Connect with God
Nothing matters more in this life than your relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He lived a perfect life, was crucified, and rose from the dead to take away our sin. Now He wants to be the greatest part of your life.
He loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you. If you would like to know more about this new life with Christ, please continue reading.
We must realize that we are all sinners in need of a Savior.
Even if we have lived a good life or think of ourselves as a good person, the Bible tells us that “As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10.
Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Sin has a price.
Romans 6:23 tells us “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The price for sin is eternal death.
Sin separates us from God. 1 John 3:4 tells us that sin is disobedience to God and His will. We all have sinned and the penalty is eternal death and separation from God.
Someone had to pay.
Jesus, the Son of God, paid the penalty of sin for us. John 3:16 tells us "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
God loves us. We don’t have to earn His love. “…God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8)
In fact, we can’t earn his love or our salvation. Salvation comes through believing on Jesus and accepting his grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 tell us “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
A decision must be made to accept God’s free gift of eternal life.
When a gift is given to you, your part is receiving it. It is the same way with receiving God’s free gift of salvation. We choose to accept His gift of life.
Jesus said, “...Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” (Mark 1:15) The Good News is the gospel of Jesus Christ, that he loves you so much He made a way for your salvation.
Romans 10:9-10 says, “If 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.”
We know that when we confess our sins, we are forgiven and made right with God according to 1 John 1:9; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
The decision to accept Jesus as personal Savior is made by repenting from sin and believing in and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. When we make this decision we become part of the family of God. John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
We begin a brand new life in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
If you are ready to start a new life with Christ, pray this prayer:
Father God, thank you for loving me, forgiving me, and sending Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for me, paying the price for my sins. I choose to follow You and live my life for You. Help me to grow closer to every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Congratulations on your decision to follow Christ! We would love to help you as you get started in your journey. We invite you to attend LIFE 101. This class will give you a strong foundation as you begin your new life in Christ. We would love to know about your decision! susie@oakvalleychurch.org
Important Steps to Grow in your Relationship with God
Share your decision with others.
Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
Read your Bible every day.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
Pray every day.
Prayer is talking to God and listening to Him speak to your heart.
Ephesians 6:18 “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Jude 20 “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”
Attend church faithfully.
Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Psalms 92:13 “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God.”
Be baptized in water.
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Be quick to repent when you sin.
1 John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”