The Bible gives clear instructions if you wish to take advantage of God's plan of salvation. What you need to do is neither difficult nor costly. Those who learn how to be saved by Jesus recite a simple prayer, asking for forgiveness of sin and promising to turn from sinful ways and live according to God's direction. Many find it hard to give up personal control of their lives.
The work of salvation is already done. Jesus went to a terrible death on the cross to pay for the sins of the whole world. His death was the blood sacrifice required to reconcile sinful mankind with a holy God. His resurrection was the triumph over death, spiritual as well as physical.
For many people, the idea of sin is foolishness. They've been taught that man is essentially good and that right and wrong are relative. Many believe that mankind is either part of the animal world or divine in nature. The existence of a loving creator who established truth and gave rules for life on earth is denied by the humanists. However, new advances in science point to an intricate world that no random events could have evolved.
This is contrary to God's word. God tells us in the Bible that we're born in sin and continue in sin unless we're 'born again' as new creatures with the righteousness of Christ. No one living is without sin. It doesn't matter how much good we think we do. Salvation is not earned; it's a free gift that can be accepted or rejected.
Realizing the need for a savior is often the first step. Christian life is based on the fact that God desires a relationship with His children, but His holiness cannot accept sin. However, Jesus died so that we don't have to. All we need to do is acknowledge our need for salvation, believe that Jesus died for us, and turn our lives over to God.
God granted man free will. He gave Adam and Eve one prohibition, which they promptly broke as soon as the possibility was presented by the lying serpent. This brought sin into the world. The Bible tells us that, when we are 'born again', we are granted the righteousness of Christ. We no longer have to depend on ourselves; we can cast our burdens - one of which is our human nature - onto Jesus. I John 1:9 says: 'If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'
On first examination, this may seem unfair. Why should a baby be born under this stigma? However, any honest person will acknowledge that he or she falls far short of the holiness that God demands of us. Only the blood of Jesus can make us acceptable to God; His sacrifice continually cleanses us from the sins we commit even if we no longer want to.
So how does it work? The Bible tells us that those who believe in their heart that Jesus died for their sins, accept His sacrifice, and turn from their sins will be saved. After you do so, acknowledge Him before men - in other words, tell others of your salvation in your personal testimony - and continue in fellowship with God for eternity.
The work of salvation is already done. Jesus went to a terrible death on the cross to pay for the sins of the whole world. His death was the blood sacrifice required to reconcile sinful mankind with a holy God. His resurrection was the triumph over death, spiritual as well as physical.
For many people, the idea of sin is foolishness. They've been taught that man is essentially good and that right and wrong are relative. Many believe that mankind is either part of the animal world or divine in nature. The existence of a loving creator who established truth and gave rules for life on earth is denied by the humanists. However, new advances in science point to an intricate world that no random events could have evolved.
This is contrary to God's word. God tells us in the Bible that we're born in sin and continue in sin unless we're 'born again' as new creatures with the righteousness of Christ. No one living is without sin. It doesn't matter how much good we think we do. Salvation is not earned; it's a free gift that can be accepted or rejected.
Realizing the need for a savior is often the first step. Christian life is based on the fact that God desires a relationship with His children, but His holiness cannot accept sin. However, Jesus died so that we don't have to. All we need to do is acknowledge our need for salvation, believe that Jesus died for us, and turn our lives over to God.
God granted man free will. He gave Adam and Eve one prohibition, which they promptly broke as soon as the possibility was presented by the lying serpent. This brought sin into the world. The Bible tells us that, when we are 'born again', we are granted the righteousness of Christ. We no longer have to depend on ourselves; we can cast our burdens - one of which is our human nature - onto Jesus. I John 1:9 says: 'If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'
On first examination, this may seem unfair. Why should a baby be born under this stigma? However, any honest person will acknowledge that he or she falls far short of the holiness that God demands of us. Only the blood of Jesus can make us acceptable to God; His sacrifice continually cleanses us from the sins we commit even if we no longer want to.
So how does it work? The Bible tells us that those who believe in their heart that Jesus died for their sins, accept His sacrifice, and turn from their sins will be saved. After you do so, acknowledge Him before men - in other words, tell others of your salvation in your personal testimony - and continue in fellowship with God for eternity.