What Must I Do That He May Be Saved?

[Julian of York]

I am a lifelong Baptist, but only Reformed for the past year. Since my personal reformation, I have been very afraid to create MORE false converts.(Already have a couple hundred on my soul)
I have a friend that seems open to the Holy Ghost. I would like to "win him to the Lord" , but I am afraid of interfering with the Spirit ,cloudying the water, or plain confusing him.
What must I do that he may be saved? (From a Calvinistic, Reformed viewpoint)
I suppose I don't just walk him down the "Roman's Road" or ask him to "ask Jesus to come into his heart"?
I am deadly serious.

Julian of York

 

[AMR]

First recognize that we are witnesses to redemption, not the agents of it. God does it all. Let your conduct and speech be used by God as He so wills to do so. Share the good news, Romans 3:23; 6:23; 8:1; 10:9; 10:13, and perhaps the wonderful burden, and continue to lift up prayers for the person.

A Wonderful Burden

1. An acceptance in the Beloved which can never be questioned. (Eph. 1:6)
2. A bounty which can never be withdrawn. (1 Cor. 3:21-23)
3. A deliverance which can never be excelled. (2 Cor. 1:10)
4. A grace which can never be limited. (2 Cor. 12:9)
5. A hope which can never be disappointed. (Hebrews 6:18-19)
6. An inheritance which can never be lost. (1 Peter 1:3-5)
7. A joy which need never be diminished. (John 15:11)
8. A kingdom which can never be overturned. (Hebrews 12:28)
9. A nearness to God which can never be reversed. (Eph. 2:13)
10. A peace which can never be disturbed. (John 14:27)
11. A righteousness which can never be tarnished. (2 Cor. 5:21)
12. A salvation which can never be cancelled. (Hebrews 5:9)

Src: F.E. Marsh

 

[Julian of York]

Thanks.
I assume my job is NOT to press the person into a decision, but be led by the Spirit. I have found that "sealing the deal" or pressing for a decision is the birthplace of false converts. My lifetime efforts have been of the "Jack Hyles" type of evangelism...get a decision no matter what. And the fruit (almost zero) bears record to that.

JoY

 

[file13]

They only things I'd personally avoid are

1. Pushing for a decision.
2. When presenting the Gospel, stating that "Christ died to save you."

I don't think #1 is ever effective since I think it might have more to do with peer pressure than the Spirit. It also fails to take into account the order of salvation in Reformed thought, where we're trying to force them to decide before the Spirit has regenerated them. I think this is what brother AMR is trying to emphasize.

As for #2, all you have to say is simply "Christ died for sinners." We don't know who's elect and who's not, nor can we outside of having our own personal assurance regarding our place with our Father.

Other than that, sticking with the classic pattern of

1. Law
2. Gospel
3. The cost of discipleship

in that order, which has been made popular by the Living Waters/WOTM folks works fine. In fact, they advise to not press for "decisions" also and have recently gone full on presuppositional in their apologetic, making me wonder if Ray's now a Calvinist. He did supposedly say on a radio show in regards to Islam that "I got five pillars for you, TULIP."

Finally, I can't recommenced a little book by Greg Koukl enough: Tactics. Greg's also a Calvinist, but specializes in winsome tactics which are crucial for not only "taking the offensive in an inoffensive way," but his focus on not always going for home runs, but instead just trying to get on base should be our goal. His podcast on his website is good good stuff!

Hope this helps and God bless brother!

 

[Julian of York]

Thanks
It may interest you to know that The reason I became a Calvinist is from reading "The Way of the Master" apart from what the Spirit has been doing in my own heart.
I would not press ANYBODY for any spiritual decision ever again...no more false converts!

JoY

 

[BrotherBob]

"It should be left to God, and His word should be allowed to work alone, without our work or interference. Why? Because it is not in my power or hand to fashion the hearts of men as the potter molds the clay and fashion them at my pleasure (Eccles. 33:13). I can get no further than their ears; their hearts I cannot reach. And since I cannot pour faith into their hearts, I cannot, nor should I, force any one to have faith. That is God's work alone, who causes faith to live in the heart. Therefore we should give free course to the word and not add our works to it. We have the jus verbi (right to speak) but not the executio (power to accomplish). We should preach the word, but the results must be left solely to God's good pleasure."
Martin Luther - Invocavit sermons (1522)

 

[AMR]

"It should be left to God, and His word should be allowed to work alone, without our work or interference. Why? Because it is not in my power or hand to fashion the hearts of men as the potter molds the clay and fashion them at my pleasure (Eccles. 33:13). I can get no further than their ears; their hearts I cannot reach. And since I cannot pour faith into their hearts, I cannot, nor should I, force any one to have faith. That is God's work alone, who causes faith to live in the heart. Therefore we should give free course to the word and not add our works to it. We have the jus verbi (right to speak) but not the executio (power to accomplish). We should preach the word, but the results must be left solely to God's good pleasure."
Martin Luther - Invocavit sermons (1522)

Indeed. We are witnesses to redemption, not the agents of it.

 

[OzPants]

I agree with the advice so far