Jesus calls everyone to accept Him as Lord and Savior of their life. The life in Christ is a new life, a changed life, because you have learned to walk daily with Jesus in a new dimension of love and understanding. The life in Christ is an abundant life in the Spirit; it is a daily walk with Christ.
Jesus cares intimately for the matters of your life. Do you want to know Jesus, to let Him be your Lord and Savior?
All people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
I have personally led many people to God as they prayed a prayer similar to the following prayer. I invite you to pray this prayer with me now.
Dear God, I acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe that He was born of the Virgin Mary. I believe that He died on the cross, that His blood was shed for my sins and that He arose from the dead. I confess that I have disobeyed your commandments. I ask you to forgive me for these sins. I now ask Jesus to come into my heart. Be my Savior. Be my Lord. Be my soon coming King. I will do my best to obey your teachings as recorded in the Bible. Thank you, in Jesus name. Amen.
After you have prayed this prayer find someone with whom you can share your new salvation. It is important to spend time reading the Bible. I suggest that you begin with the book of John. The Bible feeds your new spirit inside of you. (please also email me and let me know that you have prayed this prayer so I can rejoice with you! (pstrjohn@windstream.net)
Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world but to save the world. From what? Jesus wants to save you from your sinful nature, from death, from yourself. You can be saved if you confess and repent of your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:9, John 3:16)
When you accept Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior, get "saved" or are born again" you take the first step on the Way of Salvation. Heaven is the reward for those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior;Hell is the "reward" for people who do not believe in Jesus.
Repentance
Jesus came to call us to repentance for our sins. When you repent, you turn from going away from God, to going toward God where you seek to do His will and not your own.
When you repent you make a 180 degree turn. Some people say that you turn over a new leaf.
Born Again
We must be born of the Spirit and take on the Spirit or nature of God.
When we came into this world we were born of the flesh, like our parents. All people are descendants of Adam and Eve who sinned in the garden of Eden. Because of their sin we are born with the same sinful, lustful nature which desires the things of this world more than the things of God.
We are all sinners because we disobey God's laws as written in the Holy Bible. We may try to obey but within ourselves we cannot successfully obey. The spirit of Satan influences us to disobey God. When we give in to Satan and he causes us to sin, we have guilt, anger, greed, hatred, pride, jealousy and bitterness. This is often a source of unhappiness as we disappoint ourselves and hurt other people. Many times this is the root cause of depression and an unfulfilled life which escalates as we perpetuate the cycle, seeking happiness and finding none. Sin destroys us and leads to destruction in an eternal Hell.
While talking with Nicodemus, Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" John 3:3.
Scriptures
Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep." John 10:10, 11. Jesus wants you to have a life of peace. Peace comes from allowing Jesus to live within our hearts. Disobedience to the Word of God destroys this peaceful, full life that Jesus provided for us. Sin separates us from the presence of God.
John 3:15-18 says, "That everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of Gods one and only Son."
The Way of Salvation
Salvation is not merely a one-time experience. It is an experience which places you on the Christian faith journey - the Way of Salvation. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is your first step on the trip. As you read your Bible you will grow spiritually. Find some good Christian people to associate with. Begin to attend a Bible believing church. Learn how to witness to others telling them about your new relationship with Jesus. The goal of the Christian life is not getting into Heaven; that is the reward. The goal is to continually become more like Jesus Christ and for your personal relationship with Him to grow deeper.
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