"BEING A CHRISTIAN IS MORE THAN JUST AN INSTANTANEOUS CONVERSION - IT IS A DAILY PROCESS WHEREBY YOU GROW TO BE MORE AND MORE LIKE CHRIST."

-- Billy Graham

  

Salvation

If you are not 100% certain where you will spend eternity or where you stand with Jesus, the next three to five minutes will be the most important minutes of your life. The Bible is the Word of God and it contains both Good News and bad news.  The bad news is something about YOU.  The Good News is something about GOD.  

 

Let’s look at the bad news first.

 

Bad news #1 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  The word sin means to miss the mark.  Whether big or small; whether in our words, thoughts or actions, we have all failed to meet God’s standard of perfection. 

 

Bad News #2 – Unfortunately for us, the bad news gets worse.  Romans 6:23 informs us that the penalty for our sin is death and eternal separation from God.  But don’t stop reading now, this is where the bad news starts to get better….in fact it gets much better.  

 

Good News #1 – Although sin separated man from God, Jesus came to restore man back to the father.  Roman 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  In other words, Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves.  He paid the penalty for our sins and made a way for us to have a right relationship with God the Father. John 3:16 states: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

 

Think about that for a moment.  The Holy and Perfect God of the universe loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die in your place so you could be right with Him if you believe. How amazing is that!!!

 

Good News #2 – Ephesians 2:8 says “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Notice the scripture again states that living eternal life with Jesus is a gift. We cannot earn it, we cannot be “good enough” for it, and none of us deserves it.  All we can do with this gift is accept it or refuse it. 

 

We accept this gift by believing in Jesus, asking Him into our hearts, and giving Him permission to be the Lord of our lives. If you are serious with God (since you are still reading this, I believe that you are), today is your day to accept the best gift you will ever receive.

 

**Pray this prayer from the depths of your heart if you want to be right with God and sure about where you will spend eternity... 

 

Father, your Word says, if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just to forgive me for all my sins.  Therefore, God I ask you to forgive me for my sins.  I accept Jesus

Christ as Lord and Savior of my life.  I confess with my mouth that you are my Lord and King.  I believe in my heart that Jesus died for my sins and that you raised Him from the dead. I receive you into my heart. I thank you for offering me the gift of eternal life.  I realize that I did not earn this gift, but today I receive it. I no longer want to live for myself, but I want to live for you.   Teach me to be more like you and to live for you each day.  In JESUS' name I pray.  Amen.  

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Congratulations!   That’s it. That’s all it takes to become right with God.  The Bible assures us that “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)  You just did that. You are now born again.  You are right with God.

 

The Bible goes on to say in 2 Corinthian 5:17 “...if any man (or woman) be in Christ he (or she) is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” You are now a new creation. There is no longer anything blocking you from having a right relationship with God. You have just given God permission to form you fully into the person He wants you to be.

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You have made a decision to give your life to Christ or you have chosen to rededicate your life to Christ.  We are so happy for you.  We want to follow up with you to help you with your walk with Christ.  Our Pastor would like to send you a letter or email within the next week to encourage you.  Additionally, if you desire, we have someone in our church who can call you to encourage you and to see if there is anything we can do to help you.  So please give us a little information on yourself and we will contact you soon.