Why do I need to be saved?*

“God leaves no doubt about our condition. While we set our standards of right and wrong by society's values, God’s standard is His own holiness. How do we measure up? "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). It is only fair that God demands holiness; that is how He first created mankind. We have rebelled against Him as a race and as individuals.

Our pathway away from God has brought its consequences. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a). The Bible compares sin to a cruel slave master. There is no mercy in suffering, no freedom from bondage, no lasting joy, no hope for the future. Most frightening is the final consequence of sin. The Bible warns that without God’s salvation, death is the doorway to eternal punishment (Hebrews 9:27).

It is from this that we need to be saved. From our own sin. From its bondage. From its consequences. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3).

How does God say I can be saved?

God is holy and God is love. His holiness demands that our sin be punished in full. His love provides a way for us to be saved from this punishment. How is this possible? Someone was willing to suffer what we deserve. Our substitute had to be a sinless man, able to suffer the full wrath of God against our sin. The only one able to take our place was God’s Son.

The greatest display of God’s love unfolded as His Son left heaven to become a man. Born of a virgin 2000 years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ lived with His creation. He was unable to sin, yet He showed compassion to sinners all around Him. Men hated Christ because His holiness exposed their sinfulness. They decided to remove Him by crucifying Him. (So that mankind could be saved and have eternal life) He willingly allowed them to nail Him to a cross of wood outside Jerusalem. They suspended Him so they could sit and watch Him die. The climax of God’s plan of salvation had arrived as God covered the earth with darkness. The Bible tells us that for three hours He laid on His Son the full punishment we deserve to receive for our sin. The darkness was broken when Jesus Christ called out with a loud voice, "It is finished". He had accomplished the mighty work, God’s great plan of salvation.

After three days in death, Christ Jesus rose from the dead. This is evidence to all who saw Him and to all who read God’s word that Christ’s suffering completely satisfied His father. He was victorious over death itself – the ultimate consequence of our sin.

God’s plan of salvation brings us into the good of Christ’s suffering, death, and victory. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6) "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)” *

*The above text is an excerpt from www.saved.com

I am ready.  Now what do I do?

If you don’t know for certain, where you will go when you die, and if you want to change the direction of your life, now is the time to make your commitment.  Even though  this starts with a prayer, it is about so much more than a prayer.  Your life is about to change for the better.  You need to make a commitment not only to believe but also commit that with the grace/strength of God, you will turn and change your ways. You can do so by praying the sinner’s prayer aloud.

Pray The Sinner's Prayer 

This prayer to invite Jesus into your life must come from your heart. The following prayer is here only as a guide. Why not pour out your heart to Jesus in your own words?  Just talk to Him as you would to your best friend. 

"Dear Heavenly Father, please have mercy on me, as I am a sinner.  I believe in you and that your word is true.

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I believe Jesus came so that I might have life, now and hereafter, and have it in abundance.

I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Jesus from the dead and that His blood was shed for my sins. Please forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or even done in my heart.  Please Lord Jesus, forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend.

I know that I don’t have the ability to live right so I ask for your grace, your power, wisdom and strength to be with me, so I can move forward with you and never turn back.

I now give you my life and ask you to take full control, give me strength to make the right choices and do your will from this moment on.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ."   Amen.

Congratulations! 

It doesn't stop here.  Rather this is just your BEGINNING! 

Life is about to get really exciting.  You need the support of other Christians so get involved with a Christian church/community in your area to learn how to live a Christian lifestyle.  If you haven’t identified one yet, please join ours.  Do make an effort to connect with local Christians though.  You need solid biblical teaching and fellowship.

Our Faith To Action chapel hosts a global online community whose primary interest is in moving faith to action in reaching our world for Christ.  We hope you will join us as a member.

If you just prayed the above prayer, please email pastor@faithtoactionchapel.org and let us know of your decision to follow Christ.  We are here to help you in whatever way we can.

May God bless you as you seek His will in your life.  You will never be the same again!