- May 24, 2008
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Personally I like verses like this from 1 John..
13 These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
I have found the prayer of salvation to be a useful tool in reaching souls for Jesus. It is not some idle exercise or ritual. I have been blessed with the incomparable opportunity to use it in leading souls to make a decision for Jesus. This happens frequently, almost on a weekly basis, both from the podium and one to one. Permit me to illustrate how it has worked in my experience. Here is a representative presentation and conversation using the prayer of salvation. The words are mine, and the response is in parentheses:
1. We say, I am a sinner, I cant do it alone, I need a Savior. Amen? (Person nods head.)
2. And as we think of our sins, of our past, we find ourselves crying to God, O God, I hate those things I have done. I don't want to live that way anymore. I don't want the sins I have committed. I want to go a better way. But Lord, it is so hard! In my heart, I want to go a better way, but I need help. Help me, Lord, to turn from sin! In my heart, O Lord, I choose to turn from it, I renounce it, and I want to go towards heaven! Is that your desire, by God's grace? (Nods head, says, 'Amen!)
3. And Lord, I thank you. I thank you because Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins. Thank-you, Lord, that Jesus died in my place. Thank-you, Lord, that Jesus has set me free from bondage to sin. O Lord, I claim Jesus' death on the cross to pay the price for MY sins. And Lord, I ask for Jesus' perfect life to stand in place of my sinful life, in place of my failures, and I thank you, God, that Jesus DOES stand in my place, thank-you, Lord, that I am complete in Christ, thank-you, Lord, that Jesus is my Substitute, and because of Your grace, Lord, right now I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and I ask Jesus to take charge of my life! My brother, is that your prayer, is that your desire, right now? (Yes, it is.)
Praise God! There is rejoicing in heaven! The lost has been found, the prodigal has come home, and Jesus wraps His loving arms around you right now, covering you with His pure white robe, welcoming you as a dearly loved son. You are complete in Him, and now you can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God!
[At this point we pray together, I give the rejoicing soul a hug, and rejoice with him or her.]
The soul who makes that kind of decision has AT THAT MOMENT passed from death into life, and has the peace that passes all understanding. Now, he or she prepares for water baptism, as a testimony to the world that s/he has died to the old life, and that a new life has begun. It is now the sacred responsibility of the gospel worker to nurture this new spiritual life, to stay close, to guide, strengthen, to teach from the Word, to help the spiritual baby to stand and walk on his own and to lead others also to Jesus.
Dave
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