God's Plan of Salvation
You're not here by accident. God loves you. He wants you to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus, His Son. There is just one thing that separates you from God. That one thing is sin.
People tend to divide themselves into groups - good people and bad people. But God says that every person who has ever lived is a sinner, and that any sin separates us from God. No matter how we might classify ourselves, this includes everyone. We are all sinners.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 KJV
Many people are confused about the way to God. Some think they will be punished or rewarded according to how good they are. Some think they should make things right in their lives before they try to come to God. Others find it hard to understand how Jesus could love them when other people don't seem to. 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.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 KJV
For you to come to God you have to get rid of your sin problem. You can't make yourself right with God by being a better person. Only God can rescue us from our sins.
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, bu the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost ." Titus 3:5 KJV
It's God's grace that allows you to come to Him. You can't earn it. It's a free gift.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8 KJV
"Not of works, lest any man should boast" Ephesians 2:9 KJV
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 through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 KJV
Jesus paid the price for our sins 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. 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.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" Romans
10:9 KJV
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" Romans 10:10 KJV
"For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed" Romans 10:11KJV
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 only begotton Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 KJV
Are you ready to accept the gift of eternal life that Jesus is offering you right now? Let's review what this commitment involves:
- I acknowledge I am a sinner in need of a Savior - this is to repent or turn away from sin
- I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead - this is to trust that Jesus paid the full penalty for my sins
- I confess Jesus as my Lord and my God - this is to surrender control of my life to Jesus
- I receive Jesus as my Savior forever - this is to accept that God has done for me and in me what He promised
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.
Excerpts taken from Southern Baptist Convention