Daily Devotional

The Message of Salvation

The Story of Salvation: Day 7

Through this new eight-day devotional series based on the short iBIBLE film The Real Story of Jesus, explore Jesus’ presence in all of God’s Grand Narrative. If we are to believe in Jesus and share Him with others, we must first understand the foundational elements of our faith.

Why Does the Message of Salvation Matter?

So far we have studied the most foundational elements of our faith: We believe that God created the world and humans in perfect relationship with Him, but the first humans rebelled, causing sin and death to enter the world. The curse of sin is so deep that God had to send His only Son to die in our place to take our sins. He rose from the dead, securing our salvation forever, and all we need to do is believe this and we are saved!

So does that mean we can go on living as we always have, and it doesn’t matter what we say and do now that we’ve been saved? Absolutely not! Having faith in Jesus means we are saved, make no mistake. But we are now His disciples, learning to follow Him and do all that He teaches. If we do not do as He teaches, can we say we have real faith?

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? . . . So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. —James 2:14, 17–18, ESV

Good works are the outpouring of our love for our God, not an effort to gain His favor, that He might have mercy on us. And the last command He gave us is this: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20a). 

Jesus’ last command is to tell everyone in the world about Him because He wants everyone to be saved before He returns and issues His final judgment on the world (2 Peter 3:9). But we so often shy away from this command, thinking we can share Jesus later, or we feel woefully unprepared or awkward.

But Jesus didn’t leave His disciples without training to share His Gospel. On the contrary, He sent them out with instructions many times to speak about His Kingdom before He gave them the Great Commission. The Bible gives us all the information we need to learn how to share this Good News of salvation with our neighbors, family, and even strangers in the grocery store.

The Bible gives us all the information we need to learn how to share this Good News of salvation with our neighbors, family, and even strangers in the grocery store.

The Message of Salvation in Scripture

Ask yourself this classic question, but with a twist: What did Jesus do? How did Jesus present Himself to people who had never heard of Him, people who had been eagerly waiting for the Savior, and to those who heard but didn’t understand? The answer is in His questions.

To a stranger, Jesus asked: “Will you give me a drink?” (John 4:7b). This seems to be a simple question, one that would hardly spark a conversation that was about to change a woman’s life. But the woman at the well was startled, wondering why He, a Jew, was asking her, a Samaritan, for a drink. Their people had hated each other for as far back as they could remember. But Jesus is Someone Who is not afraid to share the Gospel beyond societal barriers, so we should not be either.

Jesus began with what we would consider small talk, a small request that allowed Him to talk about Himself as the living water that this stranger living in sin needed to never be thirsty again. Small questions can lead to much larger, important questions once you have begun a conversation with a stranger over something even as insignificant as a drink of water.

To a seeker, Jesus asked: “Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20b). Jesus and His disciples were praying, and when they had finished, Jesus asked them this question. Jesus was calling them to decide what, and Who, they believed in and to make that declaration public, after first asking them what the crowds thought about Jesus.

The disciples readily volunteered that the crowds thought Jesus was a prophet from long ago, like Elijah or John the Baptist. When Jesus then asked who the disciples thought He was, Peter was the only one who answered. And he said, declaring for the first time, “The Christ of God” (Luke 9:20c).

When you encounter people who are seeking God, guide them to Jesus with questions to help them recognize Who He is. These kinds of questions are also helpful for struggling Christians. Asking personal questions like “How do you think someone can be saved?” or “Who or what do you rely on the most?” can reveal people’s need for a Savior, and their answers can give you direction as you guide them to Jesus.

When you encounter people who are seeking God, guide them to Jesus with questions to help them recognize Who He is.

To a skeptic, Jesus asked: “Why do you say that I am good?” (Mark 10:18a). A man wanted to know how to enter eternal life, having kept the Law of Moses from his youth. Jesus told him to sell all he had and give it to the poor, and the man went away sad because he was wealthy.

With His question, Jesus wanted the man to think about whether he truly believed Jesus was a good teacher. If the answer was yes, he should do as Jesus said. But he loved his wealth more than wisdom and seemed unwilling to give up his earthly possessions for the greater possession of eternal life.

When you encounter those whose attachment to this world keeps them from believing in Jesus, ask questions that expose those idols. Get people to think about what they really want, and use those questions to help them understand that Jesus fulfills all our needs (see Matthew 6:25–34).

Just as each person Jesus encountered and each person you encounter is different, so will be the questions you ask as you share Jesus with them. Of course questions are not the only way to share the Gospel, but they are an easy way to encourage people to talk so you can understand their heart and ask them as Jesus does, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25a).

Looking Forward

We have been given a unique time in history to share the Gospel, but this age will not last forever. There will come a time when Jesus will return to judge the world and everyone who has ever lived, and we will all give an account of our lives. Next week we will discuss what Jesus’ second coming means for the future of the world, for us, and for those who do not believe.

Prayer for This Week

Lord of the nations, You have called us to share the good news of Your salvation with the world, and especially to our neighbors. Help us not to shy away from this calling on our lives, but to work with other believers through the power of the Holy Spirit to boldly share You with those who need to know. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.