God's Model for Salvation

There's a problem with evangelism in modern day Christianity. Many may say "you won't ever find true happiness and peace until you have Jesus", but some pre-believers may not understand that when all is going well. Some may say "you have a God-shaped void in you heart" which again puzzles pre-believers. While some may go through trials and accept God or say the sinner's prayer, the result is that he or she may not fully understand the decision he/she made and will soon fall away.

Think about a doctor, he might know what a patient is suffering from and prescribe a treatment but if the patient do not know what they are suffering from and hence the need of treatment, it is little wonder they may stop treatment.

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17 NKJV)

The way God evangelized was to give the law first then grace next. The law reveals the problem man has and how there's no hope self-medicating, no matter how we try. Grace and truth through Jesus reveals the answer. No wonder Paul wrote in Romans that he would not know what sin is except with the Law. Elder Freddy Boey once gave an example that unless the law and road sign says speeding beyond a certain limit is unlawful, we will not know that it's unlawful.

But often times, when sharing the gospel, we miss out the condition and prescribe the treatment. Or worst, we do things in reverse, we share about grace to pre-believers and then pound believers with the law, which then some will see it as being legalistic and fall away.

When there's no conviction by the Law, there's no repentance and without repentance, people may not come to fully understand God's grace. That's God's order. The old testament leads to the new.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23 NKJV). We have all lied, stole, had unholy thoughts towards others, dishonored our parents at one point in time or another. God's commandments gave awareness of what is wrong and show that by ourselves, we are condemned to never be able to enter holy heavens and into His presence. But this godly awareness will lead us to God's salvation plan, Jesus.

May God give us the prompting and sensitivity by His Holy Spirit as we minister to pre-believers, to help them understand their need for God's salvation. May we REALLY save one more for Jesus.

Writing inspired by "From Buddha to Jesus" by Steve Cioccolanti