Hello, I Wish You A Nice Day. . . Could I Interest You. . . . . in trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today?

Perhaps you are thinking, "Well friend, I do believe in God." The Bible tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-18). To agree that there is a God is called a head knowledge, but a heart knowledge is necessary for salvation (Rom. 10:9). James 2 continues by describing a demonic level of faith including feeling experiences as "the devils also believe, and tremble" (vs.19). The dynamic faith that saves includes the intellect, emotions and a willpower biblically responding to the Lord (vs. 20-26). Would you please ask the Lord to help you to be sure that you have eternal life through faith?

First let me ask you a vitally important question: If you should die right now, would you definitely receive eternal life and live with the Father in heaven? Many people respond sincerely, "Well, I'll have to do the best I can and leave that up to God." Who would know best about admittance to heaven? Jesus warned that we will certainly miss the kingdom of God if we have not been "born again" (John 3:3-7). Birth is the way to enter a family. Verse 16 explains that acceptance into God's family is limited to those believing in Jesus Christ. John 1:12 puts it this way, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe in his name." Who are God's children? That's right, only believers. Each believer has this wonderful assurance, "ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). Some faiths offer an impotent "hope so" religion, saying you cannot really know for sure about eternal life. How sad! The pivotal point for life is finding the answer to that old question, "Where will I be forever-after?" God declares that by trusting Jesus Christ as Savior, you can KNOW for sure that eternal life with the Father is yours! When? Just as soon as Jesus is yours! "He that hath the Son hath life" (vs. 12a). To bypass trusting Jesus is like saying, "He is not good enough for me." Can you see how that would offend God?

There are 5 key steps to receiving new life in Christ.

We need to know that we are all sinners (bad news first). Some will say, "I don't think I've been such a bad person." Nice people do live commendable lives but God still declares "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom. 3:10). This simply means that we are not as good as Jesus. Ask yourself whether you are as good as Jesus. Sin is anything that we do against God or fail to do for God. James 4:17 says, "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." One failure to obey the Lord makes us guilty (Jam. 2:10). Yet Heaven is free from all sin. Now, if one murder makes a person a murderer, then anyone who tells a lie is guilty of what? Being a liar, right! Romans 3:23 explains, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." To deny the fact of our sin is to deceive ourselves and call God a liar (1 John 1:8-10). Serious stuff! So this is pretty simple to understand! All we need to complete this step is to agree with God that we are sinners.

Addresses who Christ died for. Romans 5:8 says, "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God surely has a lot of love for us, doesn't He! He took this great and powerful step to give us life! When? - "while we were yet sinners!" As sinners, can we rely upon cleaning up our own lives, wearing crosses and special clothes, church or temple works, baptisms or anything else to make us right with God? No, we cannot work or earn our way to Heaven. "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" (Eph. 2:8-9). Do we read by faith and works or "not of works"? Now let's review. Who did Christ die for? Correct, he died for "us". And what are we? Correct again, "sinners." How important to see that Christ suffered in the place of sinners and this includes me. But to reject Jesus Christ, as our substitution for suffering is to say, "I'll pay myself by staying in hell forever." To complete step 2, realize that our sin (yours and mine) has everything to do with the atoning cross of Jesus Christ! We gain forgiveness from sin and peace with God through the blood of His cross (1 Cor. 1:18; 2:2; Gal. 6:14; Eph. 1:7; 2:13; 4:32; Col. 1:20; Heb. 9:22).

We find that sin carries a heavy price tag. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death." Wages are something we get for something we do, like a paycheck. We sin; therefore we die. Death brings separation as our souls leave our bodies. That is physical death. Since the verse is speaking of spiritual, it means eternal separation from God. In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus describes a poor soul worrying that his brothers may suffer as he in the fiery torments of hell. Dear friend, death is not the end! Most people are on the broad path, much like the freeway of no return. Jesus warns that it ends in destruction, fire and punishment (Matt. 7:13; 25:41 & 46). Imagine your eternal future among billions of cursing, wailing people. And add the masses of shrieking demons, filthy and evil! This blackest of all darkness includes the stench and burning of sulfur. There is no possible escape! As reality settles in, you would fight loneliness and rejection. That's awful! Such souls will never experience a tender touch! Once you see that without Jesus that would include you, you are ready for step 4.

Here we move from THE AWFUL to THE AWESOME! The second half of Romans 6:23 reads, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." This gift is as Ephesians 2:8-9. A gift by definition has to be free, right? But gifts must be received and claimed. Many people take a look at God's gift of eternal life and reject the Lord. They may not verbalize, "I am not interested" nor declare themselves in either way. But no decision is like a car stalled on the railroad tracks when the train is coming! Judgment is appointed by God and destruction is sure unless you make the move towards safety (Heb. 9:27)! Salvation is free through Jesus Christ; but it was never cheap! "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7b). Friend, I hope you will make that vital, life-changing move toward Christ as we look at step 5.

Reception of God's gift. Your destiny has everything to do with two things, what you believe and how you respond. This is extremely important! The Bible tells us what to believe. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9). Do you believe that the crucified Jesus was raised to life? If yes, verse 13 continues, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Whosoever is simply whoever, including you. To call is to respond by trusting Jesus Christ. Will you call out to God? This is not to say, "Oh Lord, I need health!" or "I need money!" This is to say; "I need to be saved!" Saved is a Bible word. God says you need to be saved to escape the consequences of Armageddon, sin and hell. God's great promises must be believed and received by each one of us personally. This is not a decision the church or it's leaders can make for you. You need to believe and bring this decision to God yourself!

Now, back to the original question: "Could I interest you in trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today?" One of the greatest statements in all of history was made by a disciple who identified Jesus Christ as "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Jesus responded in the next verse that Thomas was indeed a true believer and that we are blessed too if we know the Lord in the same way! Perhaps you are thinking, "I have never trusted Him as my Lord and my God." Then will you make Him yours now? Jesus died for you, He arose again, He wants to save you, and He is the Lord God and able to help!

Remember who said, "Ye must be born again!" While some churches may mock this imperative, Jesus declared that YOU must be born again! (John 3:3) Why not give your life to Jesus now? If you agree that without receiving Jesus Christ you cannot experience eternal life, you want God to rescue you from a hopeless destiny and you are willing to turn to Him from your sins, false gods and false teachings, then pray this prayer out loud and sincerely from your heart:

Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. My sins would surely contaminate Heaven; and without you my future would be hell. Lord Jesus, forgive me! Make me clean, and be my Savior. I believe that You died for me and that You arose from the dead! I want this wonderful eternal life that You are offering me now! I knew that you existed before; but now I am entrusting my life and destiny to You! Thank you for receiving me into Your presence at the moment death will separate me from my body! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Imagine a great burden, like a heavy bag of wheat falling from your shoulders. Each little seed represents a different sin. Jesus has set you free! What a great moment when Jesus replaces your burdens with His peace! Don't try to do anything else for salvation, just trust the Word of the Lord!

As a child of God, I want to encourage you to attend a Bible-believing church. The church is God's plan and not man's. Sure, there are churches that are abusive, greedy and false. Do be careful! And if people fail you like they did Jesus, be encouraged knowing that He will never fail you, "for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5b). Then please Him by following His command to be baptized (God's way, not sprinkling). Friend, your new relationship with God will develop and grow as you communicate with Him through prayer and as you daily read your Bible. This is how you and your Heavenly Father draw close and talk to each other. Read and reread the book of John to better understand your decision for Christ. You will be surprised how beautiful God's Word will be to you!

Friend, God has a wonderful plan for your life. Accepting Jesus Christ is just the beginning of the blessings that God has for you. I thank the Lord for every decision to receive Jesus Christ, like yours today! I hope you will contact us so that we can rejoice with you! Welcome into God's family.