START A NEW LIFE

 

Jesus loves you because you are made in His image. "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:26, 27.

Also, Jesus loves you so much that He came down from heaven to die for you. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16, 17.

"Well this Jesus can't be God. He was only around in the 1st century."Actually, the Bible says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1,14. You see Jesus has been around since the beginning. He was there before words were ever spoken. Jesus cared so much for you that He that came down to our world and put on human flesh and bones. Can you imagine that? That's love!

"But why do I need saving?"Well the Bible says "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" Isaiah 53:6. That means that even though we like to think of ourselves as "trend-setters" and not "one of the pack"; we actually are one of the pack. One of the herd to be exact. You see we tend to do what everyone else has already done. We have turned from Him. We have led a life that needs to be saved. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 God had high expectations of us. But we have all fallen short.

"So what does that mean to me?"Well, "For the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23. Sin is just another word for "wrong doings". We all expect to get paid for whatever job we do. Well, our payment for a life of doing wrong is death. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

^{"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8}

"So what can I do to earn this love?"NOTHING! You see God said, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9. We can do nothing to earn our way to the love Jesus offers. It’s like a swimmer getting caught in a riptide. The swimmer has been swimming against the riptide and has become tired. The current will continue to drag him out to sea. All the swimmer can do is hope beyond hope that the lifeguard can see his tired arms floundering about. Jesus is like that lifeguard. He can swim out to you with current, and, being refreshed, He can take you and swim along the shoreline to safety.

"Well than. If I can't do anything to earn this love, what can I do?""But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." John 1:12. This is amazing. This right, this love, is offered by believing in His name. Romans 10:13 says this " For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." That's it. No magic formula. No secret handshake. No special deeds. Call upon His name, believe on His name, and you can be saved.

"What can I do? Can you help me?"1) Admit your need (I am a sinner).

2) Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).

3) Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.

4) Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)

"What do I say?"You can pray something like this:

    "Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.
                                In Jesus' name, Amen"

Did you sincerely ask Jesus Christ to come into your life? Where is He right now?  If you prayed that prayer or one similar, I would truly love to hear from you and share in this great news. And then, share this information with as many people as possible.

"Okay, I prayed for Jesus to forgive me. Now what?"

This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship you should:

1) Read your Bible every day to know Christ better.

2) Talk to God in prayer every day. He really does listen.

3) Tell others about why Jesus loves them.

4) Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.

5) As Christ's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." I John 5:13