What are you even talking about?
Perhaps you have begun to feel like you are missing something in your life - something that you have tried to replace with other things like relationships, substances, success, etc. Yet, still you do not feel complete. What you may not know is that your creator, the God of Heaven and Earth loves you deeply, and wants to have a relationship with you. But you have a choice to accept His love - and making that choice is the first step to being saved.
How can I be saved? Why do I need to be saved?
We are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23). We are born with sin (Psalm 51:5), and we all personally choose to sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8). Sin is what makes us unsaved. Sin is what separates us from God. Sin is what has us on the path to eternal destruction.
How can I be saved? Saved from what?
Because of our sin, we all deserve death (Romans 6:23). While the physical consequence of sin is physical death, that is not the only kind of death that results from sin. All sin is ultimately committed against an eternal and infinite God (Psalm 51:4). Because of that, the just penalty for our sin is also eternal and infinite. What we need to be saved from is eternal destruction (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15).
How can I be saved? How did God provide salvation?
Because the just penalty for sin is infinite and eternal, only God could pay the penalty, because only He is infinite and eternal. But God, in His divine nature, could not die. So God became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ. God took on human flesh, lived among us, and taught us. When the people rejected Him and His message, and sought to kill Him, He willingly sacrificed Himself for us, allowing Himself to be crucified (John 10:15). Because Jesus Christ was human, He could die; and because Jesus Christ was God, His death had an eternal and infinite value. Jesus’ death on the cross was the perfect and complete payment for our sin (1 John 2:2). He took the consequences we deserved. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead demonstrated that His death was indeed the perfectly sufficient sacrifice for sin.
How can I be saved? What do I need to do?
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). God has already done all of the work. All you must do is receive, in faith, the salvation God offers (Ephesians 2:8-9). Fully trust in Jesus alone as the payment for your sins. Believe in Him, and you will not perish (John 3:16). God is offering you salvation as a gift. All you have to do is accept it. Jesus is the way of salvation (John 14:6).
What do I say?
Maybe you've never prayed before, and maybe the idea seems a little strange to you. But if you earnestly talk to God, He will listen, and He will give you the free gift of His grace.
Close your eyes. Take a moment to think about your life, and consider the love of a father sacrificing his son for your sins. He loves you. He desires your love in return. Pray the following, out loud if possible:
"Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner. Sometimes I make poor choices, and sometimes I make mistakes. I know that you created me, and I believe that you love me and have a plan for my life. I believe that you sent your Son to die in my place, and that my sins are forgiven. I ask you today to take over my life and save me. I ask that you would change the parts of me that need changing, and strengthen the parts of me that need strength in the days to come. Give me a desire to grow closer to you, and teach me to love you as you first loved me. Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son, and thank you for loving me even when I don't deserve it. In your Name, amen."
If you prayed that prayer, first of all, PRAISE GOD and welcome to family. Secondly, please let us know! You can call, email, or stop by the church - we would love to talk with you and give you some information to help you in your new relationship with God!