I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)
If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23)
“If you were to die tonight and God were to say to you, ‘Why should I let you into heaven,’ how would you answer him?” I asked a homemaker standing between the columns of her porch in Iowa. I entered her answer on the survey form and droned through my spiel. As I headed up the street, I checked the box indicating another convert had recited the sinner’s prayer. Cha-ching—I thought I heard a deposit go into my heavenly account.
I’m repenting from that naively formulaic approach to evangelism. It degrades people into conquests and ignores the reality that salvation is as much a process as it is an event. I must shun easy open, microwaveable pitches and instead, like Jesus, love others as unique creations. Above all, the Holy Spirit must enter the conversation because salvation is more about the Spirit’s enablement than it is about a prayer I can maneuver others to say.
When he asked about salvation, Nicodemus was told to be born again, the rich young ruler was encouraged to sell everything, the crowd at Pentecost was charged with repentance and baptism, while the Romans had to confess their belief with their mouths. Each response met the converts on their journey, then moved them closer to Jesus.
Hallelujah, I’ve crossed over to salvation. All the work for my pardon is completed by Jesus on the cross. However, I’m also being saved as I carry my own cross of self-denial. Thus, salvation is the bridge that joins Evangelism and Discipleship.
Prayer: Rescuer of souls, use me to help others on this same journey I myself am on.