God loves you and has a plan for you!
The Bible says, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, [Jesus Christ], that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” — a complete life full of purpose (John 10:10).
Here’s the problem: people are sinful and separated from God.
We have all done, thought or said bad things, which the Bible calls “sin.” The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The result of sin is death, spiritual separation from God (Romans 6:23).
The good news?
God sent His Son to die for your sins!
Jesus died in our place so we could have a relationship with God and be with Him forever.
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
But it didn’t end with His death on the cross. He rose again and still lives!
“Christ died for our sins. … He was buried. … He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Jesus is the only way to God. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6).
Would you like to receive God’s forgiveness?
We can’t earn salvation; we are saved by God’s grace when we have faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. All you have to do is believe you are a sinner, that Christ died for your sins, and ask His forgiveness. Then turn from your sins—that’s called repentance. Jesus Christ knows you and loves you. What matters to Him is the attitude of your heart, your honesty. We suggest praying the prayer below to accept Christ as your Savior.
“Dear Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you, and I am sorry. Please forgive me for my sins. I believe you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross for my sin. I believe that you were dead and buried and was raised to life again to live forever. Please come in my heart and save me so I can live for you in this life and forever with you in the next. Amen.”
Did you pray that prayer? Please let us know! We would love to celebrate with you and pray for you. Email Tara Powell here.
(Text used with permission – Billy Graham Association).
How do I know if I am “saved”?
A common question among seeking individuals. The terms can be confusing. Many people use the term loosely. We must go to the authority of Scripture, The Bible as it is God’s Holy Word. The Bible says:
If you declare 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
To be “saved” one must confess and believe in Jesus Christ. According to
Romans 10:9-13,” if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon to Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
You can do this by simply asking Jesus to come into your heart and live for Him.
This is the most important step anyone could ever make in his/her life. We would love to hear about it and send you some additional resources for your Christian walk.
The next natural step is Baptism
What are the criteria for baptism?
Baptism is important. Baptism is the outward action of the inward change that has taken place in the heart. To be called a “Christian” by true definition is to be a “follower” of Christ. Jesus show us His example in Matthew 3:13-16
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
We are baptized as a symbol of being buried with Christ and being resurrected in Christ by the action of being dunked under the water and coming up cleansed.
Romans 6:4, 8 says: “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in the newness of life.”
“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.”
Baptism will typically include the verbal agreement to these truths:
Do you believe Jesus as the Son of God?
Do you believe He who was without sin became sin?
Do you believe He died on the cross for the forgiveness of sin?
Do you believe that He was resurrected on the third day?
If so, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Next Steps
Once you have become a Christian the joy of having a relationship with God starts. Learn all you can. Please do not be ashamed to ask questions. We all start somewhere. “Every saint has a past and every sinner a future.” (unknown)
- Find a Bible. There are many translations to choose from and can be very confusing. A great place to start is NIV, that stands for New International Version. I recommend asking friends to find what they read and why. It will probably not be your last Bible, so don’t stress about it. The prices vary from $5-$75. I do suggest you find one that provides the entire meaning of both the Old and New Testament. Make sure it’s a translation that you can read and understand. It can be overwhelming, but remember you are at the starting line. Take your time. A Student Bible provides a lot of “help” to guide you. You may want to read off your phone. There are countless apps available for free right at your fingertips. In addition, to commentaries and dictionaries. I can recommend Bible Gateway and Matthew Halley’s Commentary.
- Develop your prayer life. Prayer is how you communicate with God. There is no special format for this. Be yourself. God wants to hear from you, His child! He will not judge your language, just speak to Him authentically.. Start small and it will grow when you become comfortable. Talk to Him as you would anyone close to you. Share your life, your fears, and your dreams. Ask for help.
- Find a church. Ask around. Try a few out for size. It may take time for you to find a good fit. Church will be a great way to get connected with other followers of Christ and grow.
- A mentor can be very beneficial in helping you grow. The right mentor can be someone to ask questions to, pray with, and learn from.
Relationship With Jesus
What does having a personal relationship with Jesus look like? You are the determining factor of how close you can be to God. He wants all of you. Remember that God created us. He could have made us to obey Him blindly. Instead, He gave us free will. By doing so, some would never know Him. That breaks His heart. God desires true relationship with His believers. He wants to walk with you as He did with Adam in the Garden of Eden. The Garden was His ideal plan. Read about the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:8-25.
We are the only person who can interfere with what God has for us. Romans 8:38 &39,” For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
You can start by praying and sharing your life with Jesus. Learning and obeying His word. Relationships are give and take. You can never out give God. Give Him your heart, your life, your concerns and watch Him show up.
How to hear from God
The most challenging aspect of hearing from God is believing He will speak to you. When you pray, give Him time to answer. Be obedient with what you know to be from God whether in word, scripture or instinct. God will speak when we are open to hearing and obeying. God will speak when we desire to hear Him not only to rescue us. Read 1 Kings 19:11-13, as an example of how to hear from God. 1 Samuel 3, tells a story of God speaking to a boy. God will speak and does speak to the old, the young, in the Old Testament and the New, now and forever.
Where should I start reading the Bible? Start in the book of John which is the fourth book of the New Testament. All of the Bible is important. To a new believer instilling the lessons of Christ are fundamental. The New Testament can be easier to understand than the Old. John writes as an apostle, one who walked with Christ and has a first-hand account of Jesus’ life and ministry. In addition, his gospel is written from the love of Christ. As a new believer, the first obstacle is to establish Jesus loves you and how to love Him. Another tip, is to make sure you are reading a translation you understand. NIV is easier to comprehend than King James. Use a dictionary on your phone or a text dictionary to look up any words that do not make perfect sense. Take your time. Use a notebook and write down what excites you, touches you or gives you a question. Pray over the things you have written down, establishing the truth and asking for guidance on the questions.
Write down the words you look up and their meaning. It will help you remember next time. The Bible is a large book so do not get discouraged, you have a lifetime to study it. Create a schedule that works for you. Do you get up early, stay up late, or like to read on your breaks? Read a verse, chapter or whatever works for you. Just be a student of the Bible. It will change your life.
FAQ’S
- Do I need to be rebaptized? Baptism is a once in a lifetime occurrence. If you are changing denominations and feel that God is asking you to do this, by all means do it! If you were baptized as a child and backslid later in life, then your confession of your sin will make it right. One makes themselves right with God in their heart and actions, not through a rite of passage. However, if you pray about it and feel it’s necessary then it will never be a negative action.
- Is there anything too bad for God to accept me? No, God sent His Son to carry the burden of sin, all sin to provide a way for salvation. There is no exception to this truth. God’s love for us will not ever go away no matter how badly we have sinned. Start with a heartfelt confession.
- How will I know if I am forgiven? You must rely on truth in Scripture that all who confess are forgiven. 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- How do I know if I will go to heaven? John 3:16,” For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” The sacrifice was huge and so is the blessing.
- Is it ever too late? Death bed confessions can be effective for entering the kingdom of God. We know this because of the story of the two thieves who were crucified with Christ. Read the story of Luke 23:39-43. However, as wonderful as it is, a lifetime was wasted not knowing Christ. Do not put off your salvation and relationship with Jesus. No one has ever regretted what they have given God. Your best day without Christ will never compare to your worst day with Him. You have everything to lose.
- Does God answer prayers? Yes, I do not believe in unanswered prayers. God hears, every prayer, He listens, and answers. The answer might be yes, not yet, or no because there is something better. Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes.”
Scriptures to use for praying specific needs:
| Unsaved loved one | Jeremiah 24:7 |
| Your children | 2 Thessalonians 2:17 |
| Ministry Leaders | 2 Thessalonians 3:1, 2 |
| Forgiving | Romans 5:5 |