Acts16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” NLT
Paul and Silas were imprisoned. Miraculously, the prison doors flung open and the chains binding their feet broke. The jailer thought they had fled but they showed up and he asked them: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”(vs30), Paul and Silas replied: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” Paul did not say, "Go and right all your wrongs in the Past then come for your salvation." He didn't complicate the gospel. Salvation is dependent on believing in the finished work of Christ on the cross and confessing Him as Lord. Romans 10:10 says, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." No more no less. Anything aside this is unscriptural and it is trying to use works to attain salvation. Your evangelism cannot be fruitful if your message is faulty.
Years back, I was in a public bus in Lagos. A woman began to preach in the bus. In her message, she said, "As a woman, if you're trusting God for a baby and you wear trouser, the angel bringing your baby will go back because he would be seeing a man instead of a woman." I don't know who made that a criterion for reproduction. In her message, she put works above faith in Jesus. I was in another bus where a man gave several do's and don'ts before receiving salvation. I am not sure if anyone gave their life to Christ. The moment you begin to complicate the message of the gospel, you'll push lost souls away from salvation more than you should draw them to the cross. I have observed that one of the hindrances to soul winning is because some preachers complicate the gospel. The gospel is called the good news because the news is good not a sad one.
The sinner knows that he is a sinner. He's been struggling to meet up and seeking ways to be free from the bondage of sin. If he can help himself to attain salvation, he would have done that, however, he is helpless. The goodnews is that someone has paid the price for his salvation, he needs not worry about trying to save himself. Man's methods of trying to attain salvation are what birthed religion. Paul said in Ephesians 2:8-9, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." That's profound. No man can pay for salvation, the price is too high, Jesus paid. Don't complicate the gospel. Your duty is to tell your listeners what Christ has done and encourage them to put faith in his finished work.
Father, I receive the grace not to complicate the gospel in Jesus name.