The central theme of the New Testament is God's love for you as an individual.This love ws revealed through Christ's coming into the world and livingamong men. His dying on the cross, and rising from the dead. Through Christ'sdeath God offers you forgiveness for your sins, and through His resurrectionthe promise of everlasting life. Christ died and rose again for the wholeworld, but for you to become a Christian is an individual matter. The onlyway to establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is to acceptHis offer of forgiveness and everlasting life. The following Scripturepassages show God's part and yours. Read each verse and believe it, forit is the Word of God speaking to you.
GOD'S LOVE REVEALED
"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)
God loves you and all of mankind. He wants to bless your life and makeit full and complete. He offers you not only an abundant life here andnow, but a life which is eternal--His very own life.
MAN IS SINFUL
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."(Romans 3:23)
The saying, "Well, we are just human--nobody is perfect,"is Biblically sound. When we acknowledge this truth, we can see our separationfrom God, for He is holy.
SIN HAS A PENALTY
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternallife in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
To continue in sin will result in spiritual death, which is separationfrom God forever. The alternative is to personally receive God's free gift,which is pardon for sin and provision of life everlasting.
CHRIST PAID THE PENALTY
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while wewere still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
You may think you must lead a "good" life and do charitableacts before God will love you. This is not so. God loves you even in yoursin. He sent Christ to die in your place and to pay the penalty for yoursin so that you can be reconciled to Him.
SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not ofyourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."(Ephesians 2:8, 9)
Grace means undeserved favor. God graciously offers to you what youcould never do for yourself. God's gift to you is free. You do not, andcannot, work for a gift. All you need to do is receive it. Believe withall your heart that Jesus Christ died for you to provide deliverance fromyou sins.
WE MUST RECEIVE CHRIST
"But as many as received (Christ), to them He gave the right tobecome children of God, even to those who believe in His name."
When you receive Christ--when you accept what He has done for you--youbecome a child of God. Picture, if you will, Jesus Christ standing at thedoor of your life. Invite Him in. He is waiting to be received into yourlife.
RECEIVE CHRIST NOW
You can invite Jesus Christ into your life right now by praying to Godsomething like the following.
Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and that I need Your forgiveness.I believe that Christ died in my place to pay the penalty for my sin andthat He rose from the dead. I now invite Jesus Christ to come into my lifeas my Savior. Thank you for making me your child. Help me learn to pleaseyou in every part of my life.
My Decision:
On ________________________ I, _______________________________________,Date Your Name
____________________________________________________________________Your Address
received Jesus Christ as my Savior.
PROMISES FROM THE WORD OF GOD
"For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."(Romans 10:13)
If you just now received Christ by calling upon the name of the Lordin prayer, the following took place; your sins were forgiven (Colossians1:14); you became a child of God (John 1:12); you were made heir to allof God's blessings (Romans 8:16-17); you now possess everlasting life (IJohn 5:12-13).
You became a Christian the moment that you received Christ. Don't trustyour feelings, for they will change; but take God at His Word and believeHis promises. Review the above passages whenever doubts arise. You shouldbe able to say with assurance, "I have received Christ. On the authorityof God's Word, I have eternal life."
May God grant you "all joy and peace in believing" (Romans15:13).
Reprinted by permission American Tract Society, 1996
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