Jesus is the Only Way!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. – Romans 1:16

I am not ashamed of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

This is something that I can’t be silent about. It’s changed me in ways that I cannot even describe.

I am no better than any of you. I’ve sinned, I’ve stumbled, and I’ve performed my share of boneheaded acts in my life. I’ve done all kinds of things I’m not proud of and have made some really stupid decisions…yes, even as a Christian! In the 40+ years that I’ve been on this Earth, I’ve hardly been the model of proper Christian living.

But here’s the good news: even though I am a sinner, guilty and undeserving, God made a way for me to be forgiven. Through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, God removes my sin and clothes me in the perfect righteousness of Christ. That is the only reason He welcomes me into His family — not because of anything good in me, but because of everything Jesus has done for me. And He will do the same for you if you come to Him in repentance and faith. You can rest secure, knowing that your eternity is safe in Christ alone.

How can you receive this? Read on…

The Reality of God

God is not just a myth or a distant figure from the past. He is real and alive today, and is just as relevant as He ever was.

The Nature of God

There is only one true, holy God, who exists eternally in three persons – the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

The Word of God

The Holy Bible – which consists of 66 books of the Old and New Testaments – is the infallible, inspired Word of God. It is the source of perfect truth and wisdom that provides guidance for our lives, and more importantly, reveals who God is and what our relationship with Him is like.

The Problem of Sin

Every person is a sinner and has fallen short of God’s standard of righteousness. No one is righteous before God, regardless of how good they may appear to be.

“For there is not a just man upon Earth, that does good and sins not.”
– Ecclesiastes 7:20

“For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.”
– Romans 3:23

“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
– James 2:10

God’s Love for Us

Despite our sinfulness, God loves us unconditionally. He demonstrated His love for us by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. Through faith in Jesus, we can be reconciled to God and have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
– John 3:16

The Solution for Sin

Jesus Christ is the only solution for sin. We cannot earn our way to heaven through good works or personal merit. Only through faith in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross can we be forgiven and reconciled to God.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”
– Romans 8:1

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…”
– 1 Peter 3:18

“Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is no other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”
– Acts 4:12

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
– John 14:6

Receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior

To be saved, we must confess Jesus as Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead. This confession acknowledges that it is Jesus who will work and fulfill His righteousness within us, as we are unable to attain it on our own.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”
– Romans 10:9

Jesus calls this experience the “new birth.” He told Nicodemus: “…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God”
– John 3:3

Prayer for Salvation

If you want to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you can pray this prayer with all your heart:

“Heavenly Father, I come before you acknowledging that I have sinned and broken your laws, and I know that my sin has caused a separation between us. I am deeply sorry and ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was raised from the dead, and lives today. I invite Him into my heart to be my Lord and Savior. I surrender my life to Him and ask that He would reign in my heart and guide me according to His perfect will. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

Congratulations!

If you prayed this prayer in all sincerity, you are now a Child of God. However, there are a few things that you need to do to follow up on your commitment.

• Get baptized (full immersion) in water as commanded by Christ as a public display of repentance.
• Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.
• Spend time with God each day through daily prayer and Bible reading.
• Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus.

Now That You’ve Trusted in Christ…

First of all, let me say: I am so glad you’ve made this decision! Following Jesus is the greatest step you will ever take, and you don’t have to walk this journey alone. God has given us His Word, His Spirit, and the Church to help you grow. I’d also like to put something practical in your hands to give you direction right away:

New in Christ: A Simple Guide for New Christians is a short, friendly book I wrote especially for brand-new believers like you. It will help answer some of the first questions you may have, such as:

• What just happened when I put my faith in Jesus?
• How do I start praying and reading the Bible?
• What is baptism, and why does it matter?
• Why do I need to be part of a church?
• How can I begin sharing my faith with others?

This little book is written in a simple, down-to-earth way so you can understand and apply God’s truth right away. You can learn more about it and get your copy here: NewInChristBook.org.

Next Steps for Your Walk With Jesus

Along with reading New in Christ, here are a few things you can do starting today to grow in your new relationship with the Lord:

• Begin each day with prayer — talk to God about everything.
• Read the Bible daily to hear God’s voice and learn His truth.
• Find a solid, Bible-believing church near you and get connected.
• Take the step of baptism as a public declaration of your faith.
• Tell someone else about your decision to follow Jesus.

If you’d like, you can also check out my page on Next Steps After You’re Saved for even more encouragement and guidance.

I Want to Hear From You!

If you’ve trusted Christ today, I’d love to know! Please contact me here and share your story. It would be my joy to pray for you and encourage you in your new walk with Jesus.