What more to add for clarity?
- Thread starter SuzM
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I find it's better to try and draw people out than to preach at them. If they say I know, ask them what that means to them; ask them if they simply know or if they believe he's their savior. If they start talking it can lead to a fruitful discussion; if they don't, you know they're not interested.
You believe he took away sin first. John 1:29, it is done for you John 19:30 to trust by Father for you to be resurrected too. To learn new willingly daily too. Do you beleive Col 1:21-22 is done for you by Father and Son as won for you?
I bet you know this in your new heart Father installs in you Ezekiel 36:26. Yet religion(s) will chase you, will try to get you to see it the way they see it and be somewhat self righteous in their own religions, touting they are doing better than others. I need Father's lead, anyone else?
Read Luke 18:9-14 to see the difference in touting anything
And see you by God are now forgiven by God through Son Jesus for you. Matthew 18:24-35 Believe, receive and forgive all as your response to God in thanksgiving and praise to God for you.
Matthew 18:24-35 was written as a before the cross happened. This today is after the cross happened, where all are forgiven by God Father though Son's done work at the cross once for all Hebrews 10:10.
Time to tell God in your own prayer closet, thank you and ask to learn new from God now living in you, through you being willing works, taking no credit to self ever again in doing it. 1 John2:27 best to read from verse 1
If you have time and they are interested, you might want to add a full statement of the Gospel, such as this:
A crisis that threatened a Philippian jailer with death prompted him to ask Paul and Silas the most important question in life: “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) This question is most important, because—as sinful and mortal souls—we need saving from corruption, both moral and physical. We need saving from physical death if we value or enjoy life, and we need saving from immorality or evil-doing if it results in unhappy existence, especially after this lifetime.
Jesus expressed GRFS succinctly by saying “Repent” (Matt. 4:17) and “Ask… seek… knock…” (Matt. 7:7, Heb. 11:6, Isa. 45:19), implying that God gives every sinful soul the ability to repent and seek salvation (cf. 1Tim. 2:3-4, 2Tim. 2:25, Ezek. 33:11), which might be why Paul said sinners are saved “by grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8-9, Tit. 2:11). Seeking God is the beginning of saving faith, and not repenting or rejecting God’s salvation in Christ is the essence of evil atheism or faith in I-dolatry (Rom. 3:11, 1:18-23).
The reply of Paul and Silas to the jailer was, “Believe in the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 16:31). This is GRFS in a nutshell: “Accept Christ Jesus as Lord” (as also in 2Cor. 4:5 & Col. 2:6). The main points of Christian orthodoxy implicit in this statement can be explained or elaborated as follows:
- There is a/one all-loving and just Lord or Creator God (Deut. 6:4, John 3:16, 2Thes. 1:6), who loves sinful humanity (Rom. 5:6-8, John 3:16) and who is both able (2Tim. 1:12) and willing (1Tim. 2:3-4, Ezek. 33:11) to provide all morally accountable human beings salvation or heaven—a wonderful life full of love, joy and peace forever.
- Human beings are selfish or sinful (Rom. 3:23, 2Tim. 3:2-4, Col. 3:5), miserable (Gal. 5:19-21), and hopeless (Eph. 2:12) or hell-bound at the judgment (Matt. 23:33 & 25:46) when they reject God’s salvation (John 3:18, Rom. 2:5-11).
- Jesus is God’s Messiah/Christ and incarnate Son, the way that God has chosen (John 3:16, Acts 16:30-31, Phil. 2:9-11) of providing salvation by means of his atoning death on the cross for the payment of the penalty for the sins of humanity (Rom. 3:22-25 & 5:9-11), followed by his resurrection to reign in heaven (1Cor. 15:14-28).
- Thus, every person who hears the NT Gospel needs to repent and accept God’s grace or justification in Jesus as Christ/Messiah the Lord or Supreme Commander (Luke 2:11, John 14:6, Acts 16:31), at which moment God’s loving Holy Spirit of Christ indwells/baptizes the believer into the church (Rev. 3:20, Rom. 5:5, 1Cor. 12:13).
- Loving Christ Jesus as Lord (Luke 2:11), God the Son (Matt. 16:16) or God in the human dimension (Col. 2:9) means reflecting divine love (DL) as empowered by the Holy Spirit, thereby obeying His command to love one another (Matt. 7:21, 22:37-40, John 13:35, Rom. 13:9)—forever (Matt. 10:22, Psa. 113:2), which will eventually achieve spiritual maturity on earth and heaven after Christ returns at God’s resurrection (John 14:6, 17&26, Rom. 8:6-17, Gal. 6:7-9, Eph. 1:13-14, Phil. 3:12-16, Heb. 10:36, 12:1, Jam. 1:2-4).
Talk about some of his judgements like this concept
“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall be given into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Luke 6:35-38 KJV
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
Matthew 7:1-2 KJV
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15 KJV
I like this, simple is as simple does. I was looking for a simplified explanation to captivate their attention to start with, then go from there.
Thank you. Be blessed!
2nd Corinthians 5:21, 12:9, Romans 5:8 & 9, 8:28, Hebrews 8:10, 10:23, Philippians 4:19, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 16:11, 118:24 & 2nd Chronicles 7:14.
Hello all,
I discovered the short and true response as to why we need to be born again and this is the answer that satisfies me as it's short and to the point: FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. We were dead in our trespasses and sins.
If this doesn't cause the lost to perk up their ears, I don't know what can. The rest of what I was told are great, for those lost who want to know and hear. What do you think?
that is Roman 3:23. Romans 10:17 & John 3:5 to consider. i believe God has sent His Holy Spirit calling on the world to repentance. receiving a call from the H.S. is tops for a nonbeliever to be convicted, converted & transformed to Jesus.
Precious @SuzM, these have been helpful for me:
Undiluted Wrath And Undiluted Grace!
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And, precious friend(s), Please Be Very Richly Encouraged and Edified
In The Lord Jesus Christ and In His Precious Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided:
The Bible: The BIG Picture
Amen.
This is good to focus their attention of Jesus meeting our need for a savior. I think everyone is at least familiar with this idea, but what they 'what's new' to them is the life that comes of it, that's different.
