5 STAGES OF SALVATION (SCRuBS) – SHORT VERSION
The Essentials for Any Salvation Presentation
This is Discipleship Evangelism
The 5 Stages of Salvation will help you avoid weak salvation presentations because it includes individual prayers for each stage, including conviction, repentance, and surrender. Discipleship evangelism includes an emphasis on the response elements of the gospel. The goal is to strengthen salvation invitations so listeners are truly saved and become disciples of Jesus.
This salvation presentation “template” can be used and edited in many ways. It can be used to prepare an evangelistic talk, spoken word for word as an invitation to respond, as training for leaders and volunteers (and any believer), in social media, for printing handouts or booklets, in websites, etc.. The author is okay with deleting his name and anything else that is nonessential if that helps. There are no copyright restrictions.
Don’t forget to apply the basic principles of communicating the gospel (i.e. “evangelology”): love and respect for listeners/readers, allowing time for reflection, letting the Holy Spirit do the work, using the power of silence (try 60 seconds for key decision points), empathy, emphasizing relationship, and giving them freedom without pressure (like Jesus). Put this all together and the Holy Spirit will make the gospel “the power of God for salvation”.
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Instructions for Hearers: Consider each prayer separately. Say the prayer to God if you agree with it. (Don’t worry if you have some doubts as long as you choose to agree from your heart.) If you need more time at a certain stage then ask God for help. Wait as long as you need to in order to be ready. (You can remember the stages with the acronym SCRuBS: Separation-Christ-Repent-Believe-Surrender.)
STAGE ONE – SEPARATION FROM GOD
God loves you and wants to lead you, make you whole and have a friendship with you. But everyone has broken God’s law of loving God and loving others (these are called “sins”). At times everyone has turned from God, been selfish, or pursued unhealthy pleasures. Romans 3:23 of the Bible says that everyone has sinned and falls short of God’s glory. Our impurity separates us from God because he is perfectly pure so we can not be united with him.
Prayer One
God, I admit I have broken your law of love and I am not pure. I have not followed you or treated others right. I confess my specific sins of (say your specific sins). I realize that I am not in right relationship with you but I want to be.
STAGE TWO – JESUS DIED FOR YOU
Jesus was born over 2,000 years ago and lived a perfect life. He showed us how to live and how to love others. He was the Son of God, God in the flesh. The religious leaders had him crucified, but I Corinthians 15:3 of the Bible states that Christ died for our sins. He rose from the dead and conquered death. Whoever repents, believes and surrenders to him will be cleansed, reborn and saved for eternal life. God values you and wants to make you his child and give you His love and peace and purpose.
Prayer Two
Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins. I believe you are the Son of God, God in the flesh. I want to receive forgiveness of my sins, a new heart, and eternal life.
STAGE THREE – TURNING FROM YOUR OLD LIFE (REPENTANCE)
The first response to Jesus’ message of new life is to change your mind about your life, in other words: repentance. Acts 17:30 of the Bible states that God is calling everyone to repent.
Prayer Three
God, I choose to turn away from my old life and turn to you. I turn away from running my own life without you and I turn away from pride and rebellion and destructive actions. I know I can’t completely stop doing these wrong things, but I choose to not embrace them and I turn to you to make me a new person.
STAGE FOUR – BELIEVE AND RECEIVE
The second response to Jesus’ message of new life is belief. John 3:16 says that whoever believes in God’s Son will have eternal life.
Prayer Four
Jesus, I believe in you to forgive my sins. I believe what you taught and I believe in your death and resurrection. I receive salvation and eternal life through you.
STAGE FIVE – SURRENDER
The third response to Jesus’ message of new life is initial surrender to Jesus as leader of your life. Romans 10:9 of the Bible teaches that if you believe and declare Jesus as Lord you will be saved.
Prayer Five
Jesus, I surrender my life to you and receive you as my leader. Teach me how to love others and how to love you. Thank you for making me a child of God and for your Spirit living inside of me now.
If you said all five prayers from your heart then rejoice! Your sins are forgiven, you are a new child of God and you have eternal life!
There are no copyright restrictions on this. You can view or download free the book that the 5 Stages of Salvation is taken from at http://crupressgreen.com/the-road-to-new-life . (After you click on it put your cursor at the bottom right and hit the save button to download.)
By: Phil Rehberg and Road to New Life Ministries www.theroadtonewlife.com
