Choosing LIFE in JESUS
Can I Be Forgiven?
No matter what you’ve done, no matter how bad you’ve blown it, God stands ready to accept and forgive you. He is waiting for you. Come just as you are, don’t worry if you are good enough, Jesus will do the rest. Actually, we can never be good enough to reach God’s standard of perfection. The Bible says that all of us have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Instead, we stand before God with a bunch of broken pieces in our hands. When you hand those pieces over to Him, He can change your life!
RECEIVING JESUS
1 Understand Our Problem, Sin the Separator
Problem? I don’t have a problem. Who said? “But your iniquities have separated you from your God...” (Isaiah 59:2) Eternal life and having a personal relationship with God is not automatic because we are by nature, separated from God. Since, iniquities are another word for sin and sin separates us from God, that's our problem! The Bible says that all of us have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Ah-ha....
People have tried many ways to bridge this gap of separation without success. We cannot earn our way to God by works or being religious. “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 NIV)
2 Realize The Solution
The Only Solution? Yes! Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NIV) God's only solution to save us from our sin and certain death, is giving His son Jesus Christ who willingly laid down His life on the cross and rose from the grave to pay the penalty for all our sins. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
3 Repent
Pour your heart out to God. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Confess that you have done wrong and repent of your sin. (example; I lied, I cheated, I was hurtful, etc…) Repent means to turn from our sin and proceed toward God. God and sin are opposites, so you must turn toward Him. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”
4 Receiving Jesus
Open the door to your heart and let Him in. “But as many as received (welcomed) Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12) receiving or rejecting Jesus is a choice each of us makes freely. If we receive Christ, God adopts us as his children. By receiving Christ, you are trusting in Jesus' death and resurrection as the only way to pay for your personal sins. As you trust in Christ alone for your eternal life, He becomes your Savior. As you choose to follow Him, He becomes Lord of your life.
Are You Forgiven?
There has never been a better time than now. We are not promised another day. Wouldn’t you want to know that you have been forgiven? See, good people don’t go to heaven; forgiven people do! God won’t force Himself on you. He is a Gentleman. It’s time to open the door and let Him in. Then ask Jesus into your life right now.
Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in...” (Revelation 3:20)
STOP NOW &
TALK TO GOD (Pray)
Use your own words. Express your thoughts to Him sincerely and heartfelt.
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Here is an example
Dear Jesus,
I open my heart and I invite you inside; to be my God, to be my Savior, and to be my Friend. Now I understand that You came, died on the cross, and rose from the dead all on my behalf to completely take care of my problem of sin and give me eternal life. Forgive me of my sins and wash me clean. I’ve decided this day to follow you, Jesus. From this day and forever I’m Yours.
In Jesus Name, Amen
TELL YOUR STORY
If you have found a message of hope in Jesus, we want to know your story! Tell us how you came to know Christ and the change He has made in your life.