Lord for what He’s done, and will do, and as a new believer to give them a chance to pray & confess their sins & self righteousness, and seek His forgiveness. (but this will inevitably come if they’ve come to faith in Christ)
This post, nor this series, is by any means an exhaustive study on the subject. I’m sure much more and much better things could be said. My goal has been to share my thoughts that it might be a help to all those who read it. I do hope though that through this it will cause you to dig deeper into the Scriptures and study the Scriptures for yourself, and not just take, hook, line & sinker, what you’ve been taught by some man about the Scriptures. If there’s one important thing the Lord has shown me, among other things, it’s that it’s so vitally important to study the Scriptures for yourself, and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself, and The Word to you, to conform you more to His image.
Soli Deo Gloria
