Jesus Saves

 THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION OF YOUR LIFE!

The most important decision you will ever make in your life is making Jesus Christ the Lord of your life.  (Heb 9:27 KJV)  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  Your decision about Jesus Christ will decide your eternity.

The most important and most thrilling discovery in life is finding the way home to God.  There are signposts that point us home to Him.

First, there is the signpost of God's heart of love for you.  As the Creator of everything, God is perfect and holy.  His heart of infinite love reaches out to embrace you.  He desires to cleanse you of your sins.  He longs to give you peace of mind and heart, purpose for living, and assurance of a home in heaven with Him.

The Bible says, "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 Christ offers you eternal life forever with Him in heaven.  But He also offers you a full and abundant life right now.  He said, "The thief (the devil) comes to steal, to kill, and destroy.  I have come that you may have life and that more abundantly." (John 10:10)

At this moment, God is reaching out in love to you.  "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [sacrifice] for our sins" (1 John 4:10).

The second signpost is your need for God.  The most desperate need of people everywhere is to be forgiven by God and restored to fellowship with Him.  The mad pursuit after pleasure and possessions is often an unconscious search for God.  Although we were created to enjoy His presence, humanity's rebellion against God's rulership has cut our communion with Him.  This rebellion is the root of all sin and has resulted in all the sadness in our world.  Further, all of our self-efforts to reach God have proved inadequate.

Our rebellion against God has separated us from Him.  The Bible says, "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you..." (Isaiah 59:2).  This blight of sin has stretched over the entire human race.  "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).  "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

The payment for our sins is certain death and eternity without God.  "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23)

But the story doesn't end with your need.

Signpost number three is God's provision for you--Jesus Christ.  While humanity raced madly toward judgment and doom, God intervened by sending Christ to pay for our sins.

Jesus Christ is God in human flesh.  As the Son of God He lived a perfect, sinless life.  His death is the sacrifice God accepts to pay for all your sins.  Three days after His crucifixion He physically rose from the grave, forever triumphing over sin, death, and hell.  As God's only provision for sin, He offers forgiveness and new life to you, right now.  Jesus himself has said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).  Further, the Bible declares that "there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5)

Eternal life is a gift that God offers to you right now.  This wonderful gift is provided, not because of what you have done, but because of what God has done for you.  "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).

The proof of God's love for you is Christ's death for you on the cross.  He died so you can experience the way home to God.  "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God..." (1 Peter 3:18).

The fourth signpost is your commitment to Christ.  Just what does it mean to commit yourself to Christ?  First, it means repenting or turning away from your old way of living.  In turning to Christ you must turn from all your sins and from all your human efforts to save yourself.  The Bible is clear that it is God who does the work in saving us.  "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5)

Also, this commitment means trusting fully in Jesus' death for you as the only payment ever needed for your sins.  The Bible says, "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)

Since Christ has purchased you with His own blood, committing your life to Him also means transferring ownership of your life to Jesus Christ.  Now there can be no other title for Him in your life than "Lord."  Jesus Christ literally becomes your Master and you become His servant.  When you come to Christ you take Him both as Saviour and Lord.  "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 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved' " (Romans 10:9-10,13).

Now, what will you do with Jesus, this One who loved you enough to die in your place?  You cannot be neutral about Him.  He made it clear, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad" (Matthew 12:30).

Now is the time for you to repent of your sins and commit your life to Jesus Christ.  To repent means to turn away completely from all our sins and all attempts to save ourselves.  "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

You can come to Christ wherever you are, right now.  As you receive Him, He will receive you.  You will finally and eternally be "home," at peace with God.  The past will be forgotten.  Your sins will be forgiven.  A new life will begin for you right now.  "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).

Make this the prayer of your heart to God right now.  "Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for me.  Right now I repent of my sins and trust Your shed blood as full payment for all my sins.  I believe that You are the Son of God and that God has raised You from the dead.  I now receive You as my personal Saviour.  I commit my life unreservedly to You as my Lord.  Thank You for hearing my prayer, forgiving my sins, and coming into my life as You promised.  Amen."

If you prayed this prayer in sincerity and faith, welcome to the family of God!  Jesus Christ has promised to come into your life when, in repentance and faith, you invite Him to be your Lord.  The Bible says, "And this is the testimony:  that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:11-12). 

Now that you are a believer, what is next?  Join with a Spirit-filled Bible believing church.  Be buried with Christ in water baptism.  Acts 2:38, Matt. 28:19, Rom. 6:4, Col 2:12.   Receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Acts 2:1-4,  Acts 19.  Begin to grow in the Word of God and in fellowship with other Christians.  Share your faith with your friends and family. 

Contact us here at Abundant Life Church and let us know about your conversion.  We would love to send you a Bible and information to help you grow in the Lord.  May God continue to bless you.

rgmdavis1@att.net