by Julie Jaunese
As Christians, we often times may find ourselves being concerned about the salvation of our friends; of course we want our friends to be with us in heaven. I want to share with you some ways that I explain salvation to others as well as the story of how my daughter accepted Jesus as her Savior.
There are many ways to share and explain Gods love. When I was a teenager I carried the “Four Spiritual Laws”, so I could explain every inch of Gods love for us:
- God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)
- Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)
- Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. (Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)
- We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:1~8, Revelation 3:20)
But, there are also other ways to explain salvation and to say that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Some say they are “saved”, some say they are ‘born again”, some say they are a “child of God” and some just say they are “going to heaven.” It is important to listen to the words people say and hear with the heart God gave you.
When my oldest daughter, Holly, was very young, she “accepted Jesus into her heart.” (Which is another way to say she became “saved”). When she was about 6 years old I took her to the dentist- who was Christian. My friend who reffered me to the doctor, told me that no one left his office without knowing about salvation.
We arrived at the office early for the appointment so we could fill out paper work. When the time came for Holly to be seen, they said it would be better if I waited in the waiting room and she go into the office alone. I waited and waited and waited for her to be brought back to me, but she was gone a very long time. When they finally brought her back out to me she had a certificate that said she was “born again” on that date. I turned to her and said “Where does Jesus live?” Her reply was “Jesus lives in my heart.” The terminology “born again” was different to me at that time, but the result was the same.
Sometimes when trying to lead someone to the Lord, we may use our own words and terms, when in turn we should first find a commonground; find out some information about the person. One way you might begin is by asking about how old they were the first time they went to church, or even if they have gone to church. Perhaps ask if they went to church all the time as a child. Or, maybe ask how they feel about God today! Or, you can always invite them to attend your small group. One of my favorite questions to ask is what their favotire scripture is!
God’s word says we are to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel” (Mark 16:15). If there is one thing I want to pray for, it is how we all can become a witness to those around us. I pray that God will give you a heart to listen to words, as well as see where you can plant a seed that will lead another sister to salvation. Remember, it is your job to plant the seed, but it is God’s grace that makes the seeds flourish by His watering and His fertilizer.
So ladies, I want to leave you with this question: How have you been a witness to those around you?
Julie Jaunese has been married to her husband Michael for 41 years. She has two daughters and three grandchildren. She works at Moffitt Cancer Center and hosts two women’s small groups, the Yada Book Club and the Fabulous Fems. Mike and Julie have been part of Grace Family Church since it began with 40 people in a house.