Abba's Own: On Understanding Salvation for Soul-Winning

By David R. Lumsden

ABBA’S OWN. God is the rewarder of them who diligently seek Him through faith in Christ. He will reward you with righteousness and peace. He will prepare a place for you in Heaven. Renounce Satan, confess and forsake your sins and wicked ways. Believe in Jesus Christ to become one of ABBA’S OWN.

‘Confessions of Jesus Christ’ that are promising in the Hands of the Holy Spirit for one to be known by God, to be reconciled to God, to have salvation, to have the Holy Spirit, to be eternally secure for eternal life complete in Jesus Christ, is explored. The author answers when a believer receives the Holy Spirit, according to the Bible.

The abundant life is not an easy life, but a victorious life, as the case study reveals. Faith is fundamental to believing God. Herein, the qualitative research examines the defence of biblical teaching and faith.

This study is not for the formation of a theology based on experience, but of experience validated by the Word of God. The case subject is provided for parents, pastors, and soul-winners to be Spirit-led and informed when confronted with cases in similar situations.

Spiritual warfare is examined to show the sovereignty of God in and for the defence of the believer in Christ for His child protection and strength in the faith.

Beginnings of A Standard Christian, biblical, Protestant, conservative, evangelical, systematic theological foundation to serve as a guide for the formation of sound theology for seekers and soul-winners. The author addresses, ‘the charismatic movement's misunderstanding of Pentecost as a contribution to the declining respect for the church,’ the prevention of true church growth, and a cure for a declining church.

Written consent was given by the primary subject, for the use of his story in this study. The names of all individuals in this study have been changed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the real participants; to prevent harm to those involved; also, to maintain honesty and accuracy in data collection. A literature review reveals no other qualitative studies of this kind. WILL YOU BELIEVE GOD, ELOHIM, FOR ETERNAL LIFE and, that you are made complete in Jesus and assured of being known by God in Judgment Day, so you will be welcomed into Heaven, as the Scriptures teach? God (ELOHIM) intersects with repentant sinners at the Cross, where Jesus Christ died for the whole world that whoever believes in Him shall have forgiveness of sins, salvation, assurance, meaning, and purpose in this life and eternal life in the presence of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tablo Publishing
• Release date: Apr 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781925939071

Book preview

JESUS IS THE WORD

THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, 

AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.—PSALMS 119: 105

STOCKPHOTOS.COM

FRONT MATTERS

ABBA'S OWN

ON UNDERSTANDING SALVATION 

FOR SOUL-WINNING

ABSTRACT: THE FATHER’S BUSINESS COMPLETE 

IN JESUS CHRIST

BY THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN AS ASSURANCE OF 

BEING KNOWN BY GOD AS A CHILD OF GOD.

BEING THE CHURCH

A CONSERVATIVE EVANGELICAL VIEW

COPYRIGHT

All Scriptural quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, ASV (1901) unless otherwise stated.

Permission granted is from Marvin Stewart Forbes, to use collected data to be used in the thesis.

Dr. Mark Durie, lectures on Understanding and Answering Islam; Thomas Nelson & Sons. The Holy Bible (ASV); Ancient Faith Bible by Holman Bible Publishers, CSB.

Dr. Walter Martin, for information taken from the Walter Martin’s Cults Reference Bible.

Daniel B. Wallace on The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Theological Implications.

John MacArthur. Sermon on Complete in Christ; and

Russel Stendal on Rescue the Captors.

A grant provided by Atlantic Coast Theological Seminary (ACCS), Daytona Beach, Florida, USA, was much appreciated.

Copyright © 2018 by Dr. David Reginald Lumsden

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the author, except for brief excerpts in reviews. If you wish to use information from the Illustrations (Appendix K) not for profit, but for teaching your own class, you can make overheads, power point slides with permission at no additional charge.

Please encourage the purchase of a copy of this book by your church and local library system.

For people on whom you have compassion buy a copy as a gift in order that by reading this book they may hear and believe God for the salvation of their souls.

DEDICATION

TO

Doris, Jennifer, Justin,

My wonderful family

Dr. Lloyd Powell, MD.,

A neighbour, close friend, and companion

Dr.Frank Moore, Ph. D.,

A champion among seminary professors, 

An encourager in the Faith of Jesus Christ                                                                                 

EPIGRAPH

ABSTRACT

ABBA’S OWN. God is the rewarder of them who diligently seek Him through faith in Christ. He will reward you with righteousness and peace. He will prepare a place for you in Heaven. Renounce Satan, confess and forsake your sins and wicked ways. Believe in Jesus Christ to become one of ABBA’S OWN.

‘Confessions of Jesus Christ’ that are promising in the Hands of the Holy Spirit for one to be known by God, to be reconciled to God, to have salvation, to have the Holy Spirit, to be eternally secure for eternal life complete in Jesus Christ, is explored. The author answers when a believer receives the Holy Spirit, according to the Bible.

The abundant life is not an easy life, but a victorious life, as the case study reveals. Faith is discussed as fundamentalbasic to believing God. Herein, the qualitative research examines the dDefencse of the biblical teachingfaith and faith.is examined in this thesis, as part of an apologetic study.

This study is not for the formation of a theology based on experience, but of experience validated by the Word of God. The case subjectstudy is provided for parents, pastors, and soul-winners to be Spirit-led and informed when confronted with cases in similar situations.

Spiritual warfare is examined to show the sovereignty of God in and for the defencse of the believer in Christ for His child protection and strength in the faith. 

Beginnings of A Standard Christian, biblical, Protestant, conservative, evangelical, systematic theological foundation to serve as a guide for the formation of sound theology is provided for seekers and soul-winners. The author addresses, ‘the charismatic movement's misunderstanding of Pentecost as a contribution to the declining respect for the church,’’, the prevention of true church growth, and athe cure for a declining church.

Written consent was given by the primary subject, for the use of his story in this study. The names of all individuals in this study have been changed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the real participants; to prevent harm to those involved; also, to maintain honesty and accuracy in data collection. No other qualitative studies of this kind have been revealed in Athe literature review reveals no other qualitative studies of this kinded. WILL YOU BELIEVE GOD, ELOHIM, FOR ETERNAL LIFE and, that you are made complete in Jesus and assured of being known by God in Judgment Day, so you will be welcomed into Heaven, as the Scriptures teach? God (ELOHIM) intersects with repentant sinners at the Cross, where Jesus Christ dwas crucified forthat the whole world thaty whoever believes in Him shall have forgiveness of sins, salvation, assurance, meaning, and purpose in this life and eternal life in the presence of God.  (433 words)

LIST OF PERMISSIONS

Ancient Faith Bible. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007- (127-9th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee.Holman has granted permission to use information from the Ancient Faith Biblefor the Glossary.

Daniel B. Wallace. Copyright: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Theological Implications. Dallas: Dallas Theological Seminary, 2004. Bible.org. Reprinted with permission.

Durie, Mark. Understanding and Answering Islam. Lecture Notes at Edmonton Conference. Permission granted by Dr. Mark Durie. https://www.markdurie.com/  

____Liberty to The Captives. Edmonton, AB: Salaam Ministries, undated. Dr. Mark Durie granted permission to use content from his book in 2016.

Forbes, Marvin Stewart. Interviews and Anecdotal Notes by D.R. Lumsden with Marvin Stewart Forbes, main subject and contributor to Research Study. Written permission is granted to utilize his story in qualitative research study, 2001- 2018.

MacArthur, John. Complete in Christ. Grace to You: Sermon, on Colossians 2: 10-15. Permission from Grace to You. https://www.gty.org/

Martin, Walter. Walter Martins Cults Reference Bible, 1988. Dr. Martin granted permission to use his comparative study.

Stendal, Russel (Executive Committee: Columbian Peace Accord) and Rescue theCaptors. Life Sentence Publishing, 1974. Used with permission.

The Holy Bible, ASV. Thomas Nelson & Sons STAR Publishing Tennessee, 1901). Used with permission, 2017.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Thematic Study Guide

Themes

ABBA, FATHER

OT- Elohim and Jehovah 2.a: NT- Lord God Almighty

The Way

Complete In Christ

Confessions of the Lord Jesus Christ

The Holy Spirit-New Birth

Reconciliation and Propitiation

Salvation

Soul-Winning

9 a: Qualifications of a Soul-Winner

9  b: Continued-Qualifications of a Soul-Winner

Follow-Up and Discipleship

Spiritual Warfare and the Occult

Social Order and Solution

The Yielded Life

Know, Understand and Do the Will of God For His Delight and your Enjoyment of Him

14  a: Know, Understand and Do the Will of God

14  b: Continued- The Will of God

Prayer

15 a: Prayer Continued

Sample Sermon Outline 16 a: Sermon Outline Continued

The Call

FOREWORD

Many churches today want to be attractive and relevant. They offer a buffetof programs and events designed to help people spiritually. They work diligently on marketing campaigns and catchy slogans togain a larger following. What the church needs most is a clear understanding of and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And that accurate understanding only comes from the Scriptures.

In David R. Lumsden’s book, ABBA’S OWN, the reader is equipped to share the Gospel accurately by understanding it theologically. Christ has called His followers to make disciples of all the nations(Matt 28:19). But how can the church fulfill this mission if its understanding is foggy? This book gives the Scriptural foundation and practical encouragement to declare God’s life-saving truth. It is the truth that sets us free(John 8:32).

David Lumsden is careful to rightly divide the word of truth,(2 Tim 2:15), since only the accurate knowledge of Scripture can lead us to salvation, (2 Tim 3:15). This book will help educate laity, church leaders, and soul-winners in evaluating their direction and focus, and it will assist every Christian to better handle the Scriptures in sharing the Good News to others.

Since every Christian is given the mission to make disciples(Matt 28:19) and preach the gospel,(Mark 16:15), we need a clear understanding of this message from the Scriptures. That is what David Lumsden does in this book. You will find the content helpful and thoroughly biblical. There are many things that the church can do, but accurately sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what it must do, and this high quality book will help you on this mission.

      Pastor Kevin Williams                                                                           October 2018

PREFACE

ABBA means Daddy with reference to God. ABBA’S OWN means God’s children born-again spiritually of God the Holy Spirit. Are you certain that you are one?

Throughout the world, non biblical philosophy is being taught as if it were Christian truth, leading people to hell. One such teaching was presented to the primary subject of our study by two pastors, which threw him into confusion, leaving him in doubt of his salvation for a large portion of his life.

He knew them well since he worked with them. One summer day, they stepped up to him and said that he may be saved, but he does not have the Holy Spirit in him. This is a non biblical point of view not representative of the deity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Upon hearing this expression during interviews with the subject, the author was prompted to write ABBA’S OWN so people can know that they are saved, are known by God in Judgment Day, and have a place reserved for them in Heaven, not just hope they have a place in Heaven. Do you know the biblical warrants not only pertaining to your own salvation, but to justify claims used in soul-winning? True biblical faith depends on these biblical truths.

Dear reader, you must know the fundamentals of the Faith of the Bible, not of what someone misleads you to believe is biblical, but is not; and to discern and be certain that you are saved. When influencing others, you are certain of presenting to them the truth of God’s Word so they are saved out of the pit also. Read this book and you will know for certain in your heart that you are going to Heaven to live with God for eternity. This book is a toolkit for soul-winners so you will be confident in your effectiveness in soul-winning for God’s glory.

David R. Lumsden,

        Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,

September 2018

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Without the varied strengths and encouragement by many, to whom the author is deeply indebted, this thesis would not have been possible. Dr. Lloyd Powell was a longtime friend, who received Christ in his hospital bed two weeks before he made the transition to eternity. Dr. Terry Law set a significant model of earthly fatherhood. Dr. Mark Durie taught how to understand and dialogue with the followers of Islam. I thank Dr. Lyle Buyer, Pastor Sharon Harewood, and Pastor Greg, who have been faithful to pray for me in God’s ministry of reconciliation, preaching, andsoul-winning. I thank Mr. Darrell Prims of the Scholarship Bookstore, Edmonton, AB whichhas been a valuable resource manager, providing resources at discount prices for my literature review. Armin and Dan Mantei deserve gratitude for being strong encouragers for my thesis. Dan has recently set out on the road to reach for his Ph.D. He is a genuine scholar. Armin is a mightyprayer warrior for my ministry of preaching, and soul-winning, and an informant on the Christian view of international affairs. Ervin Loeppky and the author spent hours discussing theological issues over a cup of coffee at various restaurants.

Pastor Kevin Williams of the Meadowlands Baptist Church and, a professorwith Foundation Baptist College in Edmonton, Alberta, is recognizedfor his consistent biblical preaching and teaching on the fundamentals of the faith in Jesus Christ. Mr. Walter and Mrs. Selma Epp, of Edmonton, AB, have been uniquemodels of a Christian life built on the fundamentals of faith in Jesus Christ.

The entire Royal Alexander Hospital and Glenrose Rehabilitation Center’s doctors, nurses, social workers, and staff along with therapists in SROP (a special rehabilitation program) receive gratitude for assistance given to Marvin in recovery from damage due to an embolic ischemic stroke. I am thankful to God for working through Peter Grundler, the chaplain at Glenrose, by opening a door for Marvin to preach the fourth Sunday of every month to encourage the patients, and for converts added to the Church.

Dr. Frank Moore deserves recognition for visualizing the lack of preparation of pastors for soul-winning and for realizing the nature of and handling spiritual warfare, then allowing me to write this thesis, which incorporates those issues.

Dr. Larry Keefauver was a wonderful counsellor on the Publishing Enterprise.

Ash Davies, CEO, and the Tablo Team are remarkable and are greatly appreciated for their professional work in publishing the book.

I am grateful for Justin, CEO, of Klevr Technologies Limited, who has assisted with the repairs and smooth running of my computer throughout the writing of my thesis. Also, I am grateful to Doug and Paulina, IT techs from the Philippines working for Microsoft, who helped, at short notice, to retrieve my entire thesis from cyberspace. On separate occasions, they installed new software (better than the first system) and guidelines for use, which would improve production, in the keeping of end notes, illustrations, and the means to remove the ‘little foxes’in the software system.

Doris Lumsden, my prudent wife, and our children have been fiercely loyal and kind to me. Doris is an avid reader of historical fiction; I am thankful for her proofreading of some of my thesis. There are many others I have met, but have forgotten their names. The young college student, volunteering for the Hospital library, helped me access Clinically Oriented Anatomy by Moore and Dalley, and Cecil’s Essentials in Medicine by Andefou et al. Donna, the head Librarian at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Center, helped me with resources for teaching Aphasiacs.

God (Elohim/Jehovah), for His control of all events, and all His opportunities given for ministry gets all the credit for He is the perfect manager of my life, the ministry of reconciliation and, the thesis. He is truly worthy of all worship. My Father in Heaven is Majestic Glory. May His Kingdom come quickly.

PART 1

Qualitative Research Study

FIRST THOUGHTS

Are you sure you would be known by God if you were to go into eternity today? Are you sure your spiritual leader has been leading you to Heaven? Are you certain if you were to attempt to soul-win that you would be biblically sound in your presentation of salvation to another person? ABBA’S OWN  is written so you may know you are secure in salvation based on the truth of God’s Word, and able to provide Biblical warrants for your claims. This book will show you how to live victoriously from salvation through to eternity. You can be free and fulfilled with meaning and purpose for your life. You are important to God. He loves you and is not willing that you perish, but that you have  an eternal life of bliss. Read on to find out how. There is life after death. You have a choice. After death it is too late to decide. You need to make a crucial decision this side of eternity for your state after death in eternity. The author writes to help you overcome doubt about belief, and live and lead others with conviction.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Evil of this world works against the building of God’s Church and His children, ABBA’s OWN, in their Christian life, but God (Elohim) is sovereign, and He prevails and has overcome evil, (1 Jn 4: 4).                                                                                  

Salvation is the greatest gift God (Elohim) has sent to earth. Also, salvation is the most desperate need of sinful man for eternal life (good news). God has left the duty of spreading the good news worldwide up to His children (ABBA'S OWN).

Some people who call themselves Christians believe there are many ways to get to Heaven. Some people think that if you believe in God, that makes you okay to get to Heaven; you do not need Jesus Christ. God’s requirement for you to return to Him and live in His ‘big house’ in Heaven is through repentance from sin and turning to faith in Jesus Christ. By this repentance from sin and turning to faith in Christ you approach God (Elohim, Jehovah).Some people teach that you may be saved, but you need a second blessing. Others teach you that Jesus is the Christ, but you need to be a member of the right church to be saved. God's requirement for you to return to Him and live in His big house in Heaven is through repentance from sin and turning to Jesus Christ by faith. This is the only way you can approach God (Elohim, Jehovah), no matter if you think there might be many ways.

 True Christians know that God’s salvation is complete in Jesus Christ alone by grace through faith and not of works, not the church you attend, but you as a believer want to attend a Bible-believing church for your personal growth in Christ, spiritual well-being, and to learn about outreach and evangelism for the sake of others. They know that God teaches His children to be ready to give a reason for the hope that lies within them an answer for their faith in Jesus Christ. Not all Christians are prepared and committed to doing so. They do not study the Scriptures, nor do they seek to understand soteriology (salvation), and the language to be able to communicate to others about God’s business of salvation. They are not disciples nor seek out a church that disciple followers of Jesus by the Scriptures. Many Christians may be saved, but that seems to be as far as it goes in their lifestyle; they forget to live the Christian life by yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit. There is living at peace with God and the brethren and reaching out to the lost out of a heart of compassion as led by the Holy Spirit, Who is involved in righteous living.

Remember, God sometimes proves the faith He gives a believer and the fitness of one, through Christ, for Heaven, and at other times, He chastens those He loves. One needs to examine oneself to be sure they are in the faith of Jesus before they defend a personal philosophy or possibly, lead others away from God. One may prepare to witness for God. for example, Take a firm course like Christianity Explored to be grounded in the fundamentals of the faith of Jesus Christ; then by preparing a 1-minute elevator presentation, based on the Good News of Jesus Christ (a course free of any form of false teaching). Such preparation helps, when speaking to anyone, that all humankind to whom a disciple speaks, as the Holy Spirit leads them may come to know how to believe in and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit influences an individual’s mind, attitude, heart, and decision for a person to receive Christ (i.e. be born-again; find new life in Christ at the point of salvation). It was alarming when one pastor came and admitted he did not know how to lead another person to repent of sin, to receive Jesus Christ, and explain what it is to be complete in Him; saved, known by God now, and in Judgment Day.

Furthermore, I am concerned about another pastor, who does not soul-win because he is afraid his church would grow beyond what he could handle. What is the primary criteria for calling a competent, God-ordained pastor to the church’s pulpit, or any other responsible spiritual leadership in the church? Should they not have personal knowledge of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and how to lead another person to salvation? The Scripture teaches that God gives all believers a ministry of reconciliation. How do some pastors think they are somehow exempt? A pastor/soul-winner must first be born-gain to be given the Holy Spirit at the same time as salvation to properly lead someone to approach God by faith in Jesus Christ, (Jn 3: 3) thus, to see the kingdom of Heaven in eternity. Selection committees need to consist of members with sound biblical theology.

Another point of frustration for the author is when a spiritual leader presents false teaching, which intentionally or otherwise misleads seekers, giving them no opportunity to hear and believe God’s Word of truth, thus putting trusting souls at risk of hell. I am concerned about pastors who have not read and accepted the Bible, taken it literally, and developed a conservative evangelical theology concerning God and eternity in the same way you would be concerned about your medical doctors having not read their anatomy texts on matters concerning your health and wellness. Pastors need to develop their theological foundation for biblical ministry, reconciliation to God, salvation, and soul-winning, not falsely taken for granted but assured when engaging in and influencing the lives of others. In the thesis, the lack of preparation of pastors and their congregations in soul-winning and spiritual warfare leaves Christianity and Christians weak and in some cases like soldiers sent into war without training or defense systems and strategies. This thesis discusses these matters.

The author has conducted research and writes this thesis so that spiritual leaders, pastors, teachers, counselors, apologists, Sunday school teachers, Christian life-coaches, and educated lay people may be active soul winners; that they are not to be faulted, but are equipped and encouraged to know the truth of God so well, as to defend the faith in Jesus Christ. The objective is to show compassion, so some souls are saved from the pit, and thereby converts are added for the real growth of the Church. Some may have this knowledge but fail to discern between truth and false teaching. Christian education for preparation of leaders seems to be weak. Spiritual leaders need to be able to lay out biblical truth, hold a foundation of sound conservative evangelical theology, and confessions of Jesus Christ, indeed, and personally realized for effective soul-winning and converts added to the church. Many seekers are at risk for eternity if the leadership is building the spiritual house for their neighbours on an unstable ‘sandy’ foundation. You may find this book useful for teaching ‘Fundamentals of the Faith’ and ‘Soul Winning.’ 

The author’s task is not to brow-beat, nor ridicule, but to encourage ministers in the service of our Lord, so they are not ignorant nor afraid of winning others to faith in Jesus.  If they win people to Christ, the people won are assured of life in the presence of God for eternity. If you have eternal life yourself, why would you not want eternal life for others? That is the meaning of God’s ministry of reconciliation. True? Are ministers not to be leaders, shepherds? How to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ as led by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus, is imperative in right service unto God and His desire to build His Kingdom. For the sake of others and an expression of God's love is an expression of His character in and through believers. The compassion shown toward one's neighbour is not in man’s power, but the power of God for a sinner to be saved. It is Jesus, who saves. It is the Holy Spirit who gives new birth. But God calls all true Christian spiritual leaders to be examples, shepherds, soul-winners (labourers in the fields white unto harvest) and disciplers, teaching others to participate in the building of God’s Kingdom. He is delighted and glorified. God promises to be in and with every believer to be engaged in making disciples of every nation, (Matt 28: 16-30). God loves the whole world. Paul not only won Timothy to faith in Christ. His love of Christ did not stop there with Timothy, but also Paul taught him and prepared him for ministry. God gives all believers the ministry of reconciliation (leading others into a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ). Ask God what it is He would have you do. There is nothing more fulfilling and rewarding than when you choose to serve God in the Ministry of reconciliation in His power. The fulfillment, joy, and peace He gives are worth more than money can buy.

At the beginning of the church, evangelism had its' challenges, but compared to today, those challenges seemed natural. The truth was fresh in their minds. However, now in the age of digital information, the selfie,  post-truth and, a wide range in diversity of religions, challenge knowledge and preparation for Christians in a massive way. Ask yourself if the selfie is a sinful social disorder.

Alternative truth (i.e. A lie) is becoming a famous voice. Why should the Truth of God not be the popular voice if we want to see the world influenced in the righteousness of God? People need to hear God. That depends on you and me. One of the factors that caused stumbling in the subject’s faith was the hypocrisy of the leadership in churches, causing confusion and unrest for many seekers besides himself.

A minister needs to know God and knows God knows him or her, understands God's rightly divided Word of Truth for one’s Christian life. Some people who are Christians attend non-Christian, non-Bible teaching churches. One needs to know the truth about the Creation, the Fall, sin, repentance, the need for the power of the Gospel to save anyone from sin and death by grace, that one is a recipient of Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord, born of God the Holy Spirit, Who places the new believer in Jesus Christ. One needs to know one is called and given the ministry of reconciliation to share Jesus with others for their salvation. Know of what you are talking, so you do not lead seekers to a false faith. Study the Holy Bible daily. Pray to seek God's control and guidance in the service to which He has called you to do. God will reward you for your availability

The minister must have God-given discernment received by faith in Jesus, then exercised by faith in Jesus. There is no getting away from it; you cannot mouth anything you like about your philosophy or a magazine article, entice people to repeat a prayer, then announce You are saved. You and they need to know the mystery of Jesus Christ in ‘jars of clay,’ by faith, and then make that faith of the Lord Jesus Christ known to the world of willing hearers. People need to know God, be known by God, and led to the salvation of God, which is why it is necessary that one to understand soteriology (salvation) personally to be effective in soul-winning. Ministers need to know in their mind and heart that they do not just have Jesus ‘with’ them, as some pastors teach, but that they have ‘Jesus in’ their heart and that they are ‘in Jesus, made complete in Him.’ They must know in whom they believe, understand what they think, and understand why they need to find and trust the true God.

A spiritual leader’s historically-proven Christian biblical foundation must be firm. Sound theology originates in the first 15 chapters of Genesis. Check it out.

The primary individual subject in the author's case study was introduced to Jesus by a pastor who did not have time to discuss how that person could accept Jesus Christ. At a later point in his life, he reports being told by two brutish pastors that he may be saved, but he does not have the Holy Spirit in him. At one time, he was sharing a quote from Scripture that whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, (1 Jn 5: 1), the pastor of a Presbyterian church said to him that it sounded like mystical paganism, which startled the subject. As a Spirit-led life coach and a soul-winner, the author heard of an individual in a church who was forced to pray against his will. Finally that night, he left the church. The fellow went home and typed a message on social media, naming the church; and saying that he would rather be an atheist than attend that church. The fellow’s action is not the result, desired of true biblical soul-winning (evangelism), i.e. Soul-winning through which God has chosen to add souls in the building of His Church. In this thesis, the author asks and answers the question of ‘ how do you accept Christ,’ that if you do not know how to be saved and understand, you will know at the end of this study, Lord willing.

A Standard Christian Systematic Theology for Soul-Winners is written to assist spiritual leaders in developing their theological foundation. It is written for the edification of pastors, teachers, and educated laity to aid in biblical soul-winning and to answer questions that the soul-winner or seeker may have. In addition, the author includes appendices that are of valuable information that go beyond the contents of the thesis, but serve as helps for the reader in understanding one’s own faith, and for doing evangelism in a day when the grace of God for social health in relationships is needed desperately to resolve issues for sinful mankind.

I trust this work will be beneficial to all readers for confidence in salvation, assurance, and allegiance to God the Father, through Jesus Christ the Lord, by His Holy Spirit, that souls know they may look forward to a delightful eternity in Heaven, not one of punishment. Yes, it is imperative to believe God (Elohim) for the Righteousness of God, a gift of His grace, complete in Jesus, to have eternal life in Heaven. Know the true God as the object of your worship. There is only one true God. The case study considers several components of Marvin's life, spirituality, the discovery of Jesus as the Great I Am and Savior, eternal security and God as his Heavenly Father.

On Feb. 2, 2017, Marvin believed God, Jn 1: 12, Jn 3: 16, Eph 2:8-1, Heb. 2: 10, 1 John 1: 9, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 4:4, 1 John 5: 12, and Rev 3: 20, that these verses were right about him, but doubts always perplexed him in his Christian life until later in life. (See events in subject’s life where you may identify with him in some of the facts and find solutions, Chapter 5 – Qualitative Data Collection). God gave him confirmation that his sins were forgiven, that he would see the Kingdom of Heaven for God spoke words of comfort to him, He that hath the Son hath the Life, (1 Jn 5: 12), God the Father, Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit are real. Marvin comes to know that God knows him. That marked my work as a soul-winner done, after many years, but to love him and his family and remain their friend and brother in Christ forever remains my God-given, joyful task, especially since his stroke and need to understand the why of the stroke. On March 20, 2017, during his morning devotional in Lamentations³, God showed Marvin, why he was allowed to have a stroke: to learn the statutes of God and how to worship God in spirit and truth. Marvin began praising God for His goodness and mercy toward him. The Holy Spirit stirred the fire to serve God in winning souls to faith in Jesus. God took evil and, turned it into good for His glory.

On March 30, 2017, He realized he was through a door along with his spiritual journey and on a critical path; the road of holiness to Heaven. On April 17, 2017, he realized that not only was God real, but He is the God of miracles and revival, even in this day and age. On April 30, 2017, he came to understand the answer to the question how to accept Jesus Christ, why one must believe God, know and be known by God, and how to know that one is complete in Christ. Marvin asks, If we are taught the true historical, biblical Christian conservative, evangelical theology of the Living Bible in the first place, why then would we need reformed theology for being complete in Jesus, which is at the center of true Christianity? Yielding to God is vital. Every other theology has something or someone else to assure, supposedly, allowance into Heaven. That is not true. For example, Mormons do not need the book of Mormon, just Jesus and His work on the Cross, alone, for them to have eternal life in Heaven.                  

If you and others are interested in knowing and being known by God, you better understand what Biblical salvation is, which is central to knowing one is redeemed, and for good soul-winning for leading other souls to the real assurance of a place in Heaven for eternity. Every individual, couple, family, social group, church, educational system, legal system, political system, nation, and country must heed the Call of Lord God Almighty (Elohim, Jehovah), who says Return To Me, to escape the collision course to an imminent catastrophic event. 

Are you sure that the spiritual leader whom you are    following is not leading you to Hell?                                                       

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Many books have been published on theological foundations for pastoral ministry, biblical vision, statements of faith, missions, church leadership, church administration, management, staffing, formation of pulpit committees, and church growth; yet in the church there is false teaching presented, in the name of the Lord, and therefore a decline in attendance at some churches.  People are being misled, and steady church growth is on the decline. Many people who come to attend the author’s services have been deceived in their churches and find the pure Gospel message refreshing. Of many pulpit committees, Dr. James W. Thompson writes that some pulpit committees operate without a sound theological foundation; the minister selected becomes the one in support of consumer religion where the pulpit ensures the church’s competitive edge in the marketplace of consumer religion. He says that the goal of the Church is the transformation of a community shaped by the love and self-denial of Jesus and that evangelism is the Gospel method. ¹ Pastoral leadership, in some cases, is not selected on solid biblical, theological foundations. Pulpit committees choose their pastor for their pulpit and take pride in that he is a combination of, for instance, Jay Leno, Lee Iaccoca, and Dr. Phil (all now replaced in stature and popularity with Jimmy Fallon, Sergio Marchionne, Dr. Travis Stork, and Dr. Andrew Ordin.² Dr. Thompson, in writing, on pastoral ministry, turns attention to Paul. He takes a reader to the theological foundations for pastoral ministry. Search committees desire that their church grows, but that usually means regarding numbers of religious consumers and numbers in the offering plates. This attention drawn by Thompson is skewed, even though viewed as scholarly. Church leadership needs to point to ‘God’s Word,’ and ‘Jesus,’ not Paul, Timothy, or John, who said, and not what God said, though it may be implied. A misunderstanding of what ‘God’s Word’ could be the result. In soul- winning, people are looking for what God says, and what He says, especially, about His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, their forgiveness of sins and, eternal salvation, as a gift of grace from God, not Timothy. 

D. P. Thompson led camp ministries in Glasgow, Scotland. He possessed a deep respect for D. L. Moody and Billy Graham. He founded the Church of Scotland Fellowship in Evangelism and said, "Evangelism is at once the primary work of the Church and the most urgent need of the hour. It is hardly possible to exaggerate its urgency or to estimate its importance…. If the Church fails to display a living, vigorous