For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)
Know Jesus?
The question above is the most important question you will ever be asked. Notice the question is not, "Do you know about Jesus?" The question is, "Do you know Jesus?" There's a big difference between knowing about someone and knowing someone. The difference can be summed up in one word, "Relationship." So, another way to ask the question is, "Do you have a relationship with Jesus?" The Lord wants to have a relationship with you, but there is something blocking the way.
Realize
First of all, you must realize the Bible has both good news and bad news for you. We'll start with the bad news. The bad news is that what is blocking your relationship with God is your sin. The Bible says, "There is none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10). It goes on to say, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The Bible also says, "For the wages of sin is death…" (Romans 6:23). The bad news is that we have all sinned and are therefore separated from God. Because of our sin, we deserve to be punished. According to God, this punishment is death! Because we have an eternal soul, the word "death" in Romans 6:23 refers not only to physical death, but also to spiritual death, or eternal separation from God. The place where unforgiven people go after death is called "hell" in the Bible.
Aren't you glad there's good news? The good news is that God loves you and doesn't want to be separated from you! The Bible says that "He is not willing that any should perish" (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, the Father sent His Son into the world to make a way for you to be saved from your sins. Peter tells us, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). Because of His love for you, God became a Man, lived a sinless life, and went to a Roman cross, where He bled and died in your place! He did this to pay for your sins! Can you imagine the Son of God bleeding and dying for you? After paying for your sins on the cross, three days later Christ rose from the dead! He is now victorious over sin and death! God has provided a way for you to escape the judgment of your sins. He will now accept you if you will repent and receive His Son.
Repent
You must repent. The word "repent" literally means, "To think differently; to change one's mind." Jesus warned, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). Peter said to those who had not accepted Christ, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out..." (Acts 3:19). Paul said, "...God commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30). Repentance does not mean you have to stop sinning and start doing good works before God will accept you. We know this because Paul also said, "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). Repentance is not a work we do to earn salvation. Rather, it is a change of mind concerning our Sin (it's wrong and I need to turn from it), concerning Self (I can't save myself by good works), and concerning the Savior (only Jesus can save me).
Receive
You must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior! John said, "But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12). By receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are acknowledging two things. You are acknowledging that Jesus is now the LORD of your life and that, as your SAVIOR, He will forgive all your sins (past, present, and future). Repenting and receiving Jesus is how you go from knowing about Him to knowing Him!
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Pray
Would you like to repent and receive Christ right now? If you are willing, with all sincerity pray…
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner and there is nothing I can do to save myself. I'm sorry for my sins and rebelling against You. I realize the punishment for my sins is death. But, I believe You loved me so much, you took my punishment by dying on the cross for me. I also believe You rose again the third day. Right now, I turn from my sins and receive You as my Lord and my Savior. From this day forward I will be known as a follower of Christ. Amen!
If you have sincerely repented and received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Bible says you are saved from your sins and you will live with Christ forever! With sin out of the way, you now have a relationship with Jesus!
You might say, "Is it that simple?" Listen to the Word of God:
"Therefore being justified (declared righteous) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12).
"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).
We invite you to become a part of Bighorn Baptist Church. It is an important step to grow in Christ.