| How to become a Christian |
| The central theme of the New Testament is God's love for you as an individual. This love was revealed through Christ's coming into the world and living among men, His dying on the cross, and rising from the dead. Through Christ's death God offers you forgiveness for your sins, and through the resurrection the promise of everlasting life. Christ died and rose again for the whole world, but for you to become a Christian is an individual matter. They only way to establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is to accept His offer of forgiveness and everlasting life. The following Scripture passages show God's part and yours. Read each verse and believe it, for it is the Word of God speaking to you. God's Love is Revealed "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." -- John 3:16 God loves you and all of mankind. He wants to bless your life and make it full and complete. He offers you not only an abundant life here and now, but a life which is eternal -- His very own life. Man is Sinful "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." -- Romans 3:23 The saying, "Well, we are just human -- nobody is perfect," is bibilically sound. When we acknowledge this truth, we can see our separation from God, for He is holy. Sin has a Penalty "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." -- Romans 6:23 To continue in sin will result in spiritual death, which is separation from God forever. The alternative is to personally receive God's free gift, which is pardon for sin and provision of life everlasting. Christ paid the Penalty "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." You may think you must lead a "good" life and do charitable acts before God will love you. This is not so. God loves you even in your sin. He sent Christ to die in your place and to pay the penalty for your sin so that you can be reconciled to Him. Salvation is a Free Gift! "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast." -- Ephesians 2:8,9 Grace means undeserved favor. God graciously offers to you what you could never do for yourself. God's gift to you is free. You do not, and cannot, work for a gift. All you need to do is receive it. Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you to provide deliverance from your sins and to give you eternal life. We must receive Christ "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." -- John 1:12 When you receive Christ -- when you accept what He has done for you -- you become a child of God. Picture, if you will, Jesus Christ standing at the door of your life. Invite Him in. He is waiting to be received into your life. You can receive Christ Now! You can invite Jesus Christ into your life right now by praying to God something like the following: Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and that I need Your forgiveness. I believe that Christ died in my place to pay the penalty for my sin and that He rose from the dead. I now invite Jesus Christ to come into my life as my Savior. Thank you for making me Your child. Help me learn to please You in every part of my life. Amen. |
| If you made the decision to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior, write to us at this address: jlrcm@yahoo.com |