Plan of Salvation                        

How to Become a Christian

Suppose you were standing before God right now and He asked you,   

“Why should I let you into My Heaven?”

     What do you think you would say? You may not know what to say.  You can be assured that because God loves you and has a purpose for your life, he wants you with Him in heaven.  He wants you to have the right answer!  In the Bible, in John 3:16-17, Jesus said:   

"For God so loved the world,

that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believes in Him

should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world,

but that the world should be saved through Him."  

God wants to give us a better life beginning right now.  There are no keys to happiness, the doors are always open... and they lead to God through Jesus Christ.  Though God does not promise a life without challenge and suffering, He does promise to be with those who love him, and provide comfort and peace to those who seek Him.  Through Christ Jesus you too can be assured of  an outstanding new life that begins after our earthly days are done.  We live in peace and hope because the God of all grace and mercy sent His son to pay the price, that all who believe in him for their salvation might never be lost.  

Because of our human nature, we are all sinners. The word ‘sin’ means that we ‘miss the mark.’ Sin is anything that we do, or think, that is contrary to the character of God. Sin is a part of who we are as a people descendent of Adam and Eve.  Sin keeps us from God, and hinders our finding joy in the life we have been given.  But God has provided the answer to our sin.   No one except the Lord Jesus, who was the perfect Son of God, is free from sin.    He paid our price for us, so that through Him our sins are washed away, and we have free access to God.

Romans 3:23 states,  

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God "  

Our sin has a price. We deserve eternal death. The first part of Romans 6:23 says:

"For the wages of sin is death”

God’s provision for our sins is Jesus Christ. Jesus is God made flesh.  Jesus is the one that God gave to us to instruct us, provide us an example to follow, and to show us the depth of the love of God for us, His children.  Jesus is the manifestation of a never ending extension of God's hand to YOU, for he desires that not one of His should perish.  John 1:1 and 14 says:

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God

... And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us.”

God loves us so much that He gave His Son to pay the penalty for our sin.  Moreover, He knew that it was His love that must be shown first, so He sent Jesus while we were still sinners.

Romans 5:8 tells us:

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Jesus died by being literally nailed to a cross of two crude timbers, one vertical, one horizontal fastened together. He died and was buried, but He did not stay dead. Three days later, God raised Him from the dead. Why is that important? It is the very resurrection of Jesus Christ that is the foundation of our hope and faith.  Christians serve a living Christ!  A Christ who overcame the grave to prove the power of God over all things, so that you might believe upon Him and follow.

Jesus did no wrong when He was alive, but His priceless life was sacrificed to pay the penalty for all our sins, even yours!  God loved His Son, but he loved us enough to allow His only Son to suffer and die as a sacrificial gift to us. This is God's amazing love!  We have a choice, we can either accept the gift that God has given to us, or we can spend an eternity apart from God (some people call this "Hell").   The gift is free of charge, the price has already been paid. 

Romans 6:23 says:

“... the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What is this eternal life? If we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal savior, we will  live forever in a place called Heaven.  What is Heaven? No one knows for sure, but Jesus told us in John 14:3,

"In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;

if it were not so I would have told you;

for I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again,

and receive you to Myself; that where I am,

 there you may be also.”

In Heaven, we can spend forever with Jesus! I can’t describe Heaven, but if Jesus is there and Heaven is good enough for God’s own Son, then Heaven is a place I want to be!  

 

What about you?  Are you ready to make a commitment to believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ?

 

If so, pray this simple prayer with us:

 

"Dear God,

I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of your grace and mercy,

I accept the Lord Jesus Christ right now as my personal savior,

and I ask Him into my heart this very moment.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

 

 

Please let us know of your decision, or if there is any way we can be of help to you in your exploration of faith.  The people of the United Methodist Church will always be here with open hearts, open minds, and open doors, for you!

 

I have accepted Christ!