Recurring Problems with Salvation Plans

By Mark W. Christy, PhD

Every true Christian should be motivated to share the good news. In line with this right motivation, many evangelical churches invite their members to participate in evangelistic training which frequently involves some sort of material offering a simplified version of the gospel along with a simplified method of delivery. Among Southern Baptists, some of these include the FAITH gospel presentation, the Four Spiritual Laws, Steps to Peace with God, and the ABC’s of Salvation. All of these plans of salvation essentially strive to reduce the gospel to its most basic elements to serve as an aid in the presentation and reception of the gospel. While this motive is understandable and even commendable, one should consider whether or not this effort is biblical and wise.

Throughout the New Testament, the gospel is never itself systematized into plan of salvation in a such a way that it is to be regurgitated at any point a gospel contact is made. Such systemization may indeed be helpful for one seeking to better understand the essential truths associated with the gospel, but when these plans become the script employed any time the gospel is being delivered, the result can be a hollow, wooden, and impersonal delivery. In this way, the gospel loses something that is of utmost importance, and that something is Someone, namely Jesus Christ. Christ as a person who can be known becomes easily lost in the details when the gospel becomes a mere plan for salvation. As Rick Holland comments, “Telling a sinner the plan of salvation is not wrong, but I am convinced that a careful examination of Scripture will reorient our gospel appeals away from data to be believed and toward a Savior to behold. Salvation is about the Person of Jesus Christ, not merely a plan.”[i]

This personal nature of the gospel can also be seen in the plethora of ways in which Jesus and His apostles delivered it. As John MacArthur proclaims, “there are no two incidents where they presented the message in precisely the same terminology.”[ii] As Jesus and His apostles communicated gospel truth, which is inseparable from the Personhood of God (in His Triune glory), they also took into account the person who was receiving the message so as to make sure that whatever truth was lacking in a given individual’s life was offered.

Besides potentially removing the personal component from the gospel, many (if not most) plans of salvation reduce the gospel to little more than memorized propositions. This has the effect of teaching believers that the key to effective gospel delivery is the possession of the right technique. By way of example, Billy Graham Ministries offers a plan of salvation, “Bridge to Life,” that is, according to them, “[o]ne of the most effective ways to explain God’s simple plan of salvation.”[iii] In making such a claim, John MacArthur offers this criticism: “The underlying notion is that a person can become a better evangelist by learning a certain technique or remembering a set formula.”[iv] If this is the case, such an idea dangerously elevates (in a biblically unfaithful manner) the role of the gospel presenter while effectively canceling out the role of the God. In Scripture, the glory that arises from any conversion to Christianity is accorded solely and fully to the work of God.

Since reducing the gospel to a one-size-fits-all technique undermines the personal nature of the gospel and dependence upon God for its effective delivery, every evangelist should take a more theologically responsible approach in their delivery. From the start, careful attention must be given to the absolute holiness of God, followed by God’s judgement on sin so that a proper fear of God can be awakened. After the evangelist helps gospel recipients understand their sin and their corresponding need for mercy, he/she can discuss the sacrificial atoning work of Christ and the triumph of His resurrection. Once this theology is firmly in place in the mind of the hearer, the evangelist can offer the call for repentance of sin and belief in Christ.

While many plans of salvation offer components of the gospel such as repentance of sin and belief in Christ, they frequently distort and even demonstrate disdain for the true gospel in various ways. Among these, some begin with a broad-based statement of God’s love for sinners. The “Bridge of Life” (which was previously mentioned) begins its call to salvation with this statement: “God loves you and has a purpose for your life.” Upon reflection, this declaration grossly distorts the gospel by skipping over God’s wrath against sinners and His rightful eternal condemnation of them. By devaluing the holiness of God and the rightfulness of His just offense, it elevates the sinner to a position of love, a position that no sinner is by default allowed to assume. If such a phrase were indeed proper and biblical, the recipient of such a gospel presentation may come away from an evangelistic encounter believing that God loves all sinners regardless of their response to the gospel. While the “Bridge of Life” plan does invite sinners to repent, the placement of its affirmation of God’s love where teaching on God’s righteous hatred for sin should be ends up placing an unbiblical softening affect upon God’s wrath.

Another distortion of the gospel that arises from the use of salvation plans relates not to their content but that which they omit. As these plans are focused exclusively upon the need for saving faith, they fail to discuss the need for an obedient faith as well. To put this another way, they ultimately distort the biblical meaning of faith where faith becomes little more than a response/decision given in affirmation after the plan is presented. As John MacArthur surmises, “Wrongly applying the Reformed doctrine of sola fide (“faith alone”), they make faith the only permissible topic when speaking to non-Christians about their duty before God. Then they render faith utterly meaningless by stripping it of everything but its notional aspects.” MacArthur is specifically addressing the failure of these plans to clarify that truly repentant believers go on to live obedient lifestyles with ever increasing purity. As Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).[v]

In conclusion, faithful evangelists should carefully consider the content of their delivery. They should make sure to remain theologically pure by offering the essential parts of the gospel in a manner where the truth is not distorted. They should avoid any impersonal delivery methods and remember that they are connecting personal hearers to a Personal God. Finally, they should remember their duty to lead those who respond to the gospel salvation to the knowledge that an ongoing faithful obedient life is expected of all those who truly repent and place their faith in Christ.

[i]Rick Holland, “Christ, the Savior: Evangelism as a Person, Not a Plan,” in Evangelism: How to Share the Gospel Faithfully, by John MacArthur et al. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011), 63.

[ii]John MacArthur, “Jesus is Lord: Essential Components of the Gospel Message,” in Evangelism: How to Share the Gospel Faithfully, by John MacArthur et al. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011), 152.

[iii]“Bridge to Life,” Dare to Be Daniel: A Ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (2009), available at: file:///C:/Users/markw/Downloads/4_5_Bridge_To_Life_Illustration.pdf.

[iv]John MacArthur, “Giving Up Gain: All Things to All People,” in Evangelism: How to Share the Gospel Faithfully, by John MacArthur et al. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011), 77.

[v]Scripture is taken from NASB1995.