Although there is still a strong base of those who preach the true gospel, the strong hold is starting to weaken.
Listen to the typical presentation nowadays. You'll hear sinners entreated with words like, "accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior"; "ask Jesus into your heart"; "invite Christ into your life"; or "make a decision for Christ." You may be so accustomed to hearing those phrases that it will surprise you to learn none of them is based on biblical terminology. They are the products of a diluted gospel. It is not the gospel according to Jesus. [The Gospel According to Jesus, John MacArthur, Zondervan, pg 21]
This use of non-biblical language in gospel invitations is eroding the strong hold of the true gospel. The call of the true gospel is a turning to God from a life of sin.
how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; [1 Thes 1:9]except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [Luke 13:3]
Whereas the false gospel is a call to add Jesus to the idols in ones life.
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. [Ezek 33:6]
With an unclear gospel, many souls are at risk. Today many are deceived into thinking their soul is safe, when it is actually in great peril.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [Matt 7:21]
It is amazing to me that salvation is understood today as a "decision once made for Jesus". Whereas it should be understood as;
God producing repentance, faith, sanctification, yieldedness, obedience, and ultimately glorification. [The Gospel According to Jesus, pg 22]
MacArthur's statement is a good summary concerning the biblical doctrine of salvation.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. [Rom 8:30]
Therefore if someone is not living for the glory of Jesus, our first evaluation of the situation should be that he is not saved. If the person later shows the fruits of repentance, then we have a basis to assume a previously backslidden condition.
That in order to be saved, we must be regenerated or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; and is effected in a manner above our comprehension or calculation, by the power of the Holy spirit, so as to secure our voluntary obedi- ence to the gospel; and that its proper evidence is found in the holy fruit which we bring forth to the glory of God. [Of Grace in Regen- eration., The New Hampshire Confession (1833)]
The Baptist Faith and Message (1963) statement concerning regeneration still makes the point that salvation is all of God and none of man, but the New Hampshire Confession statement is clearer.
Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. [The Baptist Faith and Message (1963), IV Salvation, sect. A]
God's grace in Christ in not merely necessary but is the sole efficient cause of salvation. We confess that human beings are born spiritually dead and are incapable even of cooperating with regenerating grace. [The Cambridge Declaration of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals - April 20, 1996]