Plan of Salvation

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

 

INTRODUCTION

            Many Christians believe that sharing the good news of God’s salvation (the Gospel) is primarily the responsibility of ministers.  They are the ones who have studied the Bible and know how to lead people to Christ.  Nothing, however, could be further from the truth.  Consider, for example, Acts 8:1-4.  When persecution broke out in Jerusalem, the Apostles remained in the city, but the other believers fled to Judea and Samaria, and everywhere they went they told people about Jesus.  These people were not the leaders of the church.  They were its servants, people like Philip who had been appointed a deacon.  Throughout the centuries Christianity has grown because one person has told another person about Jesus, and the same is true today. 

            However, most Christians today are afraid to share their faith.  They are afraid of being rejected and of even being persecuted for telling others about Christ, and to be perfectly honest, they don’t know how to share their faith effectively.  So, they simply hush up, except to invite someone to church, and if someone asks about what it means to become a Christian, they quickly refer that person to the pastor.  In so doing, they miss out on one of the greatest joys that God’s people can experience, the joy of leading another person to Christ.

            So, let’s take a brief look at these two hurtles that get in the way of being a witness for Christ.  The first is fear and the second is ignorance.  We are fearful about telling others about Christ because we fail to realize that it’s a three-way conversation involving ourselves, the person we are talking to, and the Holy Spirit.  In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus promised His followers that He would be with them to the end of the age as they went out to make disciples of all the nations.  We do not, therefore, have to be afraid because the Holy Spirit will guide and direct us to the right person, to the right time and place, and to the right way to share the Gospel.  He is a part of the conversation both in terms of our lives and the life of the individual to whom we are speaking.  Ultimately, He is the one who is in charge of the entire experience.  He is the one who convinces an individual to become a Christian.  That’s what Philip discovered in his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40.  Our conversations with others about Christ may not be quite so dramatic, but they can be just as effective in terms of sharing our faith because the Holy Spirit is right there with us.

            Second, telling others about Jesus is a learned discipline.  Just like any other skill, it requires time and practice in order to be proficient.  Otherwise you will not know how to respond if someone should ask you, “How can I become a Christian?”    In response, you need to know how to lead that individual to Christ and to introduce them to the Savior.

            So, let’s begin with a four-letter word, “FIRE.”  Each letter stands for a special word that can help us to enter into a conversation with another individual about Christ.  The letter “F” stands for family.  Everyone likes to talk about their family, even if your question is as simple as, “Tell me something about yourself.”  The second letter “I” stands for interests.  Everyone likes to talk about their interests.  Years ago, I was visiting in a home where there were numerous deer heads mounted on the walls of the living room.  I knew I was speaking to a hunter, and that became the focus of our conversation for the first few minutes.  The letter “R” stands for religious experience.  Did the person ever go to church as a child?  Do they know anything about Jesus?  Giving a person an opportunity to talk about their religious experience will help you to determine the level of their spirituality.  The last letter “E” stands for the exploratory question.  It should be asked using these words, “If you were suddenly standing before God and He asked you, ‘Why should I let you into my heaven?’ what would you say.”  The way a person responds to this question will determine whether that individual really is or is not a Christian.

            You may never need to use the “FIRE” acrostic, especially if the person to whom you are speaking is a friend or a close acquaintance.  Talking about your faith will come naturally in the course of your conversations with that individual and that person may even ask you how to become a Christian.  But feel free to use any part of the acrostic that applies to the situation and circumstances in which you find yourself.  However, always use the exploratory question when telling someone about Jesus.  Many people will tell you that they are a Christian, even though they have no idea what that word means.  In response to the exploratory question you will receive all kinds of answers from “I’m a good person” to “I went to church as a child and was baptized” to “I simply don’t know.”  There’s only one right answer, “I have asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and have placed my faith and trust in Him as my Savior.”  They may not use those exact words, but unless they clearly indicate that they have a personal relationship with Christ based upon what He did for them when He died on the cross, the chances are they are not a Christian.  They are trusting in themselves and not in Him for their salvation.

 

GOD LOVES YOU

In today’s world most people have heard the word “love,” but fewer and fewer have actually experienced it, especially the kind of love that is described in the Bible.  A growing number of them have grown up in homes where they were either abused or neglected, and they are now living in a world that is growing less compassionate with each passing day.  As we continue to move into what has been called a “post-Christian” era, the values and character traits that were once a part of the American way of life are being cast aside.  That’s why the plan of salvation begins with the declaration that “God loves you.”  People need to hear and hopefully begin to believe that there really is someone who loves them, who really cares about them. 

            Of course, some people will be skeptical.  They have been hurt on so many occasions by so many people that the idea of someone really caring about them without any ulterior motives is difficult to comprehend.  That’s why you may need to do three things.  First, tell them what the Bible says in John 3:16.  Explain to them that the word “world” refers primarily to the world of people, humanity.  Of course, the creation is a beautiful expression of God’s love and you might wish to point that out, especially if you are speaking to a person in an outdoor setting.  But the fact of the matter is God sent his Son because He loves us, you and me.  You may even want to remove the word “world” and replace it with the first name of the person to whom you are speaking.

            At that point you may wish to entertain a second possibility.  You can tell them a story that I heard many years ago on a radio show hosted by Paul Harvey, especially if you run into a truly skeptical individual who can’t imagine why God would do such a thing as sending His Son into our world.  The story is about a man who was sitting at home on a snowy Christmas Eve.  The rest of his family had gone to a midnight church service and he was at home by himself reading the newspaper.  His family had asked him to come with them to the service celebrating the birth of Christ, but he did not want to be a hypocrite pretending to believe in something so unbelievable.  Suddenly there was a loud thump against the large bay window in his living room.  He got up from his chair, went over to the window and discovered a flock of birds in the snow, some of them flying up against the window, trying to get into the warmth and light that it radiated.  His heart immediately went out to them because it was a bitterly cold night with snow beginning to blow in all directions.  He put on a heavy coat and went outside.  He opened up the doors to the barn in the back yard and turned on the lights.  He even sprinkled bread crumbs in a trail hoping to coax them into the barn as a place of refuge.  Nevertheless, the birds remained huddled in the snow unable to understand his desire to help them.  Standing there in the snow he mumbled, “If only I could become like one of them, I could lead them to safety.”  At that very moment the bells in the steeple began to toll at midnight celebrating the birth of Christ, and for the first time the man came to the realization as to why God had sent His Son into the world.  He fell to his knees in the snow expressing his gratitude for what God had done when He sent His Son into our world.  This is a summary of the story that can be found on the internet at “The Christmas Bird Story – the Man and the Birds.”

            Feel free to share the story but be sure to also include the fact that Jesus came to save those who believe and place their trust in Him.  Just like the birds which refused to trust the man who wanted to save them, we cannot be saved unless we are willing to believe in what God has done for us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

            At this point it would be appropriate to share a brief word of testimony about how you have come to experience God’s love and place your trust in Him.  This is the third thing that you need to tell the person with whom you are speaking with regards to God’s love for us.  Even if you don’t share the Christmas story because you don’t have enough time to tell it or it’s not appropriate, you do need to tell the person with whom you are speaking about your salvation experience or about a time in your life when you really felt and experienced God’s love for you.  Keep it short and simple, no longer than one or two minutes.  Then move on to the second point in the Gospel presentation, “Sin has separated you from God—Romans 3:23.”

            Finally, always remember that this conversation is a dialogue.  Be aware of what the other person says as well as that individual’s body language.  Are they interested in what you are saying?  Do they have questions that need to be resolved before you move on to the next part of the presentation?  You may even want to ask them if they understand what you have shared or have any questions before you proceed.  If you run into resistance at any point in presenting the Gospel, then it’s probably time to back off.  The person is not ready to go any further.  The best thing to do is to assure them of your love and concern and leave the door open to a further conversation later on.  If they are willing or perhaps eager for you to continue, then you can be reasonably certain that the Holy Spirit is present and is leading them to faith in Christ. 

 

SIN HAS SEPARATED YOU FROM GOD

In modern day America there are a growing number of people who do not like the word “sin.”  They would be delighted if it could be removed from the dictionary.  They would prefer words that are less forceful.  Instead of saying, “I have sinned,” they would be much more inclined to declare, “I made a mistake, or I made a poor choice.”  Nevertheless, the Bible does address the subject of sin on numerous occasions such as Psalm 51:4, 1 John 1:8 and Romans 3:23.  The basic meaning is that of missing the mark, like an archer that does not hit the bull’s eye of a target.  Even more graphically it carries the connotation of rebellion, a willful and selfish decision not only to violate God’s standards but to also alienate ourselves from the One who created us and who loves us.

            Therefore, bringing people to the place where they are willing to admit that they are sinners can be a challenging proposition.  First of all, they don’t want to admit it, and second of all, they can’t understand why their mistakes and shortcomings should separate them from God and deny them access to his heaven.  So here are a couple of illustrations that you might want to use.

            With regards to sinfulness, you might want to ask the person with whom you are speaking if they have ever broken a traffic law like speeding or running a red light.  Like all of us they will have to admit that they have committed a traffic violation even if they didn’t intend to.  Then you can go further and ask if they have ever said something or done something that brought harm to someone else.  If they are honest, they will have to admit that they have.  The key here is to drive home the point that we are all sinners.  All of us have said and done things that were wrong. 

            That brings us to the reason why God cannot accept those who have sinned, those whose lives do not measure up to his perfection.  Paul was talking about this very thing when he said that all of us have fallen short of the glory of God in Romans 3:23. The word “glory” describes a level of expertise that is without flaw or fault.  With that in mind you might want to use this illustration.  Ask the person with whom you are speaking if they think the director of Mission Control at NASA would we willing to hire an engineer who made frequent mistakes with regards to rocket launches into outer space?  Of course, he would not.  He would require his engineers to be perfect in their astronomical calculations and would have high standards for their conduct both on and off the job.  The master designer of the universe is like that director of Mission Control.  What He is attempting to do, to launch a mission that will save this world and those who live upon it, demands perfection on the part of those who are going to join with him in that endeavor.  That’s why he cannot accept us until our lives have been transformed, until both our sinful actions and our sinful attitudes have been dealt with. 

 

CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR SINS

 This third step in the Gospel Presentation is vitally important.  It resolves the problem of how God can deal with our sins in such a way that they do not separate us from his loving care and concern.  The Bible teaches that God is love but it also says that He is a righteous judge.  He cannot allow sin to go unpunished.  So, what is He to do?  How can He uphold His righteousness while at the same time demonstrating His compassionate concern for us? 

The dilemma that God faces and its resolution can be illustrated in this manner.  A young person is standing before a judge.  He is sincerely sorry for the error of his ways, but the law demands a serious penalty for what he has done.  The judge would like to set him free for he realizes that the young man has really experienced a change of heart.  But to do so would be to violate the very standards of justice which the judge has sworn to uphold.  The young person has been found guilty and is about to be sentenced when the defense attorney approaches the bench.  He says, “If it pleases the court, I would like to take upon myself the penalty that this young person justly deserves.”  Everyone in the court room is astonished, especially when the judge agrees to approve the defense attorney’s request, even though he knows that the penalty will be severe and the defense attorney is his son.  It’s the only way that both the judge’s compassionate concern and unwavering justice can be preserved.

Of course, this is precisely what Paul is talking about when he says in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  When Jesus died on the cross he exemplified both God’s justice and His love.  His life was given as a substitution for our own lives and as a declaration of the fact that there is a severe penalty for sin.  God loves us, but that doesn’t mean that He will not hold us accountable for our misbehavior, our wrong actions and attitudes.

In describing this aspect of the plan of salvation, you might also need to add that Jesus not only died for sins but that He rose from the dead and was resurrected.  Without going into a great deal of detail, you can simply state that like a person who is released from prison when it is determined that he did not commit the crime for which he was convicted, Jesus was innocent.  In fact, He was perfect.  He had not done anything which required death and eternal separation from God, and therefore was set free on the third day after His crucifixion.

 

REPENTANCE AND FAITH ARE NECESSARY FOR YOUR SALVATION

            How should we respond to what God has done for us through the sacrificial death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ?  Is there anything that we need to do in order to receive God’s gift of salvation?  We can’t earn it and we certainly don’t deserve it.  The only thing we can do is accept it, and we do that through repentance and faith.

            Repentance indicates a change of direction in our lives.  An old-time preacher demonstrated the meaning of repentance by walking down the center aisle of the church shouting, “I’m going to hell.  I’m going to hell!”  When he reached the back of the church, he turned around and began heading back towards the pulpit shouting, “I’m going to heaven.  I’m going to heaven.”  Repentance is an about face in life.  If we want to become a Christian, we must be willing to repent, to not only be sorry for our sins but to also earnestly desire to remove them from our lives.  That’s what Jesus was talking about when He said, “Repent and believe the Gospel.”  In order to be saved, we must earnestly desire to live a new way of life.

            Once that occurs, then we can respond by believing, by trusting ourselves into the care of the One who can save us.  In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul declares, “For my grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves.  It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”  Salvation, therefore, is a gift which we receive when we place our trust and faith in Jesus Christ.  It is a grace gift in that there is nothing that we could have done to gain it on our own.  In fact, just the opposite is true.   We are like a person in the middle of a lake who is drowning.  We’re just about ready to go down for the last time when the life guard sees us and swims out to rescue us.  In order to be saved from a watery grave, we must be willing to stop struggling on our own and trust the one who has come to save us.  We must stop splashing around and let the life guard take us safely to the shore.  That’s what it means to have faith.

            This life guard illustration has been used on many occasions to help people understand the meaning of repentance and faith.  In order to be saved we must be willing to admit that we can’t get to heaven on our own.  In fact, all of our efforts will have the opposite effect.  We’ll just be thrashing around like a person who is drowning.  We must admit that we need help, raising our arms so to speak and crying out, “Please help me, I’m drowning.”  Then when the life guard arrives, we must be willing to let him take hold of us and stop trying to swim on our own so that he can save us.

            Once the person to whom you are speaking understands what you have been sharing with them, you are ready to proceed to the final step in the plan of salvation.  You are saying, “Are you ready to let Jesus be your life guard, your life saver.”

 

INVITING CHRIST TO BECOME YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD

            This is the most important part of the gospel presentation.  It provides the person to whom you are speaking with an opportunity to respond in one of three ways.  He or she can accept the invitation to receive Christ, reject the invitation to receive Christ, or indicate that they are not ready to make that decision.  There is also a fourth response.  The person may tell you that he or she is already a Christian.  If that is what they say, ask them to tell you how they became a Christian, how they came to faith in Jesus Christ.  That will give you an opportunity to discover whether or not they made a genuine commitment to Christ or are, for example, counting on church membership to get them into heaven.

            Begin by sharing Revelation 3:20. This verse, of course, was addressed to the church in Laodicea.  However, I believe that it also applies to Christ’s invitation to become a Christian.  He stands at the door of our lives and requests the privilege of becoming our Savior and Lord.  A very famous painting portrayed this scene.  When it was unveiled someone noticed that the artist had not painted a handle on the outside of the door.  The artist replied by stating that the door did not have a handle because it had to be opened from the inside.  No one, not even Christ, will force His way into our lives.  We ourselves must make the decision to become a Christian.

            And that is true with regards to this part of the gospel presentation.  If the person to whom you are speaking is not ready to accept Christ, then don’t force the issue.  You can ask if there is anything standing in the way of making that decision.  But that is as far as you should go.  On several occasions I have run into people who felt that they had been forced into a faith commitment, and almost without exception they were angry about what had happened and no longer wanted to have anything to do with Christianity.  When a person is not ready to move forward or does not want to make a decision, honor their request.  If they wish, have a short prayer with them and either end the conversation or move on to another topic that is not faith related.

            You may be surprised by what happens.  Years ago a fellow Christian and I visited a home in a trailer park.  We shared the plan of salvation with the young woman and her little preschool daughter.  She was interested in what we had to say, but not ready to make a decision for Christ.  We did not press the issue, but instead prayed with her that the Lord would draw her unto Himself.  Then we left.  The next day there was loud knock on the door to my office at the church.  There she stood with a big smile on her face.  She said that she had been washing the dishes that morning when a preacher on the radio had said the same things that we had talked about the night before.  With her hands still in the dishwater she asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior, and she was so happy that she just had to come and tell someone about her decision.

            When we share the gospel with someone, it is a three-person conversation.  The Holy Spirit is present.  He is the one who convicts a person of their sin and their need to accept Christ (John 16:7-11).  We are simply the messengers of God’s plan of salvation.  Like the disciple Andrew, we can lead or introduce a person to Christ.  But the actual decision is something that happens between that person and the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, whether or not a person becomes a Christian is not ultimately our responsibility.  We can and should prayer for and with them, but we should never try to rush the decision.  In God’s own timing and in God’s own way it will hopefully take place.  

            There is one final thing that I need to share with you.  When you are speaking to someone about Christ, you may become aware that the Holy Spirit is present.  You will sense His unseen presence.  It will be as if someone is guiding the conversation.  You will find yourself sharing thoughts and even referring to passages of Scripture that you didn’t even think you knew.  At times it will seem as though someone is speaking through you.  That’s what Jesus was talking about in John 14:25-27.  It will not happen during every conversation that you have with another person about Christ.  But when it does, you can be assured that the Lord is reaching out to that individual.  The account of Philip and the Ethiopian in Acts 8:26-40 is a vivid reminder of this spiritual truth.

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

Once a person has indicated that they wish to become a Christian, it’s time to introduce them to the Lord.  This is accomplished through prayer, and it involves two things.  First, you introduce the individual to God just as if you were introducing that person to a friend.  For example, I would say, “In just a moment we’re going to pray.   During the first part of the prayer I will be introducing you to the Lord.  Then after I have introduced you to God, I’ll lead you in the “Prayer of Salvation.”  You can either repeat the words after me or simply share with the Lord what’s on your heart.”

            My prayer with the person who is professing faith in Christ would go something like this, “Dear God, I have a friend that I would like to introduce to you.  His name is Bill and he would like to become a Christian.  He knows that You love him, and He has accepted Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior.  I’m now going to ask him to repeat with me the ‘Prayer of Salvation.’”  I would then lead him through the prayer phrase by phrase.  After the prayer is concluded, I would congratulate the individual upon his decision and say, “Bill, welcome to the family of God.”

            Whether you memorize the “Prayer of Salvation,” which is included below in the Plan of Salvation outline, recite it from a slip of paper in your hand, or make up your own prayer utilizing the same ideas, it’s important that you pray with the person who is professing faith in Christ.  In some respects, it’s like the induction oath that you take when you join the Armed Forces of the United States.  It makes the decision official and its importance is supported by what Paul says in Romans 10:9-10.

            People respond to this part of the presentation in a multitude of ways.  Some can become very emotional, especially if they are turning away from a way of life that has been very sinful.  There can be a lot of tears and weeping.  Others may smile or even laugh as if a great burden has been lifted from their shoulders or a decision that they have been putting off for a long time has finally been made.  Others may respond quite stoically without exhibiting a strong emotional response.  Whatever the response, it’s the decision that matters, not how people respond to it emotionally.  You may, however, need to comfort or rejoice with those who express their feelings outwardly, or reassure those who not express their feelings that their decision is real and genuine.

            Finally, you need to share with the individual that they have started on a journey of faith that begins at the cross and continues for the remainder of their lives.  Many years ago John Bunyan wrote Pilgrims Progress.  It is an allegorical depiction of a Christian’s journey from salvation to his arrival in the Celestial City (heaven).   Our lives as God’s people are similar in many respects to what the main character in this allegory experienced.  New Christians need to know that there will be some challenges along the way as well as some very wonderful experiences.  They also need to know that there are some things they need to do to help them on their journey such as daily prayer, Bible study, regular church attendance, and spending time with fellow believers.  In addition, you should invite and encourage them to be a part of the church’s discipleship ministry, and for at least six months you need to be a special friend upon whom they can call for help and encouragement.  That’s what Priscilla and Aquila did when they met Apollos as recorded in Acts 18:24-26.

 

GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION

 

EXPLORATORY QUESTION

If you were suddenly standing before God and He asked you, “Why should I let you into My heaven,” what would you say?

GOSPEL PRESENTATION

God loves you—John 3:16

Sin has separated you from God—Romans 3:23

Christ died for your sins—Romans 5:8

Repentance and faith are necessary for your salvation—Mark 1:15 and Ephesians 2:8-9

Would you like to invite Christ to become your Savior and Lord—Revelation 3:20

PRAYER OF SALVATION

Dear God, I know that You love me and that Your Son died for my sins.  Please forgive me.  I want to place my life into the care of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting in Him and in Him alone for my salvation and for my eternal life.  Amen.