Most of us have probably used the 5 finger exercise in teaching others about salvation. Believe, repent, confess, be baptized, and be faithful till death.

Or the 6 finger exercise. Hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized, live faithfully till death.

Or the 16 things that save. God saves, Jesus saves, the blood of Jesus saves, the life of Jesus saves, the gospel saves,grace saves, calling on His name saves, the Word saves, God's mercy saves, repentance saves, baptism saves, believing saves, being faithful til death saves, works save, hope saves, hearing saves.

What about 23 things!!! The first 10 refer to what God does. 1. God saves---1 Timothy 1:1, 1 Timothy 4;10 2. Jesus saves---John 1:29, Matthew 1;21, John 10:9 3. The blood of Jesus saves---Ephesians 1:7, Romans 5:8-9 4. The life of Jesus saves---Romans 5:10 5. Grace saves---Ephesians 2:8-9, Ephesians 2:5, Romans 3:24 6. The gospel saves---Romans 1;16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 7. The Word saves---James 1:21, Acts 11:14, Hebrews4:12-13 8. God's mercy saves---1 Peter 1:3, Titus 3:5 9. Preaching saves---1 Corinthians 1:21 10. Renewing by the Holy Spirit---Titus 3:5

Notice what man must do to be saved: 11 Be faithful til death---Revelation 2:10 12. Have faithful works---James 2:14-26 13. Make a decision to do something---Acts 2;40, Philippians 2:12 14. Lose your life to gain Jesus---Mark 8:35 15. Have hope---Romans 8:24 16. Love the truth---2 Thessalonians 2:10 17. Confess Christ before men---Matthew 10:32, Romans 10:9 18. Repent---Acts 2:38,Acts 3:19 19. Believe---Acts 16:31, Romans 5:1, Romans 3:28 20. Call on His name---Romans 10:13 21. Be baptized---Mark 16:16, Acts 16:30-31, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21 Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:1-6, Colossians 2:12, John 3:5, Titus 3:5 22. Hear the Word---Romans 10:14, Romans 10:17, 1 Timothy 4;1;6, John 5:24, Revelation 3:20 23. Draw near to God---Hebrews7:25

How many of these items from God's word do we teach regularly. Do we give people that are looking for answers a "quick fix" by telling them the 5 finger plan?

Just how much do they need to know anyway? Do you have to know everything that saves you to be saved?

We have a hard time with false teachers that say, "just believe" or "just call on his name", or perhaps they have a combination of facts, "believe, call on His name and repent".

Many of the 23 items are related to each other. I believe we need to teach more accurately the plan of salvation!!

I love you. Bob

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Answers

Good job, Bob! I agree 100% with you and try and teach this. I have been accused by some of trying to confuse the issue of salvation by teaching all of this instead of a "simple, one or two step plan of salvation". However, I don't feel it is right to ignore God's word and try and teach salvation without recognizing both God's work and our response that He desires for acceptance of this great salvation. Keep on preaching God's word!

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Thanks brother. I agree with you too!! I believe I have been guilty of teaching the plan of salvation too simply, and as a result, often people don't know what they believe, they don't know what they did, they don't know where to go from there. But we baptized them!!!

Teach them, Jesus said, baptize them, and teach them everything else, Matthew 28.

Yet, I believe as preachers we need to teach them more thoroghly so they know what they believe!! God bless you.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2000