Showing The Way To Christ

How do I explain salvation?

This is a common question. Many people are hesitant to talk about Christ because they're not confident in explaining the path to salvation. Years in church, which should make this opportunity a welcome one, often instead shroud the answer in layers of theological mystery and human tradition. We hear pastors and teachers talking about justification, sanctification, propitiation, and even transubstantiation and think, "I'll never be able to explain all that to someone!"

The good news is, you don't have to.

Salvation is simple.

The way to Christ is very clear. One of the easiest ways to show someone to Christ is something called the Romans Road. This is a few verses of Scripture from the book of Romans which explain the need for salvation, and how salvation is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ. This will not explain everything about Christianity--an entire lifetime studying God will not reveal everything about Him!--but it tells us what we, and anyone we talk to, needs to know.

These few verses can be marked in your Bible, written down and put in your wallet, or even memorized so you can have them at the ready to help someone understand the way to Christ.

First, everyone needs a Savior.

Some people think they don't need to be saved from anything. They believe they are a good person. They believe their good outweighs their bad. The Bible says that's not how it works.

Romans 3:23, the first step on the Romans Road, says: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

No one is good enough for God. Everybody has sinned and fallen short of the standard required for God's glory. Sin is one thing we all have in common.

Second, there is a price to be paid for our sin.

Romans 6:23, the next step, says: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

The wages, or reward, or price of sin is death. And, since we learned from Romans 3:23 that all have sinned, then all have earned the reward of death. This isn't just mortal death--it is eternal separation from God. That's spiritual death. Eternal existence spent paying for our sins. Hell. That's the price of sin.

The latter part of this verse foreshadows salvation--there is a way out!

 Third, the penalty for our sin has already been paid!

Romans 5:8 reads, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ died for us! That means Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins! Everyone has sinned, the wages of sin is death, but God loves us so much that He sent His Son to pay that price! We can be saved yet!

But how?

Confess and trust Jesus.

Romans 10, 9-10 promises, If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

This is how simple salvation is. You believe in Jesus, and then say it. You believe you have sinned, that your sin means you deserve death, that Jesus died in your place. You believe this in your heart, and then say it. You admit it to God and the world.

It really is that simple. 

God accepts everyone.

This is not a limited offer. It doesn't matter what someone has done. All have sinned, and Christ died for all sin. Anyone and everyone can accept Christ.

Romans 10:13 says, For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Everyone. Bar none. All who walk each step of this road will be saved. Acknowledgement of sin. Acceptance that sin leads to death. Understanding that Christ died in our place. Belief in Jesus as Savior. Confession of faith.

That's the way to Christ.

Is it everything? No. Can you save anyone by telling them this? No, that's up to God. Is it your privilege and responsibility to be able to relay the simple Gospel when the opportunity comes? Yes, it is.

Keep these few verses with you, and experience the joy of showing someone the way to Christ by walking down the Romans Road.

Don't Read This!

Did you ignore the warning?

Obviously you did, because here you are, reading. And obviously that's what I wanted you to do. It's a trap of sorts. One to make a point. Or maybe two.

First, it's really tempting to do what we're not supposed to do, isn't it? The saying goes, "Forbidden fruit is much the sweeter." It's a lie, but it's one we fall for all too often. We want that which we're not supposed to have. Why?

Maybe because we don't like to be told no. Probably, for many of us, that's true. We're adults. We've earned the right to make our own decisions. We get to decide what we should, and shouldn't, do. Right? And we don't like for anyone else to tell us what those things are, whether it be the government, our doctor, our pastor, or even--to be honest--God Himself.

We want to do, and have, what we want. When someone tells me I can't have something, then I want it all the more. It's selfishness, I suppose. That and pride. I want it and I deserve it because I'm me. Those two will lead us down some dark and dangerous paths.

Not only is it tempting to do that which we should not do, it is also temporarily fulfilling. It's fun to fly down the road 20 MPH over the speed limit, or more. It makes us feel powerful, free, independent. No one can tell me what I can do. No one can chain me down. If I want to drive fast, I will.

It's a buzz. The fact that it's forbidden makes the buzz all the stronger. I know it's wrong, but I'm getting away with it! I'm above the rules. I can handle the risk. I too smart to get caught. I . . . I . . . I. The problem with "I" is that it feels good for a while, until the truth hits. When the flashing lights appear in the rear view mirror, it doesn't feel good any more. That buzz that felt so good dissolves so very quickly, doesn't it.

My point is, we all to often fall to the temptations of the world not because we don't know right from wrong, but because we chose to do that which we know we should not. Our pride and desire for instant gratification overpower our better senses. We are, in a word, carnal.

And there is a price to be paid. That forbidden fruit, so tempting, is often found to be rotten or poisonous. That buzz that felt so good, when it is over, leaves us drained and empty. Doing wrong will never provide a lasting pleasure. Only right can do that, because true joy comes from God, and God will never lead you down the wrong path.

A Spiritual Check-up

 . . . Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things . . .               (I Timothy 4:7-8)

Here's the truth--I don't like training. I don't like a 5-day-a-week workout schedule. I don't like regimens, logs, diaries, or journals on what I did or didn't do. I don't like having to do the same thing over and over with infinitesimal improvement day to day or week to week. I do not like being told I can; I do not like it, Sam I Am.

I recently "won" a fitness tracker through work in a, I am sure, totally random drawing from all eligible contestants. I'm sure it had nothing to do with my wellness check-up being--less than than well. Regardless, it's an interesting little gadget. I've worn it a few days and find it intriguing to track my steps, my calories, my sleep, my heart rate and all the other stuff it does. Pretty nifty, really.

Until the new wears off.

Here soon, that little gadget is going to be the bane of my existence. I'm going to get notifications that I'm not getting in enough steps. That my sleep is insufficient. That I didn't exercise enough days this week, or climb enough floors, or earn that Silver Sneaker badge, or whatever it is. It's going to get old. It's going to become training. And that's when that little sucker will suddenly and mysteriously go dead or get lost. Accidentally, of course.

Because I don't like to train! I like to exercise and be active, but on my schedule. If I want to run, or work out, or play soccer or ride my bike or whatever, that's great. But if I don't want to, I don't want to. I don't want to be told I have to, by any one or any thing.

The problem is, if I only do it when I want to, I'll never get any better. Because I don't like to work out regularly. One or twice a week the mood hits me and I go at it. Once or twice a week I feel like I have the time and the motivation simultaneously. That's about it, and that works for me. Except that it doesn't.

Once or twice a week isn't enough. To get myself in shape takes more than that. I know this--I'm a therapist, for goodness sake! I tell people that every day. It just looks different from this side of the fence. So as much as I will grow to hate it, that little contraption on my wrist right now may be just what I need.

All this has got me to thinking--what if I had some kind of godliness fitness tracker? The verses above--I Timothy 4:7-8--came to me as I was figuring out my new toy. Even the Bible says physical training is of some value. It is worthwhile. But it isn't the most important kind of training. Training to be godly is what really matters.

So what would a godliness tracker keep track of? Instead of hours of sleep, it may track minutes of prayer. Instead of minutes of exercise it may track hours of service to God. Instead of floors climbed it may track Bible verses read. Instead of heartbeat, attitude. Instead of calories burnt, words of praise spoken. Not steps taken, but times kneeling.

That's scary. It really is. How many notifications would I get that I was falling behind? How many days would I meet the default goal, let alone a higher standard? How many, Well done, good and faithful servant, messages would I get? My FitBit was proud of me for running last night. What would my godliness tracker say?

And next year, when I go for another annual probing--I mean check-up--what will they find? If I stick to it, my numbers will improve. My health will be the better for it, and all in all, I will be as well. That is of some value. But what about my other check-up? What if I were to be probed a little by God? What would He find?

What would a spiritual wellness checkup look like? My blood pressure was a little high. How is my faith doing? My LDL to HDL cholesterol was just over the precipice of unhealthy--what's my trust in God -vs- trust in the world ratio look like? I'm over-eating. Am I under-worshiping? I don't get enough exercise. Am I training myself to be godly? I consume too much sugar. How about the moral garbage of this world?

Those numbers, too, will only change if I train. If I am diligent. If I work at it not only when I want to, but regularly. Determinedly. Doggedly. That means the days when I'd rather go fishing than prepare for Sunday School, or go to sleep than pray, or watch TV instead of reading God's Word. When I don't feel like writing. When I don't feel like serving. When I don't want to, that's when I really need to.

Then, and only then, will I be ready for my next check-up. Here's the kicker though--I don't get to schedule that one. It'll be a surprise visit from the Great Physician.

I better start training.

Stronger Together

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

I often fall into the trap of thinking that I can and should be able to do everything myself. Whether it be fixing something, working on a project, solving a problem--whatever. I'm supposed to be strong, independent, self-sufficient. I should never admit I don't know how to do something or, God forbid, ask for help. We--especially us men--are supposed to be able to do it all. Aren't we?

The passage of Scripture from Ecclesiastes 4:8 through 4:12 gives a different perspective. It starts out with this: Two are better than one. 

This is a passage that is often read at weddings, and indeed it is fitting for that purpose. That is not, however, how it is written. Read verse 10: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who fall and has no one to help him up! This is about a couple of guys out working; if one of them falls into a hole, the other can help him out. But if that guy is alone . . .

Verse 12, quoted above, is similar. One guy alone can be attacked and overpowered. Two guys together, however, can stand back to back and defend themselves from every direction. Add a third to the mix and they will not be easily taken down.

We are stronger together.

Man or woman, young or old, it doesn't matter. We are stronger together than we are alone. This is not a picture of a chain which, as the saying goes, is only as strong as its weakest link. This is a rope, one whose strands are woven together. If one strand has a weak point, the other two are right there to pick up the load.

Life isn't easy. We all have heavy loads to haul, and we all have our weak points. If we try to go it alone, sooner or later those weak points are going to lead to catastrophic failure--we're gonna snap. With no one beside us to pick up the load, the result won't be pretty. But a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

We need each other. You may not like to admit it--I don't like to admit it--but it's true. I am stronger with a couple guys by my side than I could ever be by myself. Not just physically, but spiritually. I need the accountability of one or two friends who are going to ask the hard questions, and not let me squirm around the answer. Who are going to hold my heels to the fire when I screw up, and give me the encouragement I need to get back on track. Who will celebrate with me when I succeed, and pick me up out of the dirt when I fall flat on my face.

I need those guys to reach down and pull me out when I fall in a pit of sin, to stand beside me and fight off the attacks of temptation, to work with me to accomplish more than I could possibly do alone. It doesn't matter if I want them or not--I need them. Even if I am strong by myself, I am even stronger with them beside me. And who doesn't want to be stronger, better, more productive?

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 

Who is at your side?