Salvation

• We are all sinners by nature and by choice: For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23 )
• We cannot save ourselves: For by grace you are 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 )
• We deserve death and hell: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23 )

God has provided us with a way to leave the sinful nature behind and move forward to a new life: Jesus is the Way. The only way Jesus will affect our life is for us to receive Him. Our relationship with Christ begins when we ask Him to forgive our sins and we accept Him as Lord of our life. This is called salvation. There are three things we must do to be saved (receive salvation):

1. We must repent of our sins: Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleaned of your sins. (Acts 3:19 )

• Repentance is not just feeling sorry for our sins.
• Repentance is turning away from sin and turning to God through Jesus.

2. We must place our faith in Jesus: God saved you by His special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 3:8

• Faith is not just believing facts about Jesus (James 2:19 )
• Faith is trusting in Jesus (1 Peter 1:21 )

3. We must surrender to Jesus as Lord: For is you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. (Romans 10:9 , 10)

• Surrendering to Jesus as Lord is not just saying you give your life to Jesus (Matthew 7:21 )
• Surrendering to Jesus is giving Him control of your life.

Repeat the following prayer of salvation:

Heavenly Father, I realize and admit that I am a sinner. I repent of my sins and ask you to forgive me. I believe Jesus died for me and rose from the dead. Today, I confess Jesus as my Lord & Savior and receive the forgiveness of all my sins. Holy Spirit, please come into my life. In Jesus' name I pray. -- Amen