DO YOU HAVE JESUS?
UNDERSTANDING SALVATION:
Salvation is not good works, it is not religion, it is not being born into a Christian home, it is not belonging to a Pentecostal church, it is not singing in the choir, or belonging to any group in the church,
it is not baptism or any sacrament that you receive.
Salvation means to be born again (Jn.3:7), it means to return to our original sinless form (2Cor.5:17), it means becoming a child of God (Jn.1:12). It is an entirely new life in Christ.
Any one that have not received the free gift of salvation is a sinner, according to the word of God. You are not a sinner because you commit fornication, adultery, steal, or any such thing. You are considered a sinner because you inherited sin from Adam (Rom.5:12). God cannot lie. God said to Adam, ….in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Gen.2:16-17). When Adam disobeyed God's commandment, the spirit that connected him to God died. He was separated from God and was driven out of eden into a life of wilderness, hardship and struggle. He could not fellowship with God any more, he lost the nature of God and took up the nature of the devil (sin). It was in this fallen state that he began to procreate. Hence, he passed on the gene of sin to everyone born into this world, since we all descended from him(Rom.5:12, Rom.3:23). The word of God in Psalm 50:5 declares "behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me". Sin held man captive that he could not do the will of God (Rom.7:15-17). It became necessary that man be delivered from this pitiable and hopeless condition. Love, mercy, and compassion of God made Him to consider the man that He created, and hence He put up a plan for man's salvation - JESUS.
THE PRICE HAS BEEN PAID:
There was nothing man could do to pay the price of sin. There was no way the sinful man could unite with a holy God. No one was qualified to set humanity free from the bondage of sin (Rev.5:3-5). It is only the sinless blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God that could atone for the sin of mankind (Heb.10:11-17). 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,(Jn.3:16). But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom.5:8). Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree:(Gal.3:13). It was for the sake of humanity that he came and died the shameful death of the cross.
WHAT THE DEATH OF JESUS MEANS:
Redemption: A price was paid to buy us and brought us out of satan's power and dominion (1Co.6:20, Eph.1:7, Rom.3:24)
Justification: God sees us as though we never sinned because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. (Rom.3:24, 26)
Reconciliation: He made peace between us and God. (Rom.5:10-11, 2Co.5:18-19, Eph.2:11-16)
Substitutionary death: He took our place and we took His. (Rom.3:23, Ezk.18:4, 2Co.5:21)
Propitiation: He gave Himself as a sacrifice to appease God's anger. (1Jn.2:1-2, Rom.3:25)
YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN:
Jesus said" Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."(Jn.3:7). God created everyone on earth, but it is not everyone that is a child of God. Natural birth brings us into our different families on earth but spiritual rebirth or being born again takes us into God's family, (Rom.9:6-8). We can not earn salvation because all our righteousness is like a filthy rag in the sight of God.(Isa.64:6). Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus as the son of God and all he lived and died for (Eph.2:8). Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Ac.4:12). Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father but by me (Jn.14:6). Jesus, his death and resurrection, is the sum total of God's plan for man's salvation.
DECISION TIME:
Accepting Christ or rejecting him is the only one decision we make here on earth that determines our eternal destiny. In other words, after one has died, the consequences of rejecting Christ or the benefits of accepting him follows him to eternity. Let no man deceive you. The bible says: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb.9:22). As one draws his last breath in death, the place of final and eternal abode of his soul is decided. That is the day of accountability. No prayer of any man can relocate you from where you merited, heaven or hell (Lk. 16:19-31). In Rev.20:15 the bible says "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire".
RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST THROUGH FAITH:
Have you been redeemed from the power of sin? Jesus came that through the forgiveness of your sin you might be reconciled to God. Do not allow the death of Jesus to be in vain in your life. He said in Matthew chapter eleven verse twentyeight "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. In John 6:37 Jesus said "… him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out". "Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me" (Rev.3:20).
The book of Romans (10:16) declares "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation". You need to pray out these prayers and mean it in your heart.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, I am a sinner, I believe you are the Son of God, you died for my sins and rose again on the third day. Forgive me. I repent of all my sins. Wash me clean with your precious blood. Deliver me from the power of sin and of satan. I receive you right now into my heart, and into my life to be my personal Lord and savior. Fill me with your precious Holy Spirit. Thank you dear Lord for saving my soul. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
Congratulations and welcome into the family of God.
WHAT NEXT?
There are some things that are required of you if you must grow to become God's will for your life. These are your personal, non-transferable responsibilities. They include:
- Reading of God's word prayerfully and meditatively on daily basis (1Pet.2:2, Ps.119:11, 2Tim.2:15).
What food is to your natural body, the word of God is to your Spirit.
- Worshipping God: you must live a life of worship unto God, a life of total surrender. Obey God moment by moment (Jn.14:21).
- Prayer: go to God in prayer daily (Lk.18:1, 1Th.5:17)
- Trust God for every detail of your life (1Pet.5:7, Matt.6:25-33).
- Fellowshipping with other believers: it is important that you fellowship with other believers. This will enhance your walk with Christ (Heb.10:25, Prov.27:17). Locate a church where Jesus Christ is exalted and honoured and His word preached without compromise.
- Witness for Christ by your lifestyle and words (Lk.8:39)