Church Planters Corner
Keys and Issues in Planting the Local ChurchA Clear Plan of Salvation
by Missionary David R. Cox
There are probably hundreds of different valid presentations of the gospel out there. Looking into the actual Bible, we find Jesus presenting the salvation in various different forms. We cannot speak authoritatively about how Jesus witnessed because being God, he could very well discern perfectly the heart of the person that he was dealing with and emphasize what that person particularly needed. The best we can do is to imitate that as imperfectly as we can.
After much study in the subject, I have discerned that there are 4 points that need to be emphasized in any plan of salvation. These points are as follows:
(1) Recognition that one is a sinner and needing salvation.
(2) Repentance - a moral change in disposition towards sin.
(3) Believing or accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.
(4) Public confession of your faith in Jesus Christ.These elements are essential in salvation. Any plan of salvation that lacks or lightly emphasizes one or more of these points will result in a "Christian" that is born with birth defects (i.e. he will have serious spiritual problems until he returns to take care of these points) if indeed he does get saved.
At this point I will go through my thinking, verses, and observations on each of these points.
Verses for Witnessing (based on this four point plan) (finished 05/20/05)
Explanations included. (finished 05/20/05)Conditions for salvation
In dealing with many people over the years, I have identified 4 conditions that need to met before a person is truly saved.
(1) Understanding - If the person needing salvation does not understand what he is doing, what God's plan of salvation is, it is futile to think he will really get saved. The bottom line here, anybody who prays a sinner's prayer to get saved without understanding and embracing the faith of God in Jesus as the Savior, is not saved. The prayer is an expression of what is in the heart, or if not, it is a work, and we are not saved by works.
Evangelist's Principles - We work towards true heart-felt God worked salvation, and not a tally. Many Christians who witness work for a number. To do this, they count "decisions". Unfortunately we see the truth as we go down the road with their converts. 100 decisions. Of these 100, only 50 we ever see again. Of the 50, 20 may be baptized at great efforts. 10 will still be involved and coming after a month or so. And in a year's time, 3-5 of the 100 will still be attending a Fundamental Bible believing church. Of these maybe 1 or 2 will be involved in said church.
Why so grim statistics? Because we work towards numbers, decisions, and our own personal glory (here before men or in heaven before God), but we do not do the work of God. Once a person has prayed a prayer (but not understood), and you tell him he is going to heaven, he must return to that pre-saved state of thinking he is unsaved before he can really get saved. The soul winner must be cautious to wait and check for true understanding and faith before pushing for a prayer.
(2) Sincerity - We must "believe with the heart" (Romans 10:9-10) and not just the head. A person can pray and do anything you tell him to do, but if he is not truly sincere with God, there is no salvation.
Evangelist's Principles - Some people will pray a prayer will you to just push you off, to get rid of you. To these people, the Soul winner must pray to detect sincerity in the person's heart. It is a waste of both people's time to pray a fruitless prayer just to make "another decision".
(3) Person Will - Here the decision to be saved is a person decision of the individual. I cannot force another person to be saved. For as much as I may want a child, a spouse, a parent, or somebody I am witnessing to to be saved, I cannot make that happen. God makes that happen, but even God conditions salvation on that person wanting it. God does not save people who refuse His salvation. They are condemned.
Evangelist's Principles - If the person understands, and is sincere with God, then he must personally desire this salvation. It again does nothing if the person needing salvation does not want or desire to remedy his situation. Verses about the condemnation of God on sin is the key here to try to create a desire in the person to be saved.
(4) Personal Action - You can be an expert on salvation, knowing all the ins and outs of salvation, but the bottom line is, if you do not take personal action to procure it for yourself, you will never be saved.
Evangelist's Principles - Here after we have seen the other conditions met is where the soul winner must push for a response. He must be cautious not to be quiet when he should go forward with a plea to accept Christ, nor should he go forward if there are problems that need to be taken care of before the person prays for salvation.