I’m always looking for clear, simple ways to share the Good News of Jesus. “The 3 Circles” is a recent one which is very good. “The 4 Spiritual Laws” have been used by God for decades around the world. And “The 5 Gospel Colors” is being used effectively with children (and others). You can google any of the above to see how each one presents the basic truths of the Gospel.
But have you heard of “The 5 Fingers of Faith”? This is a new one for me. I saw it recently in a booklet at a Christian bookstore in Port Colborne. Get your fingers ready to participate…
One Finger
Point your index finger upward. This means there is only one way to God, salvation and heaven.
Jesus made this clear when he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (see John 14:6) The apostle Peter said the same thing when he declared, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) And the apostle Paul was on the same page when he wrote, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
Two Fingers
Now point your index and middle fingers up in a victory sign. This means that we have two choices — we can accept or reject the Good News of Jesus. The apostle John wrote in his Gospel, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36) Later, he basically repeated this truth when he wrote, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12)
Three Fingers
Now add a third finger pointing up. This means there are three facts we need to believe. The apostle Paul gives us these three when he referenced an early Christian creed — “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) When you understand the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and why they happened, you understand the Gospel.
Four Fingers
Add your little finger now to the other three. The number “four” stands for the “for-giveness” of our sins which God freely offers to all who sincerely ask “for” it. The Old Testament affirms, “For
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” (Psalm 86:5) And the New Testament agrees, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Five Fingers
And finally, give me a high five. This means that we can now enjoy five golden words — “I give them eternal life”. Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) This is the most wonderful assurance you could ever have. And it’s something we can know and not just hope for. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
Now you know the five fingers of faith: one way to heaven, two choices to make, three truths to believe, for-giveness to receive, and five golden words you can trust. The booklet appropriately ends with this… “The hand of God provides the gift, the hand of faith receives it and the hand of love passes it on.”
Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor.
