As human beings, we believe that for something to be so incredibly awesome, that it must also be incredibly complicated. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the most awesome and most powerful relationship you can ever have in your life, and yet it is one of the easiest things in life to do. It requires very little effort on your part to initiate the relationship, BUT you have to make the first move and the time to do it is NOW.
Our salvation comes from one source, and one source alone.....that is by the Grace of God. It is not by being a nice person or doing the right things. Contrary to popular belief, you do not get to heaven by being a nice person. Eternal life in heaven is achieved solely by the grace of God.
How do we access that grace? Through faith and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9 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. (KJV)
So where does faith come from? This is the cool part, you already have it. When God created all mankind, He placed a “measure of faith” in each and every one of us.
Romans 12:3 …God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (KJV)
How do we get more faith? Easy, by hearing (or studying) the word of God.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (KJV)
What we are told is that to obtain salvation, we need God’s grace. To get God’s grace, we need faith. The cool thing is that God put a measure of faith in all of us at birth. By hearing (and reading) the word of God, our measure of faith increases. Your personal relationship with Christ begins as your faith increases…All you have to do is make the first move… It truly is that simple……It’s your choice, my recommendation is to act NOW !!!
Here is all you need to do:
1) Believe Jesus Christ died for your sins and that He was resurrected on the third day.
It is His resurrection that sets him apart from other so called "prophets" of that day.
2) Receive Jesus Christ into your heart
Believing is not enough, you must also open your heart and mind to receive Him. (see John 1:12)
3) Confess your sins and repent - make a concentrated effort to change your ways and follow God's will
God already knows what you have done, and what you do. Confess it to Him and begin your walk with the Lord (see Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:9)
4) Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Make that public profession of your faith! The New Testament tells of people being baptized by full immersion in water and even Jesus Christ himself was baptized this way. Following His baptism, a booming voice was heard from heaven, stating "This is my Son with whom I am well pleased". I believe Jesus Christ set the example for us to follow while He was here on this earth, and therefore baptism is an important step in the plan of salvation. (see also Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38)
5) ....then you will be filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit....
It is this gift of the Holy Spirit that guides you, comforts you, and helps you find your way in the "dark" It helps you to "live in this world, yet not be of the world"
You do the first 4, God will deliver the 5th. You are well on your way to a lifetime of living with God, living for God, and living a life that is "exceeding abundantly all that you could ask or think". (see Ephesians 3:20)
No matter where you are in your life, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can begin by
reciting the following prayer, believing in your heart that it is true. Once you pray this prayer, I suggest you contact a local church (or contact us)
and begin turning your life over to Christ. The Lord promised us that if we "draw nigh unto Him, that He will draw nigh unto us". Regardless of which scripture is quoted, they all have a central
theme and that is…
We must take the first step...and the time to act is NOW - PLEASE PRAY WITH ME.........
Heavenly Father, I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, and that he died on the cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my sins and will worship you all of the days of my life. Because your word is the truth, I confess with my mouth that I am born again and that I have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen !!!
If you prayed this prayer with a willing and believing heart, you are well on your way to being adopted into God’s family !!! Don't forget to contact a local church, read God’s Word, grow in the faith, and be baptized in the name of Jesus. As outlined in Acts 2:38, you will then receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and become a child of God, a joint heir to the throne.
Grab a Bible or do a quick internet search and read the following verses. It will take less than 5 minutes and I promise that it will be worth it: Ephesians 3:6, Romans 8:15-17, Galatians 3:26-29, John 1:12, 1 John 5:1.