The following came from Christian Standard Magazine many years ago. I thought it fitting to discuss salvation on the blog:
The Way of Salvation By RALPH HEMMINGER
FOR a Christian, the “name of the game” is commitment. You could ask any preacher or elder and they will tell you that it’s relatively easy to get:
• Women to work in a hot kitchen preparing a church supper.
• Women to work on crafts to give the shut-ins and people in nursing homes.
• Men to help paint and maintain the building in which we worship.
• Men to park cars and greet people. as they come to worship.
Not that these things are not important, but ask these men and women to teach the Word, make evangelizing calls, speak to their neighbors, friends and fellow workers about Jesus Christ, and you hear all kinds of excuses.
We practice commitment in all areas of our lives; we’re committed to providing a comfortable living for our family; we’re committed to our job, being there everyday and obeying the rules of the organization so that we might “climb the ladder.”
Most of us are committed to our spouse and are faithful to the vows we said on our wedding day. We are committed in every area of our lives and our Christianity also demands it.
We seem to be committed to everything in our lives but to the last commandment that Christ gave us before He returned to His Father (The Great Commission-Matthew 28: 18).
Some years ago I was teaching the adult class in our home church in Ada, Ohio (Bethel Church of Christ). We were studying 1 Peter 3 and we came to verse 15.
It says, “But in your hearts set apart 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” (New International Version). (See Ezekiel 3:18, 19 also).
I asked my class if they could do what that verse said-tell people the way of salvation. Most could.
Then I asked them if someone who was interested in becoming a Christian would come to them and ask them where each of the steps of salvation (hear-believe-repent-confess-be baptized (immersed)) could be found in the Bible, could they so instruct them? None could.
So I saw a need. and as a result, the Bible marker ribbon came into existence.
It helps me in numerous ways, most of which are when I am calling. By presenting the ribbon to them, you are giving them something beautiful and you can direct their thinking along the line that you want them to think.
So, you see, if anyone asks you for the reason for the hope that you have, Lo! there it is on your Bible Marker and in your Bible.
And too, in Isaiah 55:11, God says “My word that goes out of my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
“Start your commitment to God’s Word by telling others about His love, today!
One of these ribbons is available free to all who send a stamped, self-addressed #10 envelope to the following address: Ralph Hemminger, [address removed].
From: Christian Standard November 25,1990
THE WAY of SALVATION
KNOWLEDGE and DUTY Ecclesiastes 12:13 1 Peter 3:15 Ezekiel 3:18-19
SIN Romans 3:23
DEATH Romans 6:23
POWER of GOD John 1:12
HEAR Romans 10:14-17
BELIEVE John 3:16-18
REPENT Acts 2:38
CONFESS Matthew 10:32-33 Romans 10:9-10
BAPTISM Acts 8:38 Romans 6:1-10 1 Peter 3:20-21
FAITHFUL Revelation 2:10 Romans 2:27
GREAT COMMISSION Matthew 28:19-20
THE FIELDS ARE WHITE UNTO HARVEST
– – – – – – –
So you will see I believe a saved person is one who has heard the Word of God, the Gospel (Good News), Believed it’s message, Repented of his past actions – a sinful life, Confessed to God his sins and been Baptized to receive forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The believer must then grow in Christ, drawing near to God through his life.
‘”By grace” shows that grace is the basis of salvation. “Through faith” speaks of the means by which it is received. “In baptism” indicates the time when it is received. “For good works” makes it clear that the good works of the Christian life are not the basis or means but the result of being saved.’
HIS TRUTH, Scriptural Truths About Basic Doctrines by JACK COTTRELL; Chapter Ten, Truth About Conversion, Man’s Response
There are two basic advantages to stating the plan of salvation in this way: (1) it is more consistent with the very nature of salvation as being by grace; (2) it is based upon a single brief passage of Scripture, Ephesians 2:8-10, along with its parallel passage, Colossians 2:12.
HIS TRUTH, Scriptural Truths About Basic Doctrines by JACK COTTRELL; Chapter Ten, Truth About Conversion, Man’s Response