Isn’t it wonderful to know that perfect love exists, even though our world is infected by sin? While injustice and evil seem to prevail around us, Jesus lifts us out of the darkness and gives us a brand new life.
The Need
Because Adam and Eve chose to rebel against God in the Garden of Eden, separation from their Creator was the result. And since we’re their descendents, we, too, inherit a sinful nature at birth. We’re hopelessly mired by our own shortcomings, and try though we might, every attempt we make to bridge the gap between God’s holiness and our brokenness inevitably fails.
This is why He sent His Son.
When Jesus died, He took every sin ever committed — past, present and future — and nailed it to the cross with Him. When we say “yes” to Him and accept His FREE GIFT of salvation, He becomes our sin and we become His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The Bible says that, “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 6:23), and those who call Him Lord inherit blessings on this earth and a Heavenly future that’s far beyond comprehension. Being a Christian means living in friendship with Jesus so we can experience the fullness of His life, both now and after we die.
The Response
Being in a relationship with Jesus doesn’t involve adhering to an endless list of rules and regulations — it’s about receiving forgiveness and moving forward from a place of rest. We don’t have to work hard to attain perfection, because when God looks at us, He sees His perfect Son.
The Invitation
The Lord doesn’t play favorites or discriminate. Everyone is welcome in His family, and there are no exclusions based on race, gender, sins, or past mistakes. He wants everyone to know Him and inherit His abundant life. As Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
The Action
To inherit your very best life, surrender to Jesus today and let Him be your friend. It’s that simple! Just pray and tell Him you’re ready to be in a relationship with Him. You might say something like:
“Dear Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God and that you gave your life for me on the cross. I confess that sin has separated us and that I can’t make my own way back to you. I receive your free gift of salvation and the eternal life that you died to give me. I ask that you become my teacher, my leader, and my best friend, from this day forward. Amen.”
If you wrap a sincere heart around these words — believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord — you’re in the family of God. He’s given you a brand new life, and His Spirit now lives inside of you. As you rely on Him day by day, He’ll empower you to follow in His footsteps, overcome every obstacle, and tell others about what He’s done for you.
The Biblical Promises
“Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.” Acts 4:12
“If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior.” John 3:16-17
“I am telling you the truth: he who believes has eternal life.” John 6:47
The Next Steps
Once you’ve made a decision to follow Jesus, it’s important to get yourself a Bible (if you don’t have one). We suggest reading the Gospels — starting with the book of John — because they will teach how to live like Him. We also encourage you to read His Word on a daily basis. If you need a plan, check out the free resources available at YouVersion Bible (www.youversion.com) or download the app on your phone!
If you have questions about your faith and you want to ask them in a non-judgmental space, we recommend ALPHA. Visit https://alphausa.org/try/ to learn more.
And if you’d like to go deeper in your faith alongside a group of supportive friends, check out the 10-week ROOTED discipleship experience at Shepherd’s Grove. Online groups are available.
If you’d like to learn more, check out the following resources Hour of Power:
BE REBORN BOOKLET. This outlines the plan of salvation in simple terms.
DIY: BUILD YOUR FAITH. This is a practical “how to” for building your faith and cultivating a Godly lifestyle.
DIY: HOW TO READ YOUR BIBLE. This is a helpful tool as you discover how to engage with God through His Word.
