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The Gospel Simplified

Speaking Christian Cover Art
 Sometimes as Christians we forget how to share the Gospel simply. We start throwing around words like "chosen," "called," "choosing," "predestined," and suddenly people are confused. Jesus said, "to enter the kingdom of Heaven, you must be like a child." (Matthew 18:3, Mark 10:15). This statement has been debated by theologians since the Early Church. There are many interpretations, but I think it means that we must come to Christ like a child. Children in their innocent days believe what they are told and everything is simple but profound. I believe Christ is trying to tell his followers to carry his message of the Good News in such a simple but profound manner.
 
Now to the point. Here is the Gospel simply: "Jesus died for our sins so that we may be forgiven and go to heaven, if we (repent and) believe in Him." (Marcus J. Borg, Speaking Christian, pg 11).
 
Simple right? Surprisingly we tend to complicate this process by agreeing and disagreeing about  how one says The Sinner's Prayer/The Prayer of Salvation. For Catholics the words, "I believe in the Father, The Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.." and rest of the Apostolic Creed are paramount to the prayer. For the Protestant it can be phrased as "I accept Jesus in my heart," or "I believe in Jesus in my heart and confess with my mouth that He is my Lord and Savior."
 
So who is right? Do you have to ask him into your heart or recite an entire creed? It gets confusing real quick and yet the Gospel is suppose to be Good News we can simply share! As Christians we can debate about eschatological views, religious rites, and theological focuses all we want, but the real crisis is the Gospel itself! How do we share it correctly if every denomination (sects or Churches) of the faith disagrees on what you say and what you must do? For Baptists the conversion (becoming a Christian) experience is not complete tell water baptism. Catholics believe you can lose your salvation if you neglect The Sacraments of the Eucharist (Communion) and Mass (Church service) attendance. Suddenly the cornerstone of our faith is muddled behind the radical different views on how it is achieved!
 
So how do you come to salvation in Christ? The answer: all of the above mentioned. If you accepted Jesus Christ in your heart, believed and confessed Jesus as your Lord and Savior with your mouth, reciting the Apostolic Creed while believing in your heart or got baptized right after your profession of faith.. you are saved. The point is Jesus. That you want to be forgiven of your sins and know God who in the flesh is Jesus Christ. I personally disagree with both the Baptist and Catholic views: the sinner on the cross next to Jesus was not baptized (see Luke 23:40-43) and Church attendance is never mentioned as necessary for being saved (see John 3:16, Acts 16:31). How you prayed the Prayer to believe in Jesus is not as important as believing! Wither it was with a crucifix in hand or submersed in water that accompanied your conversion to becoming a Christian, you are saved!
 
I must for the record say that neither Mormons (The Church of Ladder Day Saints) or Jehovah Witnesses are saved. They are not Christians because they fundamentally believe different and false gospels about Jesus. Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers and that there is two other deities named Father and Mother god. We as Christians only believe in a Trinity: three but One God. Jehovah Witnesses do not believe Jesus came in the flesh and thus reject the quintessential part of salvation: that Jesus came and died on cross for our sins and then rose from the dead! We as Christians believe that Jesus came in the flesh and was both one hundred percent man and one hundred percent God.
 
Make sure you maintain the free gift of Salvation of Christ by continuing in the faith. To keep each day following Jesus and not falling away. You may not be able to lose your salvation like the Catholic Church professes, but you can lose it if you choose to turn against Jesus and abandon Him. So keep yourself in Christ daily and let the Holy Spirit partner in helping you work out your salvation on Earth (Philippians 2:12).

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