Am I In Error?...Or, I Should Always Follow The Example Given

[Kerry Brian Wichterich]

What would you do if someone came up to you and ask "what must I do to be saved?" Given they have some knowledge of conviction for the need of salvation, what would be the very first words out of your mouth?

* Some would say; "check the box on the church card that says: (I have made a decision for Jesus)."

* Someone else would say; "ask Jesus into your heart."

* And still, another would say; "pray this prayer with me...."

And there are many more things we would do and say to help bring someone into a relationship with Christ. I know, because I personally have said the same things to people in hope for their salvation.

In my zeal to reach the lost, I came to this conclusion; "I have NOT followed the examples the Apostles modeled for me in scripture."

I am so very glad that I have the scriptures to STUDY and....FOLLOW.

In my attempt to obey the call in my heart, I followed the examples given me by older brothers in Christ right after my new-birth conversion on September 30, 1979. But the results I witnessed, I didn't like. Many I had prayed with, fell away from the living God. Or, where they really born-again? God knows.

I always asked myself: "Why did they not stick with Jesus?" "Why did he or she back slide? For I was under the instruction that if anyone would say a prayer to ask Jesus into their heart, they were born-again.

Then I finally looked closely at the way Jesus answered this question (Mat 19:16, Mk 10:17, Lk 10:25, 18:18), and also how Peter responded to a plea for salvation (Acts 2:37).

Peter and the Lord both spoke words which the Holy Ghost gave to them to speak to convict those who did hear, so they can ask; "What MUST I DO?"

Then Peter (the Apostle to whom the Lord gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven, Mat 16:19) by the Holy Ghost said these words, which I follow today;

"Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For this promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call."

I hold tightly to these words because they are God given words.

I follow this Bible example because I believe the Bible, meaning all things written in it are true. And most of all, I follow this example because it works!

True Holy Ghost conviction along with repentance and baptism commitment in the name above every name, will move the Holy Spirit in ones heart for a true new-birth conversion.

If I am in error, then I would rather be in error following the words that are recorded the Bible.

Give me your counsel....are these words... "The Words" to give to others?

Anathema, Maranatha!