Do you know that God loves you? He really does. In fact, He loves you so much that He wants you to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus, His Son. There is just one thing that separates you from God - sin.
Sin is our failure to measure up to God’s holiness and His righteous standards. We sin in many ways - actions, choices, thoughts, and attitudes. We also sin when we fail to do right things. According to the Bible – “there is none righteous, not even one.”
Even if we try really hard, none of us do the right thing all the time.
God says that every person who has ever lived is a sinner, and that any sin separates us from God. We are all sinners, and that's a problem.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
But here's the GREAT NEWS - God offers the solution through His Son, Jesus Christ!
God loves you more than you could ever imagine! And there's nothing you can do to make Him stop! Yes, our sins demand punishment - the punishment of death and separation from God. But, because of His great love, God sent His only Son Jesus to die for our sins.
"God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 For you to come to God you have to get rid of your sin problem. But, in our own strength, not one of us can do this! Only God can rescue us from our sins. He is willing to do this not because of anything you can offer Him, but JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU!
"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy." Titus 3:5 It's God's grace that allows you to come to Him - not your efforts to "clean up your life" or work your way to Heaven. You can't earn it. It's a free gift.
"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 For you to come to God, the penalty for your sin must be paid. God's gift to you is His son, Jesus, who paid the debt for you when He died on the Cross.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 Jesus paid the price for your sin and mine by giving His life on a cross at a place called Calvary, just outside of the city walls of Jerusalem in ancient Israel. God brought Jesus back from the dead. He provided the way for you to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus. When we realize how deeply our sin grieves the heart of God and how desperately we need a Savior, we are ready to receive God's offer of salvation. To admit we are sinners means turning away from our sin and selfishness and turning to follow Jesus. The Bible word for this is "repentance" - to change our thinking about how grievous sin is, so our thinking is in line with God's.
All that's left for you to do is to accept the gift that Jesus is holding out for you right now.
"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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10
God says that if you believe in His son, Jesus, you can live forever with Him in glory.
"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." John 3:16 Are you ready to accept the gift of eternal life that Jesus is offering you right now? Here is what this commitment involves:
If it is your sincere desire to receive Jesus into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, then talk to God from your heart:* Acknowledge you are a sinner in need of a savior - this is to repent or turn away from sin* Believe in my your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead - this is to trust that Jesus paid the full penalty for your sins* Confess Jesus as your Lord and your God - this is to surrender control of your life to Jesus* Receive Jesus as your Savior forever - this is to accept that God has done for you and in you what He promised
Here's a Suggested Prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do not deserve to have eternal life with You. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to make me a new creation and to prepare me to dwell in your presence forever. Jesus, come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life."
If you have trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please let one of our ministers know. We want to rejoice in what God has done in your life and help you to grow spiritually.
256-883-0907
* This plan of salvation adapted from the Southern Baptist Convention website http://www.sbc.net/
One People. One Purpose. One Click
