The main theme of the Bible is God’s love for you and all people. This love was shown when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven, and because He rose from the dead you can have eternal life. You can know for sure what will become of you after you die.
This gift of forgiveness and eternal life cannot be yours unless you willingly accept it. God requires an individual response from you. The following verses from the Bible show God’s part and yours in this process:
God’s love
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
God loves you. He wants to bless your life and make it complete. He also wants to give you a life, which will last forever, even after death.
We are sinful
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
You may have heard someone say, “I’m only human – nobody’s perfect.” Yes, we all sin and do things that we know are wrong. And that’s why we feel estranged from God – because God is holy and good, and we are not.
Sin has penalty
“For the wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23
Just as a criminal must pay the penalty for his crime, sinners must pay the penalty for their sins. You pay the penalty of spiritual death: You will not only die physically; you’re separated from our holy God for all eternity. The Bible teaches that those who choose to remain separated from God will spend eternity in a place called hell.
Christ has paid our penalty!
“But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, has paid the penalty for all your sins. You may think you have to lead a good life and do good deeds before God will love you. But the Bible says that Christ loved you enough to die for you, even when you were rebelling against Him.
Salvation is a free gift
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
The word grace means “undeserved favor.” It means God is offering you something you could never provide for yourself: forgiveness of sins and eternal life. God’s gift to you is free. All you have to do is joyfully receive it. Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you!
Christ is at the door of your heart
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20
Jesus wants to have a relationship with you. Picture Him standing at the door of your heart (the door of your emotions, intellect and will). Invite Him in; He is waiting for you to receive Him into your heart and life.
You must receive Him
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
When you receive Christ into your heart you become a child of God. You can talk to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ.
One other way to look at this…
#1 – God loves you and wants you to have an abundant life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
Why don’t most people have what God has planned for us to have? #2 – We are separated from God.
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
God has given us freedom of choice. He did not make us into robots to automatically love and obey Him. We chose to disobey God and go our own way. This results in separation from God.
People have tried to bridge this gap between themselves and God with good works, religion, philosophy and morality.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
No bridge reaches God… except one. #3 – God’s Answer: The Cross
Jesus Christ is the only answer to the separation between humans and God. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5
“Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’” John 14:6 #4 – Our Response: Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life and receive Him by personal invitation.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9
Would you like to receive Jesus Christ right now?
You need to:
Admit your need – “I am a sinner.”
Be willing to repent and turn away from sin.
Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross.
Through prayer, invite and receive Him into your life as Savior and Lord.
A sample prayer:
Dear God,
I know that I am a sinner and not worthy of You. I know I need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I invite Jesus Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior and Lord of my life. I no longer trust in myself but trust in You. Give me eternal life and a future in Heaven.
In Jesus name, Amen.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
If you sincerely prayed that prayer – Congratulations! This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. If you would like to share your decision, contact us.
Know Jesus
Know Jesus
How do I become a Christian?
The main theme of the Bible is God’s love for you and all people. This love was shown when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven, and because He rose from the dead you can have eternal life. You can know for sure what will become of you after you die.
This gift of forgiveness and eternal life cannot be yours unless you willingly accept it. God requires an individual response from you. The following verses from the Bible show God’s part and yours in this process:
God’s love
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
God loves you. He wants to bless your life and make it complete. He also wants to give you a life, which will last forever, even after death.
We are sinful
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
You may have heard someone say, “I’m only human – nobody’s perfect.” Yes, we all sin and do things that we know are wrong. And that’s why we feel estranged from God – because God is holy and good, and we are not.
Sin has penalty
“For the wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23
Just as a criminal must pay the penalty for his crime, sinners must pay the penalty for their sins. You pay the penalty of spiritual death: You will not only die physically; you’re separated from our holy God for all eternity. The Bible teaches that those who choose to remain separated from God will spend eternity in a place called hell.
Christ has paid our penalty!
“But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, has paid the penalty for all your sins. You may think you have to lead a good life and do good deeds before God will love you. But the Bible says that Christ loved you enough to die for you, even when you were rebelling against Him.
Salvation is a free gift
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
The word grace means “undeserved favor.” It means God is offering you something you could never provide for yourself: forgiveness of sins and eternal life. God’s gift to you is free. All you have to do is joyfully receive it. Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you!
Christ is at the door of your heart
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20
Jesus wants to have a relationship with you. Picture Him standing at the door of your heart (the door of your emotions, intellect and will). Invite Him in; He is waiting for you to receive Him into your heart and life.
You must receive Him
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
When you receive Christ into your heart you become a child of God. You can talk to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ.
One other way to look at this…
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
Why don’t most people have what God has planned for us to have?
#2 – We are separated from God.
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
God has given us freedom of choice. He did not make us into robots to automatically love and obey Him. We chose to disobey God and go our own way. This results in separation from God.
People have tried to bridge this gap between themselves and God with good works, religion, philosophy and morality.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
No bridge reaches God… except one.
#3 – God’s Answer: The Cross
Jesus Christ is the only answer to the separation between humans and God. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5
“Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’” John 14:6
#4 – Our Response: Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life and receive Him by personal invitation.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9
Would you like to receive Jesus Christ right now?
You need to:
A sample prayer:
Dear God,
I know that I am a sinner and not worthy of You. I know I need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I invite Jesus Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior and Lord of my life. I no longer trust in myself but trust in You. Give me eternal life and a future in Heaven.
In Jesus name, Amen.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
If you sincerely prayed that prayer – Congratulations! This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. If you would like to share your decision, contact us.
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