Over the last few days, I have shared about the six different stages of a gospel presentation that I use when leading a person to give their lives to Christ. Yesterday we talked about actually praying with a person to receive Christ—one of the most joyful things ever in a Christian’s life. So now we turn to the sixth and last stage.
After a prayer of salvation, I usually tell them that heaven is rejoicing at the moment (Luke 15:10) and that I want to welcome them into the family of God. Shake their hand; give them a hug, whatever in your culture communicates congratulations. Then I take them back to the Word of God, to the words of Jesus:
Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life (John 5:24).
I now tell them: "You have heard His Word and placed your trust and belief in Him, and by God's Word you now have, present tense, not will have, but have eternal life. You will not be judged on that day as to your sin, but have crossed over from death to life.” I then go over a couple more scriptures:
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).
28and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30“I and the Father are one” (John 10:28-30).
A new Christian must understand that their righteousness comes from what Christ has accomplished for them. They also need to realize that the Holy Spirit will help them. Encourage them to read John's gospel and to approach God in prayer and thanks for all that He has done. If I have their email address, I send them a link to the 42 Bible studies in the Gospel of John (https://www.groupbiblestudy.com/gospel-of-john). Depending on their situation, I ask them if can pick them up and take them to church, house church, or small group, whatever your situation is in the country where you live. Their greatest need now is for fellowship with other Christians who will be their friends. You might want to give them a book that will encourage them or a radio station or podcast or website where they can hear good Bible teaching. Be aware that the enemy will try to snatch the seed from their hearts before it is rooted in God's love and grace:
“When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path” (Matthew 13:19).
If you have the privilege of sharing the Gospel with someone, it is one of the greatest joys you can experience. You can be instrumental in delivering to someone words of Eternal Life. If you can only share a small part, pray that whatever you were able to leave with them will grow in their heart and bear fruit. God can use other people, circumstances, or even the words they have heard to continue to speak to their hearts. "One plants, another waters, but it is God that gives the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:6). We are given the privilege and the opportunity to work with the Holy Spirit in the harvest. Some people are living lives that are empty, people who are depressed and searching for meaning in their lives. Jesus was moved with compassion for the multitudes, and He is looking for us to help Him touch people with His love, mercy, and grace. May the Lord give you a heart for the harvest! Keith Thomas
Prayer: I pray, Father, for all those that read these words of life. Grant that each would know the presence of Your Spirit upon them as they share the gospel with a hopeless world. Give them Your heart of compassion for those who are without You. May they know joy flooding their lives as they reach their friends for Christ. Amen!
Taken from the full study at the following link: What is the gospel?
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