God's Grace is freely offered to all., but what if there were no Bibles, no written words showing the way to eternal salvation? Some peoples close their mind when you just mention the God or the Bible. How could you influence someone you knew had an ironclad mind against hearing God's Word? Surely you've met someone like that? Maybe a lot more than just one?
Might you try some baseline logic? In essence, there are only a few debatable factors for the consideration of all disbelievers. The eight hypothesis revealed a bit latter can only be considered thought-provoking stepping-stones. Sometimes, before faith can be gained maybe logic can point towards the fact that it is only God's Grace and an individuals faith that saves. Yes, we are called to faith, not 'rational thinking' but some people might benefit from a few logical considerations.
Logic can often be an essential first method of speaking with non-believers about God. Using the tenets of truth, facts, reason, and prayers is called Apologetics. Apologetics is something every true believer should be involved in even if it is only a little as a soldier in an army of Christians defending the foundation and principles of the Christian faith by proof and logic. These tenets are something every true believer should be cognizant of and able to discuss in general, if not in detail as Peter tells us to do. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)
There are various reasons people come to believe or not believe? Some people, experience a traumatic or dramatic event and come to faith while others involved a similar event turn away from God.
Mass catastrophes can cause both belief and disbelief.
Family type tragedies can cause both belief and disbelief.
Personal misfortunes can cause both belief and disbelief.
Parents can influence their children both ways.
The Church can influence people both ways.
The Pastor can influence people both ways.
The Sunday School teachers can influence children (and parents) both ways.
The people in the pews can influence others both ways.
Poverty can influence both belief and disbelief.
Wealth can influence people both ways
Plain old fear can influence people and Old age influences people both ways, but these two often bring people closer to Christ. And, yes, even the Bible influences people both ways. Christians should listen to the non-believer's objections and make cogent and rational comments in direct response to the issues raised. Of course, some are better at thinking logically than others, and there is no guarantee that using logic can overcome an inbred resistance to the Holy Spirit in the conversion of anyone. After all, logic is not what saves a person. Jesus and the Holy Spirit do that, and we are justified by faith not logic, hard work or on the basis of our good deeds.
However, the proper use of logic can be used to chip away at the ill-rational barriers preventing a person from accepting Jesus as Savior. Logic is not the answer to every problem facing Christianity nor every objection raised against it. Logic cannot always guarantee that folly will grow into wisdom. In a hard-headed non-believer, it may not prove God's love or divine guidance. Logic has its ending point and faith must then prevail to bring about the persuasion of the Holy Spirit and the crystalline truths from God's Word.
What you read below is not, I repeat not, specifically founded in biblical teachings, but presented as a mental exercise based on logic that may lead some non-believers to more rational decisions. It may even have special appeal to those that like to make 'friendly' wagers among friends. Nevertheless, logic is still very valuable and can be powerful to reinforce the saved and bring those that are close minded to an open-minded state. To help those who need to work out logical declarations first, as opposed to absolute faith-based conclusions, the next items are offered up for consideration and discussion.
You might ask the unbeliever, “So of the eight, which do YOU believe to be true?
Eight Hypothesizes Relating To or Away From God, Eternal Life, and Salvation.
1. God exists.
2. God does not exist.
3. There is life after death.
4. There is not life after death.
5. Faith in Jesus brings salvation.
6. No faith in God causes damnation.
7. You gain life after death if there is no God.
8. God grants salvation to everyone for any reason.
Without trying to lecture within the previous pyramided theme, believers in Christ know which terms are true and which others are false. But, remember, this portion of the lesson is to ask the unbelievers to use a more open, logical, mind.
With #1, “God does exist”, #3, “There is life after death” and #5, “Faith in Jesus (God) brings salvation” is critical, life over death situation, for all believers. Your faith in God will bring you eternal salvation. By believing, your return on investment (so to speak) is incredibly advantageous because the only 'Dues paid' is just your faith in Jesus.
The erroneous beliefs of #2 “God does not exist” and #4 “There is no life after death”, in my opinion, has put many a smile on Satan's face. But why 'Bet' and go 'All-In' on either of these false theory's when your ante of faith in God costs you so little compared to how much you will lose when you don't believe in Jesus?
Yes even non-believers could win if #7 “You gain life after death if there is no God” was a truthful statement. Or if #8, “God grants salvation to all for any reason”is true. But what mainline teachings, doctrines or manuscripts recognize those two views? Very few, if any, credible scholars are willing to put forth either line of thought. As a true believer, going back to points 1, 3, and 5 you gain eternal salvation and have 'lost' nothing, while non-believers lose everything and you protect yourself from #6.
If either #1, “God does exist” or #2 “God does not exist” is true in combination with #4, “There is no life after death” then, you, as a believer, would not 'lose' any more than the non-believer. Your only loss would have been believing in a non-existent God. But beware of the penalty of 'damnation', #6 “No faith in God causes damnation”, which certainly condemns all non-believers. If you are a non-believer, the 'odds' are stacked against you and you risk everything because of your simple lack of faith and stubborn disbelief. The believers take on no risk at all with that edict.
Yet, within the defined boundaries of these real and false hypothesizes, as a believer, you gain salvation with no possible way to lose anywhere near as much as the non-believers will. They lose everything! For eternity!
The Way to Salvation. The New Testament is very specific on how to obtain your eternal salvation. God offers his grace through Jesus the Christ. You must exercise your faith and choose Jesus. Then as you mature in faith you should naturally become more knowledgeable and more obedient to God. Human obedience does not mean you'll never sin again. It means you will try not to sin, repent when you fall short and, most importantly, grow in your understanding to better help others come to faith under the grace of God. John Chapter 14, verse 6 points out that the only path to salvation is as Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.”
I believe the new testament states that every human, after our earthly demise, will go to heaven. For it is written in the Book of Romans, Chapter 14, verse 11 As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow (at His Throne in heaven) before me; every tongue will acknowledge God. Yes we all go to Heaven the question is: “Do you get to stay there in total happiness or was it the only time you will see God before being cast from His presence forever?”
The righteous judgment of God will decide whether your new everlasting life will be in heaven or hell. The most important decision for all eternity will be whether you will be judged as saved or not? At that point, even non-believers have to acknowledge God as their Master, then each will be judged individually, one by one. Once you see God in all his glory, you will realize that even your own despicable soul will then live in hell unceasingly.
The moment of the Judgment is clearly explained in Matthew, Chapter 25, verse 41 Then He will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. This is reinforced by 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived. While there are many, many other biblical verses referring to this matter, I believe those two provide fair, clear warnings to everyone.
You see, non-believers and believers are to be treated very differently as reported in Matthew, Chapter 25, Verse 46, Then they (non-believers, sinners) will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. As people of God, by God's grace and the blood of Jesus, all our sins are forgiven. That includes all of our sins of the past, present, and future.
The Bible teaches us that punishment in hell or our life in heaven will last forever, for all eternity. While you may not understand this nor like it, you have but two choices: Believe in the eternal salvation found only in Jesus and don't worry about going to Hell or don't believe this and suffer eternal damnation and an everlasting torment.
How do people come to faith or how, God forbid, are they driven away from faith? 1 Corinthians 12:3, Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit is essential to true conversion 1 Corinthians 6:11, ... But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
You should open your heart, ears, eyes, and mind to what the Holy Spirit has been telling you for years. So only the Holy Spirit completes and accomplishes the final process of changing non-believers into faithful followers of Christ.
We, as Christians, are willing to do our little piece of the Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20, Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” So it is evident that Christians and God's supernatural interventions each have roles to enact in bringing mankind to Christ.
If you feel the Holy Spirit now, declare God as your Lord and Master. Then give yourself to Jesus Christ for only He can act as your personal savior. But maybe you don't know what your next step should be? You've heard of other 'religious' things like praying on your knees, baptism, holy communion and others. At this point, as a new believer, pay no attention to those topics. The other good things that God wants you to do will come in His time. Your next step is to pray, standing, sitting or jumping for joy, what is known as the “Sinner's Prayer” or as it is called by others the “Salvation Prayer.” Don't go looking for that within the books of the Bible or Hymnal. You won't find it there but it may be in additional fly-leaf near the front or the back. You see, the words should come from your heart, not some rote chant you just read with no feeling. And, God will not be troubled if you make a mistake, pause or stumble. You will be showing Him your heart and that will bring a smile to His face. After all, what else could be a better first offering to Him?
When you are seriously committed to love and honor God, to really become one of His sinless and blemish-free children you can use one of the following as a baseline example.
Dear Father, I now believe that Jesus Christ is Your only begotten Son, that He came down to our earth in the flesh and died on the cross to take away all of my sins and the sins of this world. I believe that Jesus Christ then rose from the dead on the third day to give all of us eternal life.
Lord Jesus, I now confess to You all of the wrong and sinful things that I have ever done in my life. I ask that You please forgive me and wash away all of my sins by the blood that You have personally shed for me on the cross. I am now ready to accept You as my personal Lord and Savior. I now ask that You come into my life and live with me for all of eternity. Father, Jesus – I now believe that I am truly saved and born again. Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus.
Congratulations! You have reached the end of this lesson! The choice is now yours to make!
