Witnessing to others about being born again
I have several acquaintances who are members of non-Christian religions. I would like to be able to share the gospel with them, so I have been looking at some online resources like gospel tracts. All of these, however, end with the sinner's prayer and claim it is the way of salvation. This seemed very unscriptural and non-Lutheran to me. What would a Lutheran explanation on how one is born again be, and does WELS have any evangelism resources that would be more faithful to Scripture?
There is a need to be born again because by nature we are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about the need for rebirth, to be born again. “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again… Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:3, 5-6).
You notice here is where the work of the Holy Spirit enters the picture. Just as we have no control over and are not responsible for our own physical birth, so we are passive recipients of the Holy Spirit’s work when it comes to our spiritual rebirth.
The Bible makes it clear that rebirth is the work of God. In addition to Jesus’ words in John 3, consider these Scripture verses. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:4-6). “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ” (Colossians 2:13).
When it comes to evangelism resources, I would direct you to “What About Jesus?” This web site, maintained by WELS Commission on Evangelism, offers many resources that you could use in speaking to your acquaintances. God bless your efforts!