3. Ancestral Faith: A Bridge, Not a Destination

Can we inherit salvation from our ancestors? While many of us take immense pride in our heritage and the faith passed down from generations, it's crucial to understand that our spiritual journey is deeply personal. Inheritances may provide a foundation, but our relationship with God is built on personal experiences and faith. Our salvation isn't a genetic legacy – it's a call to a personal relationship with God.

This realization came starkly to me during an encounter in Noblesville. Sarah, a young woman I met, presented an emblematic representation of how many view their faith - rooted in the past, not cultivated in the present. Despite her life’s hardships – from financial struggles to the trials of early adulthood, she leaned on the notion of inherited salvation. “My grandmother was good, and I am like her,” she reasoned, suggesting a ticket to Heaven based on familial virtue.

However, salvation is not akin to a family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation. When I asked Sarah about her understanding of the Cross, her unsurety reaffirmed a crucial aspect: to rely solely on ancestral faith is to miss the essence of Christianity. It's not about being a 'good person' in worldly terms. It's about recognizing our transgressions against God's moral standards and seeking His grace for redemption.

Using her speeding ticket as an analogy, I shared the Gospel's message, explaining God's tremendous sacrifice in offering His only Son for our sins. Just as a wealthy friend could pay her fine, Jesus paid a far greater price for our sins. However, salvation isn't just about accepting this gift; it involves genuine repentance.

I emphasized to Sarah the difference between confessing and repenting. While confession acknowledges guilt, repentance dives deeper, requiring true remorse for our sins and a commitment to turning back to God. In that transformative moment, bathed in love and grace, one is born again, no longer bound by the weight of sin.

Evangelism isn’t a sales pitch, and it’s not about 'closing the deal.' Instead, it's about planting a seed, and letting the Holy Spirit nourish it. A coerced declaration of faith, done for appeasement, isn't genuine. It's the work of the Holy Spirit that genuinely opens hearts to God, leading them to true salvation. My interaction with Sarah wasn’t about converting her, but guiding her to a deeper, personal understanding of faith.

Watching someone embark on a genuine spiritual journey, feeling the transformative power of God's love, is a profound experience. Our duty is not to count conversions, but to share the love and truth of Christ, letting the Holy Spirit do the rest.

Remember, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8, NKJV). Our faith is a personal gift, a direct connection with God, not merely an ancestral lineage. Embrace it, cultivate it, and let it guide your path.