Giving your life to the lord

God loves you and wants you to experience real peace and life — abundantly and eternally.
The Bible says…
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
QUESTION: Why do most people not have this peace and abundant life that God planned for us to have?
ANSWER: There’s a problem.

The Problem: Our Separation from God

In the beginning, God created human beings in His own image.  He planned for us to have an abundant life.  But He did not make us as robots, so we do not “automatically” love and obey Him.  God gives to each person a will and a freedom of choice.

Our very first parents, the first two people on earth, chose to disobey God and to go their own willful way.  All of us have inherited the results of that first bad choice.  We still make the same choice today.  This choice produces separation from God.
The Bible says…
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Our Failed Attempts to Reach God

People have tried in many ways to get past this barrier between themselves and God.

The Bible says…

“There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

Only God can remove the barrier.

God’s way of removing the barrier — the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and removed the barrier that separates people from God.

The Bible says…

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.” 1 Timothy 2:5

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” 1 Peter 3:18

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

What do we do now?

So then, God has provided the only way. Each person must make a choice.

What we must do: Receive Christ.  We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation.

The Bible says…

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

“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

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

What does it mean to receive Christ?

Receiving Christ involves a change of heart, a turning from your old path to the path that God has for you.  Accepting Jesus means to:

1. Confess or admit your need (I am a sinner).

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

3. Trust Jesus.  Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave to offer you eternal life.

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

Taking the Big Step

You can pray right now, surrendering your life to Jesus.  If the prayer below expresses the desire of your heart, why not pray right now?

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. Take control of my words, thoughts and actions. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Did you pray something like the above prayer?   Did you accept Jesus Christ?  God offers His assurance to us through His promises in the Bible:

The Bible says…

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

Did you sincerely ask Jesus Christ to take charge of your life? Where is He right now? What has He given you?

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9

All Things Are New

When we receive Christ, we are born into God’s family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. In the Bible, this is called regeneration, or the “new birth.”

When you give your heart and life to Jesus Christ, you are “born again” into God’s family, into God’s kingdom.  You have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Bible says…

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”     2 Corinthians 5:17

What’s Next?

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

1. Pray: Talk to God in prayer every day.  God hears and answers prayer.

2. Learn: Read your Bible everyday to know Christ better.  A great place to start is the Gospel of John, the fourth book in the New Testament.

3. Share: Tell others what Jesus Christ has done for you.

4. Church: Worship, Fellowship, and serve God with others in a Christian gathering where Christ is preached, trusted, & believed.

5. Shine: As Christ’s representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.  God loves all people, and He wants everyone to know Him.

If you have prayed the prayer above and accepted Jesus into your please, we would like to know so that we can celebrate with you! If you have any questions or concerns, please call or write to the branch nearest to you. We want to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.