CORE OF THE GOSPEL
The gospel should be presented in such a way that people actually do trust in Christ alone for their salvation so that they are saved. When it is stated that salvation is by grace thru faith in Christ alone but then presented as thru faith plus more than that (such as repentance, commitment, or submission) trust is divided between Christ and self. Regret for and resolve to turn from sin to God are right and proper but must never take trust from Christ. The core of the Biblical gospel that the Lord made plain to the Protestant Reformers is that Christ is our entire righteousness, our righteous Substitute in the sight of God. That is what must be made clear so that people trust in Christ alone. Salvation is not thru faith plus repentance. Salvation is thru faith alone in Christ alone.