Being Sure

Being Sure of Your Salvation

What the Bible says about New Life in Christ

 A.  Realize first, that God loves you so very much.

           ”For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”.  (John 3:16); 

           And that he has a plan for you:  “…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”  (John 10:10)

 B.  You, and all people, are sinful and separated from God.

           When we are separated from God, we cannot experience God’s love and plan for us.

           “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)

 C.  God loves us too much to let that be the end of it, so Jesus came, died for our sins, and rose from the dead, proving that sin and death no longer have power over those who believe.

           “God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

           “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures,…he was buried, and…he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures,…he appeared to Peter then to the twelve disciples.

           Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time,…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)

 D.  Jesus is the way for us to return to God and receive new life.

           “Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.’”  (John 14:6)

 E.  We must each receive Jesus Christ as our own Savior and Lord.

           (That is, another person’s faith can’t save me.)

           1.  We need to invite Christ into our lives, and receive him: “ To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,”                             (John 1:12)

           2.  The way that we receive Jesus is through faith.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God--not the                   result of works, so that no one may boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

 F.  When we receive Jesus into our lives, and believe that through him we have been saved from the consequences of our sin and separation from God, we have a new beginning.

           The Bible talks of this as a new birth.  “Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

           Do not be astonished that I said to you, “you must be born anew.”’”  (John 3:5-7)

 G.  Jesus himself promises that if we ask him to enter our life, he will.

           “Listen, I am standing at the door, knocking!  If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.”  (Revelation 3:20)

Ok, that’s the information

about receiving new life in Christ…

How do I do it?

A.  Tell God how much you need and want him in your life.

           This includes admitting to him and to yourself that you are a sinner and that by yourself, you can’t be good enough to give yourself eternal life as God’s child.   Ask forgiveness, and trust that God loves you.

B.  Ask Jesus to be your Lord.

           That means you want him to be in charge. Remember, he loves you so much that he died so that you could have a new life.   Trust that he also wants the very best for EVERY part of your life.

C.  Ask Jesus to help you live your life the way he wants you to (be a disciple) by giving you the power of his Holy Spirit.

D.  Believe and act on the fact that if you ask this, it will happen.

          Feelings don’t always follow immediately, although they can.

          (The TRAIN:  Faith is the engine – Fact is the coal car – Feeling is the caboose.)

A SAMPLE PRAYER

Lord Jesus, I need You!

I am so grateful that you died on the cross for my sins.

Come into my life.  Be my Savior and Lord.

Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life.

Take charge of my life and make me the person that you want me to be.

To learn more, or to talk to our pastor about receiving new life in Christ,