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Invite Jesus
Admittedly, religion is a touchy and sensitive subject. Like others, you may feel that your beliefs about God are very personal, and understandably so. Maybe you are also among those who think that just believing in God's existence is enough. But look at what the Bible says:
"No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also."
-1 John 2:23, The Holy Bible
What this means is that if you don't have Jesus, the Son, in your life, then you really don't have God, the Father. God doesn't want to offer you "religion". He wants you to know Him, His character, His ways, and He wants you to have peace:
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..."
-Romans 5:1, The Holy Bible
God wants to have a relationship with you, through His Son, Jesus Christ:
"Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
-John 14:6, The Holy Bible
God also wants to cleanse and forgive you of your sins. See, most people feel that they are "good" people. But the Bible tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). What this means is that none of us, even on our best days, could ever be "good enough" to please God, and to earn our way to heaven. Even with all the good, kind, and generous things we may do for others, our normal tendancy is to do things "our way". When God created us, He gave us a free will, and from the days of Adam and Eve until today, we make choices and decisions to "do it our way" and disobey God's standards of right living.
God is a God of love, mercy and forgiveness. But He is also a God of justice. And there is a penalty for sin:
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
-Romans 6:23, The Holy Bible
Jesus Christ paid that penalty and died on the cross for our sins.
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God..."
-1 Peter 3:18, The Holy Bible
The most important decision you will ever make for yourself is making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior. Right here and now, you have the opportunity to repent of your sins, mistakes, and failures, and through faith in Jesus Christ, God will wipe the slate clean. When you turn to Him and ask for His forgiveness, not only will He forgive you of your sins and grant you His peace, but Jesus Christ will transform you into a new person, with direction, purpose, and meaning for your life:
"Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new."
-2 Corinthians 5:17, The Holy Bible
Let's take that most wonderful, first step together. Simply pray to God, right where you are, and tell Him of your desire to invite Jesus into your life. You may use your own heartfelt words, or pray the prayer below.
Lord,
I am a sinner in need of a Savior.
I believe that Jesus Christ
died on the cross for my sins,
and after three days, rose again
to life. I ask for Your forgiveness
of my sins and for Jesus Christ to
come into my life. Amen.
"If you say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe in your heart that God has raised Christ from death, you will be saved."
-Romans 10:9, The Holy Bible
If you've just honestly said with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, let us be the first to welcome you to the family of God! This Ministry is here to guide you and provide you with resources as you begin your walk with the Lord. You are encouraged to contact the Pastor for support, resources and interim pastoral care.
If you've read through these introductory pages, but feel you still need answers, please continue on to the Online Chapel.
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