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 do you know what? The Creator of the Universe was willing to accept me…and is willing to accept you just as you are…full of flaws and sins…and embrace you in His arms! You can be sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that your eternal destiny is safe and secure.
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 on your decision to follow Christ!
If you prayed this prayer in all sincerity, you are now a child of God. We encourage you to follow up on your commitment by:
- Getting baptized (full immersion)
- Telling someone else about your new faith in Christ
- Spending time with God each day through prayer and Bible reading
- Seeking fellowship with other believers.
These free resources can help answer your questions and guide you in your faith:
- Know Jesus, a free, guided online course that shows you what it means to have faith in Christ and how to communicate with Him.
- Basics of Christianity, a place to learn more about what Christians believe.
- Common Questions, where you can find answers to some spiritual questions.
- Life Issues, get practical direction for moving forward with difficult life situations.
- Church Finder, search for a church in your area.
I Want to Hear From You!
Give me a shout! Contact me and let me know if you’ve accepted Jesus Christ into your life or if you have any questions (please be polite). Thanks!
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