Imagine discovering something with eternal value – something that cannot be measured in any form of currency. And what you’ve discovered is something whose value can not be depreciated or decreased if shared. In fact, sharing your discovery increases its value. What would you? Like most, you’d probably be inclined to share it, or at least tell other people about it so they could discover it for themselves and in turn share with others. But what is there that not only retains its value but also increases in value the more it is shared? Salvation, of course!
Now, I know what you’re thinking. We cannot grant salvation to anyone, and you’re right. Only God can grant salvation, which is done through the work of the Holy Spirit. But we can certainly share the Gospel with others and get the ball rolling, so to speak, right? So why don’t we? Why are we hesitant to share this amazing discovery, one that is eternal and everlasting? One of the reasons, I believe, is we don’t want to alienate anyone, particularly our non-believing friends. This is interesting because if we take a step and examine the situation, we quickly see the fallacy of such thinking. What we are really doing is protecting our earthly and finite relationships. In such cases we sometimes tell ourselves that salvation is God’s business, not ours, and it’s up to Him to decide whom to save. To an extent this is true, but it does not absolve us of our responsibility, which was given by Jesus at the Great Commission.
Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, he gave a final command to his disciples.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28: 18-20, NKJV). We are called to make disciples of all nations. But what exactly does that mean? A disciple is a follower of another, an adherent to a particular teaching or doctrine. As Christians, we are follower of Jesus. He gave us a very clear, very concise task – to make disciples of all nations. That is, to share the Gospel.
Now, let’s be clear about something. Salvation is a really simple concept. While tomes dissecting the Bible and exploring terms like grace, sanctification, and justification have made the theological waters a bit murky, the underlying doctrine of salvation is relatively easy to understand. All one has to do is believe. That’s it. Oh, sure, I see the theologians out there waving their arms frantically, and I appreciate their zeal and fervor. Certainly the Bible warrants serious study. Believers should spend time delving into God’s Word. That is how we learn and grow to appreciate his majesty. But at the end of the day, what salvation really boils down to is simply believing. When Jesus was crucified, the man on the cross to his right rebuked a fellow criminal, the man on Jesus’ left. He then turned to Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). Imagine, just like that, instant salvation. That man didn’t understand theology (which, of course really hadn’t been written or developed at that point). He believed that Jesus was who he said he was. And that is the heart of salvation. Such belief is not ordinary. It is not average, run-of-the-mill trust we’re talking about. No, it is the ultimate belief in a Savior, the only one who can forgive sins.
Therefore, when someone comes to Christ and experiences that forgiveness it should be shared. Before I continue, let me state that many a new believer, overcome with joy and excitement, has attempted to forcefully share the Gospel. While such intentions are noble and understandable, I am not referring to sharing in this manner necessarily – not that it is a bad thing. Rather, believers, in keeping with Christ’s command, should hold on to that feeling and recall it often in their daily walk with Jesus. What Christians should constantly keep in mind is that they have a treasure whose value will never diminish. In fact, the more they share it, the more value it will have.
Salvation is not a solo affair, nor is it intended to be. One receives salvation individually, but it a gift that is meant to be shared. Theology aside, the only requirement is to believe – believe Jesus Christ is exactly who he said he was. Simple, right? Perhaps imaginably more so if one had witnessed his miracles, although there were many who refused to believe. While we lack the luxury of a firsthand account today, we are capable of experiencing the simplicity of salvation and sharing it. And that is what we have been commanded to do.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. We cannot grant salvation to anyone, and you’re right. Only God can grant salvation, which is done through the work of the Holy Spirit. But we can certainly share the Gospel with others and get the ball rolling, so to speak, right? So why don’t we? Why are we hesitant to share this amazing discovery, one that is eternal and everlasting? One of the reasons, I believe, is we don’t want to alienate anyone, particularly our non-believing friends. This is interesting because if we take a step and examine the situation, we quickly see the fallacy of such thinking. What we are really doing is protecting our earthly and finite relationships. In such cases we sometimes tell ourselves that salvation is God’s business, not ours, and it’s up to Him to decide whom to save. To an extent this is true, but it does not absolve us of our responsibility, which was given by Jesus at the Great Commission.
Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, he gave a final command to his disciples.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28: 18-20, NKJV). We are called to make disciples of all nations. But what exactly does that mean? A disciple is a follower of another, an adherent to a particular teaching or doctrine. As Christians, we are follower of Jesus. He gave us a very clear, very concise task – to make disciples of all nations. That is, to share the Gospel.
Now, let’s be clear about something. Salvation is a really simple concept. While tomes dissecting the Bible and exploring terms like grace, sanctification, and justification have made the theological waters a bit murky, the underlying doctrine of salvation is relatively easy to understand. All one has to do is believe. That’s it. Oh, sure, I see the theologians out there waving their arms frantically, and I appreciate their zeal and fervor. Certainly the Bible warrants serious study. Believers should spend time delving into God’s Word. That is how we learn and grow to appreciate his majesty. But at the end of the day, what salvation really boils down to is simply believing. When Jesus was crucified, the man on the cross to his right rebuked a fellow criminal, the man on Jesus’ left. He then turned to Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). Imagine, just like that, instant salvation. That man didn’t understand theology (which, of course really hadn’t been written or developed at that point). He believed that Jesus was who he said he was. And that is the heart of salvation. Such belief is not ordinary. It is not average, run-of-the-mill trust we’re talking about. No, it is the ultimate belief in a Savior, the only one who can forgive sins.
Therefore, when someone comes to Christ and experiences that forgiveness it should be shared. Before I continue, let me state that many a new believer, overcome with joy and excitement, has attempted to forcefully share the Gospel. While such intentions are noble and understandable, I am not referring to sharing in this manner necessarily – not that it is a bad thing. Rather, believers, in keeping with Christ’s command, should hold on to that feeling and recall it often in their daily walk with Jesus. What Christians should constantly keep in mind is that they have a treasure whose value will never diminish. In fact, the more they share it, the more value it will have.
Salvation is not a solo affair, nor is it intended to be. One receives salvation individually, but it a gift that is meant to be shared. Theology aside, the only requirement is to believe – believe Jesus Christ is exactly who he said he was. Simple, right? Perhaps imaginably more so if one had witnessed his miracles, although there were many who refused to believe. While we lack the luxury of a firsthand account today, we are capable of experiencing the simplicity of salvation and sharing it. And that is what we have been commanded to do.
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