Salvation

Adapted from "Steps to Peace with God" by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Step 1 - God's Purpose: Peace and Life

God loves you and wants you to experience abundant peace and eternal life.

The Bible Says...

"...we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
"...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10b

Since God planned for us to have peace and the abundant life right now, why are most people not having this experience?

Step 2 - Our Problem: Separation

God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him, but gave us a will and a freedom of Choice.

We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God.

The Bible Says...

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

Our Choice results in separation from God.
 

Our Attempts

Through the ages, individuals have tried in many ways to bridge this gap...without success...

Good Works, Religion, Philosophy, and Morality all fall short.

The Bible Says...

"There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12
"But your iniquities have separated you from God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." Isaiah 59:2

There is only one remedy for this problem of separation.

Step 3 - God's Remedy: The Cross

Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem. He died on the Cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people.

The Bible Says...

"...God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus Himself man, is between them to bring them together..." I Timothy 2:5
"For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." I Peter 3:18a
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

God has provided the only way...
we must make the choice...

Step 4 - Our Response: Receive Christ

We must trust Jesus Christ and receive Him by personal invitation.

The Bible Says...

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20
"But as many as receive Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." John 1:12
"...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Is there any good reason why you cannot receive Jesus Christ right now?
 

How to receive Christ:

Admit your need (I am a sinner).
Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.
Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)

What to Pray:

• Dear Lord Jesus,
  I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.
  In Jesus' name. Amen.
  

God's Assurance: His Word 

If you prayed this prayer,

The Bible Says...

"For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
Did you sincerely ask Jesus Christ to come into your life? Where is He right now? What has He given you?
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9

The Bible Says...

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." I John 5:12-13
Receiving Christ we are born into God's family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer...this is called regeneration or the "new birth".

This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ.

To deepen this relationship you should:

Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better.
Talk to God in prayer every day.
Tell others about Christ.
Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.
As Christ's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.