Salvation
Have you felt the call of GOD in your heart?Becoming a Christian is one of the most important steps you will take in your life here on earth. What does the Bible teach us about becoming a Christian and what does it mean to be a follower of Christ? This call to salvation begins with God. He initiates it by drawing us to come to Him. Jesus says,
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him …” John 6:44
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in …” Revelation 3:20
Human efforts are futile. God desires to have an intimate relationship with us, but we cannot obtain it through our own efforts.
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags …” Isaiah 64:6
“…There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Romans 3:10–12
Separated by Sin:
We have a problem. Our sin separates us from God, leaving us spiritually empty
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
It is impossible for us to find peace with God through our own efforts. Anything we try to do to obtain God’s favor or gain salvation is worthless and futile.
Gift from God:
Salvation, then, is a gift from God. He offers the gift through Jesus, his Son. By laying down his life on the cross, Christ took our place and paid the ultimate price, the penalty for our sin — death. Jesus is our only way to God.
“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Responding to God’s Call:
How can I respond to God’s call? How do I become a Christian?
Receiving God’s gift of salvation is not complicated. The response to God’s call is explained in these following simple steps, as per the Word of God:
1. Admit you are a sinner and turn away from your sin. Acts 3:19 says: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” ‘Repent’ literally means “a change of mind that results in a change of action.” To repent, then, means to admit you are a sinner. You change your mind to agree with God that you are a sinner. Thus, the resulting “change in action” is, of course, turning away from sin.
2. Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from your sins and give you eternal life. John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” Believing in Jesus is also part of repenting. You also change your mind from unbelief to belief, which results in a change of action.
3. Come to Jesus by faith. In John 14:6, Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Faith in Jesus Christ is a change of mind that results in a change of action—coming to Him.
4. You may pray a simple prayer to God. You may want to make your response to God by this simple prayer from your heart. Prayer is simply communicating with God.
Dear Lord,
I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t please you. I have lived my life for myself. I am sorry and I repent. I ask you to forgive me. I believe that Jesus is the son of God and you died on the cross for me, to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to come into my heart and take control of my life, I give it to you. I confess that you are the Lord of my life. Help me to live every day in a way that pleases you. I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you. In Jesus name I pray.
5. Tell someone about your decision.
Romans 10:9–10 says, “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.”