Firstly, I do not believe that someone’s “decision” saves them. I also don’t believe that anyone’s “confession” saves them. Wait! What about Romans 10:9,10 – “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
If you think you’re actually saved by any action of yours, think again. It’s Christ’s atoning work on the cross that saves you. But, that’s not the thrust of this post. I recently read the following:
“If telling the whole biblical story is foundational to understanding the Jesus story and making an informed faith decision, no one should be invited to make such a decision until he or she has heard the whole story. In this sense, discipleship begins before the evangelistic act itself.” *
If that is true, and I think it is, then what constitutes an “informed” decision? Are we supposed to give them “just enough” information to “get them saved” and worry about the rest later, or are we suppose to do our best to give them the complete story first, as much as possible, and then grow with them in community? Does salvation “stick” better in either scenario?
To put it another way,
What does a person have to know about Jesus in order to make a decision for Jesus?
What do you think?
Fore related posts see: Shouldn’t We Be Terminating Life Support for the “Sinner’s Prayer?”
*Bryant L. Myers (2011-11-09). Walking With The Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development (Revised and Expanded Edition) (Kindle Locations 7125-7127). Orbis Books. Kindle Edition.
Missionary in the Andes Mountains Cloud Forest Region of Ecuador. My last name, "Labrador," is the word that's used for "Vine Worker" in the Spanish Bible, and it's OK with me. 
Carlos on Leading Edge Missiology and Ecclesiology?
Eli on Leading Edge Missiology and Ecclesiology?
If I recall correctly, a rich man once asked Jesus Himself what he needed to do to be saved. His answer was two-fold. First He told him that he knew the law, and started naming some of the 10 Commandments. In my opinion, this indicates that repentance, and at least a commitment to make an attempt at righteousness is required. Or maybe I should say, a willingness to turn from our wicked ways. It’s the same to me.
Secondly, He told him that one more thing was required of him. Being a rich man, this was to sell all he had, and give it to the poor. This was a personal requirement for him alone because of his wealth, and his trust in it (indicated by his unwillingness to comply). IMO, this indicates nothing about money necessarily, but does indicate that God has things for each of us, that He requires, thus requiring a relationship with Him to figure out what they are.
I’m not, of course, saying that this is “THE plan of salvation” or anything, just that repentance and relationship needs to be considered when discussing the plan of salvation. I think these are two of the things that people need to be “led into” as much as possible in order for their decision to be considered to be an informed one.
Do they have enough information about Jesus to allow them to start a relationship with Him? That’s the big question,
David,
And to your last question is where this post is focused. Is our relationship based on information, and how much of it is needed to begin that relationship.
I really don’t believe this question can be answered correctly without first defining where the information is coming FROM. Which goes back to the past blogs. I don’t see that Scriptural information alone did the Pharisees of Jesus’ time much good.
I think that we need to turn to the Spirit and He will speak Christ forth through us. If Jesus is to be our example, there is no set of rules or methods. Our Daddy is building His House by His Spirit. What does a person need to know? The answer is what the Spirit wants to say to that person.
Peter,
Isn’t there already an assumed sub-set of data that we already know what the Spirit wants to say to people? Shouldn’t we start with that and know what we can know and tell what we already know before delving into the realm of subjectivity?
Miguel, we must always live in the realm of subjectivity. It is through the subjective, that we are being brought into the objective. We have the Scriptures, because of saints who were intimately united with God. Paul was so united with God, that even his opinion was God’s opinion. What is objective must become subjective to us and through that experience we are being brought into the Reality.
I will give you an example from my experience of the necessity of always being turned to the Spirit. I have wanted to share some aspect of Christ with someone. But when I met with him, I turned to the Spirit and discovered that something else was needed. What I thought was necessary, could wait until another day. What I thought in my mind was needed, was not yet needed. He went away encouraged, seeing more of Christ. The words that I had wanted to say would probably have fell dead.
Yes, we begin with our knowledge of Christ and we have a desire to share something in particular with others, but we must always walk by the Spirit, because His ways are not our ways.
We should never assume that what God wants to do in this moment is the same as what He has done in the past.
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. – [1Cr 2:11 NASB]
Brother, thank you for all the work that you do in Christ and all that you have given up for His testimony. You are a precious saint and a help to the Body.
Peter,
Thanks for your kind words. I appreciate them.
I can’t help but think that when you said, “What is objective must become subjective to us and through that experience we are being brought into the Reality,” is actually the opposite.
What is subjective must be brought into the realm of objectivity. It when the subjective is objectified that we engage reality.
I’ve written a post called “On the Subjectivity of the Spirit and the Objective Written Scriptures.” This was inspired by your previous comment.
Miguel, that was the meaning of the second half of my sentence: “through that experience(subjective) we are being brought into the Reality(objective). My thoughts on the objective are not just limited to Scripture itself, but the objective Reality that the Scripture testifies to. That objective Reality is Christ.
Let me give you an example of where my thought comes from: Objectively, we have died and have been resurrected in Christ. Subjectively, we are now experiencing that death and resurrection through the Spirit of Jesus Christ. We are experiencing this death and resurrection subjectively, so that we are brought to the objective state that God sees us in: fully dead and fully resurrected in Christ.
Also, Scripture may be objective, but it was written subjectively. Each book represents the writer’s experience of God and expresses what the Spirit desired to speak through that author.
Then Wycliffe translators who have translated parts of the NT and none of the OT yet should not be inviting people to come to Christ!? Something rings false there. It has an arrogant tone that seems to put God in a box. Perhaps it is a reaction to ‘easy believism’ and lack of discipling, but it still sounds wrong.
Tom Schultz, I’m not sure if your comment was referring to me. I’m also not sure what you are talking about in reference to Bible translators, nor what they have to do with what a person needs to know about Jesus.
Tom,
I undertand what you’re saying. I’d check your assumption about zero number of OT translations. They are credit with over 700 complete scripture translations.
That aside, we have to be careful in separating the whole bible / with the whole story. I think the entire redemptive story can be shared while leaving large chunks of the scripture out.
I’ve got a friend, baptized at 8 on a profession of faith in a historic denomination. At 18, this person left the church and very seldom went back. Led a moral life with integrity.
However, in recent months at 65 years, this person has had a faith awakening near the end of a battle with terminal cancer. Reading scripture, reading devotions like our daily bread, praying, thinking about going to heaven, etc.
Planning a funeral and sharing with me why certain meaningful scriptures are chosen for the service.
It seems that this person is responding to God’s work in their life.
It seems that some form of repentance is happening and spiritual maturity is growing.
It seems to me that this person is responding to what knowledge of God they are gaining from scripture reading, conversations with two pastors, and prayer experiences.
I’m seeing fruit of the Spirit.
I see someone reaching out to the Lord.
Responding to the information and drawing of God that is being experienced in the best way this person knows how.
On the one hand, who am I to give a 2 or 3 point checklist to this person to see if they are properly saved and believe the correct gospel?
On the other hand, I don’t want to be so loosey goosey with the boundaries of the gospel that I descend into universalism.
I’m seeing fruit of the Spirit that suggest she has a level of faith.
Am I to get them in a moment of prayer to “reaffirm their faith” or “Affirm their faith” so that I can be sure in my own mind of their salvation, in case someone else hasn’t done it?
Am I to ask probing questions to make sure they have made a commitment to faith because I’m not informed via words that they have?
Rhetorical questions, but along the same lines as what is being asked here.
Evangelism Coach,
I’ll add another question to your excellent list. The scripture says we are to make our calling and election sure. 2 Peter 1:10
This call is given in community and for the community of faith. Shouldn’t we be helping others in knowing whether or not their calling and election are sure?
If their calling and election are sure, would they need US to assure them of it? Isn’t a real relationship with God the determining factor as to whether one’s calling and election are sure? And if so, would we have to turn to others for affirmation of that? Or would God’s affirmation do? Not that others are not needed in our lives, but are they necessarily needed to affirm this one point?
David it’s not that their calling and election were sure, it’s that they were told to make sure . It’s a process we all must go through. Individually, and as community.
Oh, I understand that. My question was about whether it is up to US to make sure THEIR calling and election are sure, or is it up to them and the Holy Spirit? How much responsibility rests on our shoulders for someone else? Can the Holy Spirit be trusted to take someone else’s heart and lead it in the right direction. I like the comment about the thief on the cross. He had a minimal revelation, and minimal amount of information to work with.
Miguel, that’s a great point.
I think it takes us back to your original question. . . What must one know to make that calling and election secure?
This particular person I’m talking about is homebound at this point in their disease process. They have not been church attenders in decades, so there is no real community of faith to help them.
Am I responsible to give a list of facts that one agrees to, like a statement of faith, because I’m not sure of their calling and election?
Am I responsible to help them know their calling and election are sure by helping them have a correct theology and agree to a minimal list of facts?
Am I to help them reaffirm their faith in a confessional prayer of surrender (not quite the sinner’s prayer, but close) till they find that their “spirit bears with God’s spirit that they CAN cry Abba Father?”
To your original question, How much did the thief on the cross have to know? We can only speculate as to the information his mind and heart processed to have enough faith.
These are questions that may not have answers, but your questions are prompting me to think about this particular person.
Evangelism Coach, when a post serves to this sort of end. I’m glad. Be blessed.
I think I agree with the post. If I understood correctly, your point is to get us to consider what someone needs to know, or be aware of before they can truly make a decision to follow Christ. If that’s the point, then I agree 100%. The hard part of the post is “the whole story.”
I often get frustrated by evangelistic attempts that invite someone to make a “decision” when the person doesn’t really know what they’re deciding. I have seen people invited to follow a “Christ” when that Christ has not been separated from their preconceptions.
I do firmly believe that we need to make sure someone understands who Jesus is and what he truly offers before we can invite someone to follow him. Occasionally, someone might already be prepared to receive Christ before we have met them. They just need an opportunity to respond.
In one on one conversations, I believe the important part is to listen long enough to understand where someone is and what their next step might be. Otherwise I believe we are inviting people to buy a “product” before we have explained what it truly is. I believe that is one of the major reasons for so much fallout of people who made decisions but don’t stick around for long.
Kevin,
I’m glad you brought up the preparation by others before we ever get on the scene. We don’t know to what level the Spirit or His sent people, or the word have prepared others beforehand.
A few questions in the course of a conversation can reveal much about “where” people are spiritually.
There’s a good deal of discussion around the issues in the comments from your readers. And open hearted debate is good, so is expressing our opinions. But I think the essence of the answer to your original question is very simple and straightforward.
Here’s your question again, Miguel. ‘What does a person have to know about Jesus in order to make a decision for Jesus? What do you think?’
And here’s my attempt at an answer. I need to know only two things, first that he is able to save me, and second that he is willing to save me.
Of course, that begs other questions such as what do I need to know about myself, what does ‘making a decision for Jesus’ really mean, and what do I need to do to be saved? But you didn’t ask about those.