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Plan
of Salvation
The central theme of the New Testament is
God's love for you as an individual. This love
was revealed through Christ's coming into the
world and living among men, His dying on the
cross, and rising from the dead. Through
Christ's death, God offers you forgiveness for
your sins, and through His resurrection the
promise of everlasting life. Christ died and
rose again for the whole world, but for you to
become a Christian it is an individual matter. The
only way to establish a personal relationship
with Jesus Christ is to accept His offer of
forgiveness and everlasting life. The following
Scripture passages show God's part and yours.
Read each verse and believe it, for it is the
Word of God speaking to you.
God's Love is Revealed
"For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
Him should not perish but have everlasting
life."
John 3:16
God loves you and all of mankind. He wants to
bless your life and make it full and complete.
He offers you not only an abundant life here and
now, but a life which is eternal - His very own
life.
Man is Sinful
"For all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God."
Romans 3:23
The saying, "Well, we are just human - nobody is
perfect," is Biblically sound. When we
acknowledge this truth, we can see our
separation from God, for He is holy.
Sin Has a Penalty
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord."
Romans 6:23
To continue in sin will result in spiritual
death, which is separation from God forever. The
alternative is to personally receive God's free
gift, which if pardon for sin and provision of
life everlasting.
Christ Paid the Penalty
"But God showed His love toward us, in
that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us."
Romans 5:8
You may think you must lead a "good" life and do
charitable acts before God will love you. This
is not so. God loves you even in your sin. He
sent Christ to die in your place and to pay the
penalty for your sin so that you can be
reconciled to Him.
Salvation is a Free Gift
"For by grace are ye saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of
God, not of works, lest any man should boast."
Ephesians 2:8 - 9
Grace means undeserved favor. God graciously
offers to you what you could never do for
yourself. God's gift to you is free. You do not,
and cannot, work for a gift. All you need to do
is receive it. Believe with all your heart that
Jesus Christ died for you to provide deliverance
from your sins.
We Must Receive Christ
"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
When you receive Christ - when you accept what
He has done for you - you become a child of God.
Picture, if you will, Jesus Christ standing at
the door of your life. Invite Him in. He is
waiting to be received into your life.
Receive Christ Now
You can invite Jesus Christ into your life right
now by praying to God something like the
following.
Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and that I
need Your forgiveness. I believe that Christ
died in my place to pay the penalty for
my sin and that He rose from the dead.
I now invite Jesus Christ to come into my life
as my Savior. Thank you for making me Your
child. Help me learn to please you in every part
of my life.
Promises from the Word of God
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved."
Romans 10:13
If you just now received Christ by calling upon
the name of the Lord in prayer, the following
took place; your sins were forgiven (Colossians
1:14); you became a child of God (John 1:12);
you were made heir to all of God's blessings
(Romans 8:16 - 17); you now posses everlasting
life (I John 5:12 - 13).
You became a Christian the moment that you
received Christ. Don't trust your feelings, for
they will change; but take God at His Word and
believe His promises. Review the above passages
whenever doubts arise. You should be able to say
with assurance, "I have received Christ. On the
authority of God's Word, I have eternal life."
May God grant you "all joy and peace in
believing" (Romans 15:13).
Are you
interested in becoming a member of First Baptist Church? See this
page:
Membership
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