I’m so glad you asked. Being a person who grew up in the church, I was taught about sin and salvation. But it was head knowledge, not heart knowledge. Religion (have to’s), not relationship (want to’s).
They say the longest 18 inches is from your head to your heart. I, for one, understand. It was only until I took responsibility for my choices and recognized my need for forgiveness, that I comprehended the immense gift and sacrifice of Jesus. I liked the idea of the cross, being forgiven and going to heaven, but it did not compel me to truly repent, turn from my overtly sinful life path, and desire a life with Jesus as my guide.
What led me to the point of repentance? God. He seeks us. The Bible says he leaves the 99 (Matt. 8:12), to find the one lost sheep. I can personally attest to this truth.
The Lord sought me by sending messengers and teachers who shared the truth about Christianity in a way I had never heard it before. Their sharing struck a heart nerve. I tried to escape, but everywhere I turned…..He was there, working through one of His saints.
I reached a point where I could no longer hide, pretend, or act like I didn’t need Jesus. I had attempted to live my life without Him to no avail. Everything left me empty or more broken than when I started. After a few key moments in the privacy of my own home, I went to a play that clearly presented the Gospel. It was there I finally surrendered.
If you are being sought by Him, I’m so happy for you. What an exciting time! Please pay close attention to His nudges and realize what you are encountering is not by chance.
In addition, it is super important you understand exactly what the Gospel is, so I have solicited the help of The Billy Graham Association and R.C. Sproul who present it so eloquently. You can also refer to our Statement of Faith which outlines the Gospel very well. All of these explanations overlap a bit, but are valuable in understanding what it means to be saved and have a relationship with Jesus.
1. OUR PROBLEM—SIN AND SEPARATION FROM GOD.
By nature, we are all separated from God. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). He is holy, but we are human and don’t measure up to His perfect standard. We are sinful, and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
2. GOD’S PLAN — PEACE AND ETERNAL LIFE.
God loves you and wants you to experience the peace and life He offers. 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).“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
3. GOD’S REMEDY — THE CROSS.
God’s love bridges the separation between you and Him. When Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave, He paid the penalty for your sins. The Bible says, “‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed’” (1 Peter 2:24). “Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
4. YOUR PART IN THE PLAN – RECEIVE CHRIST.
You cross the bridge into God’s family when you accept Christ’s free gift of salvation. The Bible says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
“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).
To receive Christ, a person needs to do four things: • Admit that you are a sinner and you need the Savior. • Be willing to turn from your sins, and ask God to forgive you. • Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. • Invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Here’s a prayer you can pray to receive Christ: Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I accept Him as my Savior and ask that He take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
R.C. SPROUL OFFERS THIS EXPLANATION…
There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the Gospel. But as important as that is, it is often given to massive distortions or oversimplifications. People think they’re preaching the Gospel to you when they tell you, ‘you can have a purpose to your life’, or that ‘you can have meaning to your life’, or that ‘you can have a personal relationship with Jesus.’ All of those things are true, and they’re all important, but they don’t get to the heart of the Gospel.
The Gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings, and that problem is simply this: God is holy and He is just, and I’m not.
And at the end of my life, I’m going to stand before a just and holy God and I’ll be judged. I’ll be judged on the basis of my own righteousness (compared to God’s) or the lack of it.
The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to God, not for His own well-being but for His people. He has done for me what I couldn’t possibly do for myself. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.
The great misconception in our day is this: that God isn’t concerned to protect His own integrity. He’s a kind of wishy-washy deity, who just waves a wand of forgiveness over everybody. No. For God to forgive you is a very costly matter. It cost the sacrifice of His own Son. So valuable was that sacrifice that God pronounced it valuable by raising Him from the dead–so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. So, the Gospel is something objective. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He did. And it also has a subjective dimension. How are the benefits of Jesus subjectively appropriated to us? How do I get it?
The Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith–and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him and in Him alone. You do that, you’re declared just by God, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and you have begun your pilgrimage for eternity.
5. NOW WHAT? WHAT ABOUT THE TRUST/ RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS PART?
Trusting in Jesus means you have accepted God’s solution for your human condition. Your relationship with Him has just begun. All you do from here, should be because He first loved you. Your life will be a response to His grace and mercy. Not a bunch of “have to’s” but heart overflowing with “want to’s.”
When you become a Christian His Holy Spirit comes to live inside you. There is a lot to learn on this. You will be guided by Him through God’s Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers. Life won’t be problem free. You, nor other Christians will be perfect. Only He is perfect. But He will help you navigate and respond differently than you have in the past. Also, remember that works do not save you, works are a product of your salvation. They are a response, not a requirement.
Welcome to the family of God!