Since 1987 when I decided to follow Jesus, I have seen basically two presentations of the gospel. One presentation seems to not require a committment, the other presentation not only requires a commitment, but requires that the cost of the commitment be considered. Many of todays presentations are of the no commitment type. I have cornered those presenting the no commitment presentations and asked, "why is the commitment not presented?" I generally get answers like "that is the Holy Spirit's job". Or, "to require a commitment would be to require human effort. And we all know that we are save by grace through faith and not of works." Ephesians 2:8. I agree it is the Holy Spirit's job to show a person that a commitment is needed. Lets suppose that it is never mentioned as part of the Gospel presentation. This fact is sure, if a person has not repented, the person has not been converted. Lets examine some bible references, and see if a committement is required.

Since John 3:16 is the most popular, we shall start with it first. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life". It would seem that a commitment is not required, only believe. But that would over simplify what the word believe means. The word believe in the bible means to commit. To just give a mental assent to some facts is not what the word believe means. In our society believe is used very loosely. I believe you are sitting in my seat. I believe I have taken your coat by accident. In our society today, people tend to replace the word believe with think. What a tragedy that is. When a gospel presentation is made using John 3:16, it is critical that the reciever know the correct meaning of believe.

Luke 14:25-33 is my favorite gospel presentation. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying. This fellow began to build and was not able to finish. Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with 10,000 men to oppose the one coming against him with 20,000? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

Matthew 13:44 is another favorite verse of mine. I understood this verse the first time I read it. It has been since then that others have tried to twist the meaning. I sometimes wonder how some people can get such way off meanings from a verse. Matthew 13:44 states "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the field. Many say the man in this verse is Jesus, and the pearl is the church. That Jesus paid all he had to buy the church. The bible is clear on how unworthy a person is before God. Our works are as filthy rags. Are we now to believe that we are valuable pearls that Jesus sold all he had to rescue? No!! Jesus is the pearl. He is the valuable one. It is us who must sell all to purchase the field.

When I was a 5th grader in a Sunday School class, the teacher would say over and over the need to "Accept Jesus as Lord". To the spiritually awake person that is crystal clear. He knows exactally what it means. To the spiritually doomed person, having a filthy vile manner of speach, and addicted to the pleasures of this world, it is incomprenhandable. Suppose someone presented you with the gospel message in a foreign Language. How much do you think you would understand. Does a blind man know what it is like to experience the light of day. How about explaining to a deaf man how beautiful the song "The Longer I Serve Him" is. That is the state of the spiritually doomed man. To this such person the phrase "Accept Jesus as Lord" or "Accept Jesus as Savior" is just religious babble. Yet this is the exact language used in many Gospel presentations.

This person would be spiritually doomed if it were not for the Holy Spirit to let him know that such activities must be stopped or entrance into God's heaven is impossible. That is about all one can expect of a spiritually doomed person. To admit that they are bankrupt. Have no chance to pay the debt, no matter how hard is tried. Not even winning every lottery in the United States, every remaining week of a persons life would be enough to pay the dept. This is the place a person must come to before salvation is possible. As long as the ship is not sinking, why would one be stupid enough to take a life ring and jump over. He would be at the mercy of the crashing waves, cold water, without food, in the middle of the sea waiting for someone to rescue. The spiritually doomed man's ship is sinking. It takes a miracle of God for the spiritually doomed person to connect with the fact that they have committed a crime against God that is worthy of everlasting punishment. All a sinner knows is how to sin. He does not have God's indwelling spirit that shrieks at the very thought of offending God.

Jesus always laid it on the line. He said you have a choice to make. It is either my way or your way. My way requires you to surrender you life. I remember a movie once where a criminal was surrounded by loaded guns aimed at him. We was told to leave the building with is hands up. He was too proud for that, and wanted to fight his way out. He tried and he died. Jesus's message is the same. Come to me with your hands up, else ye shall die. The gospel message is that simple. There are other facts to persuade a person on why he or she should follow Jesus, but the ending of the presentation must be clear.

The "no commitment" plan is much easier to swallow then the "commitment" plan. It starts out by providing some information, 1) admit you are a sinner, 2) understand the penalty of sin, 3) believe that Jesus died on the cross for you sins, and 4) ask Jesus to forgive your sins, and save you. The only thing wrong is the invitation is not for any vile sinner who wants to stay in that state. It it for those who come to the "fork in the road of life". One can either continue on the broad road to distruction, or exit onto God's narrow way and play by his rules. People who use the "no commitment" plan are terrified at including any human act of the will. What does Joshua 24:15 say "Choose you this day whom ye will serve".

After God grants a person the ability to repent, an individual will freely flee from his sin and go to Christ. Since the spiritually doomed person does not know about God granting repentance, I firmly believe that we must allow him to see the human side. He must choose that whatever Jesus asks of him, his answer will be Yes Lord. I realize that asking a person to give up their sin is not popular. People are not knocking down the church doors to repent. Yet it must be made clear. Ezekiel 18:32 states "For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and Live"! Luke 13:3 "But, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Once a person chooses to Repent and Live, he finds that he no longer enjoys a life full of sin. Does he choose not to sin anymore? Yes indeed. Did God place a desire in him to not want to sin? Yes indeed. Acts 11:18 "So then, God has even granted the Gentiles repentance unto life".

During the conversion process, the one who genuinely gets saved, knows at the time there turning to Jesus means a turning away from sin. The Holy Spirit makes that very clear. You cannot get saved without that happening. This is my experience and all others I have spoken with. Since that is the case, why the battle over including repentance as part of the Gospel presentation. If God says it is part of salvation, we should proclaim it. I think some feel that if repentance is included in a Gospel presentation, people will not want it. Do we really want to try to convert people who are not willing to forsake their sin. God Forbid.

A favorite bible teacher of mine once said, we must present the gospel in such a way so that the non-elect reject it. Our problem today is that the non-elect are accepting it. There is certainly something wrong when that happens. Shall we pray.