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.
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
