Am I Getting Through to My LDS Friend?'
“I’ve been sharing the truth with her for years, and there doesn’t seem to be any progress.” As these words were shared with me recently, I thought to myself, “I’ve heard that before.” Those of us who have received God’s free gift of grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus have a hard time understanding why others don’t get it. After all, it makes perfect sense to us.
What hope does the Bible give us when we don’t see any change?
1. God Saves Sinners
This may sound obvious, but it is the first and most important thing to remember. Paul refers to God as “our Savior” at least six times (1 Timothy 1:1; 2:3; 4:10; Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4). These passages and several Old Testament passages (e.g., Psalm 106:21) remind us that God is not only able to save sinners; He desires to save sinners and He DOES save sinners.
2. God’s Word Transforms Sinners
God has chosen to use His Word, the Bible, to bring life-transforming faith. Romans 10:17 tells us, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (ESV). James states, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” James 1:18 (ESV).
As we share God’s Word with our LDS friends, God is pleased to use His Word to bring change. We realize that the Word of God must be received with humility and submission. Those who are exposed to God’s Word and continue to reject it can and will become callused to it. One of two things will happen when someone encounters God’s truth. They will either humbly accept it and trust in God for salvation, or they will foolishly reject it and thereby become hardened against God.
In either case, our job is to lovingly proclaim God’s truth and trust the God who saves. Even those who have spent many years rejecting God’s offer of salvation are not beyond the reach of God’s grace.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV).
3. God Uses Transformed Sinners as Ambassadors
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” 2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV).
The phrase “We are ambassadors,” speaks of the task that has been appointed to us. We go to those who need to hear the message. We are sent out with the life-changing truth. We do this “for Christ.” Christ has commissioned us to speak on His behalf.
This is God’s appointed method for the spread of the gospel. He chooses to use imperfect representatives to speak to those around them. We will not always receive a warm welcome. “...I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” Ephesians 6:20 (ESV). Despite this, we continue to take the opportunities that Our Lord gives us.
4. Sometimes God Allows Us to Witness a Miracle
Nowhere does the Bible ensure us that every time we faithfully share the gospel, people are going to instantly fall to their knees in recognition of their need for salvation and cry out to God to save them (1 Corinthians 3:4-9). However, now and then, God does give us a front row seat to the miracle of salvation. When we are blessed to witness this, we offer all the praise to God who saves.
Over 17 years of Pastoral Ministry, God has allowed me to witness this miracle more than a few times. Consider the story of a woman that we’ll call Mary. Mary’s husband regularly drove past our church. One Sunday, he decided to come in. He had trusted Christ as Savior many years before but was never taught the Bible.
He grew quickly, and in my first meetings with him, he shared that his wife was still a member of the LDS church. He asked me to pray for her salvation, and we talked about what he could do as he sought to share the gospel with her. Time passed, and each time we were together, I asked this man how things were going. One day, with a large smile on his face, he told me, “She has agreed to read the Bible with me. I know that God is going to use His Word to change her!” Sure enough, one Sunday morning, Mary and her husband came into church with smiles on their faces. Mary had trusted in Christ alone for her salvation. She was resting in God’s grace and mercy.
God saves sinners as they hear the truth of God’s Word, and He uses us to bring this message of hope to those around us.