My friend, may I ask you life’s most important question? All eternity depends upon your answer to this question. Are you saved? There are just two kinds of people in the world, the saved and the lost. God loves you and wants you to be saved to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Here is God’s plan for your life:
First: You need to be saved!
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
Second: You cannot save yourself!
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saves us.” Titus 3:5″
Third: Jesus has provided for your salvation!
“Who (Jesus) His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead (spiritually) to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye are healed.” I Peter 2:24
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes (receives) Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3.16
Fourth: You must ask Jesus for salvation!
“If any man hear My voice (Christ’s) and open the door (to your heart), I will come in to him (you)…” Revelation 3.20
“That if you confess with your mouth (in prayer) the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Romans 10:9
Fifth: Now is the time to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior!
“…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
What to do to be saved:
Right now, call upon the Lord Jesus Christ to save you. Realize you are a sinner, and that Christ died in your place. By faith, ask God to have mercy on you and to save you for Jesus’ sake.
What to pray:
“Lord, be merciful to me a lost sinner and save me now. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. Please help me to follow and obey Jesus as Lord of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
If you prayed this prayer and asked Jesus into your life, then you are saved! Congratulations and welcome to the family of God! Let us know so we can rejoice with you and keep you in our prayers.
NOW THAT YOU’RE SAVED, WHAT’S NEXT . . .
Your decision to receive Christ as Savior is the most important decision you will ever make. There is no greater joy in all the world than to know Christ personally, to know your sins are forgiven and to have peace in your soul. You have been born again! Born of the Spirit! A miracle has taken place in your life. You are a new creature: “Therefore if any person belong to Christ, they are a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.” 2nd Corinthians 5.17. God, the Creator of the universe, has become your Father. Now for the first time, you are considered a child of God and Heaven is your eternal home.
Although your decision to become a Christian is great and important, it is not all. It is but the beginning of a new life in Christ. When you were saved, you were not immediately a full grown Christian, but a “babe in Christ.” As a baby Christian, you are commanded to “grow” (2nd Peter 3.18). Everyone loves babies, but no one wants them to stay in the nursery. Only by growing spiritually can you please God and glorify Him in your life.
In order to grow to maturity as a Christian, you must be loyal and obedient to the commands of Christ. He said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14.15). Some of these requirements are listed here in order that you may know what our Lord expects of His disciples.
1. Be Baptized
Baptism is the first step of obedience for a new Christian. The first public act in the ministry of Jesus was His baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan (Matthew 3:13-17). The New Testament teaches that baptism is an outward sign of an inward change (Romans 6.4). It is a public confession and testimony of what has already taken place in your heart. Baptism is a burial and a resurrection. We are buried with Christ (immersed in water) in the likeness of His death, and we are raised with Christ in the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6.4). Not only does baptism picture the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, it also pictures the burial of the old sinful life and the resurrection of a new life in Christ. As a believer, you should be baptized not in order to be saved, but because you are saved (Acts 8.35-40. It is a witness of your faith in Christ.
2. Read Your Bible Daily
Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4.4). Just as you need physical food in order to sustain physical life, you need spiritual food (the Bible) to maintain spiritual life. We suggest you begin with the New Testament by reading the Gospel of John or Mark. Follow this with the book of Acts. Next, read Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. The entire New Testament can be read in three months by reading three chapters a day. By reading three chapters of the Old Testament and one chapter of the New Testament each day, the whole Bible can be read in one year. Set aside a few moments at the beginning of each day for Bible reading. Look for promises to claim, commandments to obey, examples to follow and sins to avoid. Your growth as a Christian will be directly related to your personal application of the Word of God.
3. Pray Every Day
Jesus said, “People should always pray.” (Luke 18:1). In another place we read, “Pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5.17). You should form the habit of praying daily for definite people and specific things. A prayer list may prove helpful in making your prayers more meaningful. There is nothing too great and nothing too small to take to the Lord in prayer. Thank God for all He has done for you. Ask Him for the strength and help you need to live for Jesus Christ.
4. Witness For Christ
The greatest work in the world is soul winning, and every Christian can and should bring others to the Savior. Jesus said, “You shall be a witness unto Me.” (Acts 1.8). Try to speak naturally and cheerfully every day to someone about Christ. The Bible says, “Those that win souls are wise.” (Proverbs 11.30). Remember that you witness by what you do as well as by what you say. At home, at work, at school, there should be something about you that’s different – your love, patience, understanding. Then tell someone about Jesus Christ who made the difference.
5. Attend Church Regularly
The Christian life is not just our own private affair. It is to be a family affair in which we enjoy the fellowship with our Heavenly Father and with each other. Every Christian should unite with a local, Bible believing church and share its worship, its fellowship, and its witness. If Jesus loved the church enough to die for it (Ephesians 5:25), this is sufficient reason for us to love and support it. Regular church attendance should be as much a habit as eating. “Don’t forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25), is a clear command of the word of God. At church services, you will hear God’s word read, explained, and applied to your everyday problems of life. Every Christian, young and old, needs the inspiration and information gained in a church worship service. If you try to live the Christian life alone, failure will result. In unity there is strength.
There is far more to the Christian life than what is included here, but if these initial steps are carefully followed you will find yourself growing more and more in the knowledge and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Please accept this personal invitation to worship with us at our church so that we may help you continue your growth as a Christian. If God should lead you to do so, we know you will find a friendly welcome here. Most of all, we hope Christ will be made real to you through our teaching and preaching.
If you are a new Christian or would like material to shepherd a new Christian, download “Beginning My Walk With Christ” booklet.
May God bless you!
Pastor Mike Prah