God is Love!

He loves you and He wants you to love Him, but all people do not love God!

Why?  Because of sin.  So what is sin?  Anything you think, do and say that displeases God.

"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."  James 4:17

So you may be asking, "Who has sinned?"  Well, EVERYONE!

"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."  Romans 3:23

What does God say is the answer for your sin?

JESUS! 

Jesus is God's only son!  He lived a perfect life!  He died on a cross to pay the penalty for your sin and came alive again!  He lives in Heaven today, He listens to your prayers and is preparing a place for you there!  Jesus is the ONLY way to know God and spend eternity with Him!

Jesus answered, " I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me".  John 14:6 

How can I become a Christian?

     1.  Admit that you are a sinner.

You do not become a sinner by what you do, instead you do wrong because you are a sinner.  Sin not only hurts you and others, it cannot be hidden form God.  Therefore sin separates us from God.  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ."  Romans 6:23 

     2.  Repent of your sin.

You cannot give God a gift to become a child of God.  God does the giving - not us!  Salvation is not an exchange of gifts.  God accepts nothing we offer to save us.  Therefore, repentance is feeling sorry for having sinned and having a great desire to turn in the opposite direction.  So turn towards God.

     3.  Believe in Jesus. 

God has done everything!  Realize that He loves you and Jesus died for your sin.  To believe means to trust in Jesus.  Meaning you believe Jesus is the Son of God and you are trusting Him to save you from your sins and take control of your life.  "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."   John 3:16

     4.  Receive Jesus into your life.

Eternal life is the life we receive the moment we believe.  It is life like God's life.  So we need to receive (accept) God's gift, not just know about it.  Receiving is trusting Christ alone to remove the penalty for my sin and to give me spiritual life.  So ask Him through prayer to come into your life to be your Savior and Lord!  "...if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart God raised Him (Jesus) from the dead, you will be saved."  Romans 10:9

  If you have not ever done this, you can pray the prayer right now!

"Dear God, I know I'm a sinner.  Please forgive me.  I believe that Jesus died for my sins.  I want Jesus to come into my life and be my Savior.  I want to follow Him and obey Him.  I want Him to be the Lord of my life.  Amen."

NOW IF YOU JUST PRAYED THIS PRAYER:

    - Jesus came into your life.

     - Your sins are forgiven.

     - You are a child of God.

     - You have an eternal home in Heaven.

     - YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN!

Now that you are a Christian, you will want to make a Profession of Faith.  This means that you will tell others what just happened in your life!

"Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in Heaven."    Matthew 10:32

So what's next?

BAPTISM!  Baptism will show others what has happened to you!  It is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and it is an obedience.

"...Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..."  Matthew 28:19-20.

What is your responsibility now?

     Read your Bible.

     Pray.

     Grow in God's Love.

     Tell others about Jesus.

Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will obey what I command."  John 14:15

YOU WILL WANT TO REMEMBER THE DAY YOU BECAME A CHRISTIAN.  IT IS YOUR SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY!  SEND AN E-MAIL TO ME SO WE CAN CELEBRATE WITH YOU!

cassm@efreechurch.org

Director of Children's Ministries