God’s plan
God created you and loves you so much. He desires to have a personal relationship with you, but He gave you freewill so that the relationship would be based on genuine desire. (Think of it like this, if your husband was forced to love you, that wouldn’t be as pure of love as him choosing to love you.)
Sin is the problem
God is holy and perfect, and we’ve all sinned against him in some way. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God’s standard for perfection is outlined in the 10 commandments.
- Do not have other gods.
- Do not make idols and worship them.
- Do not use the Lord’s name in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day.
- Honor your father and mother.
- Do not murder.
- Do not commit adultery.
- Do not steal.
- Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.
- Do not covet.
The Bible says that if we’ve broken 1 of the 10 commandments, we’re just as guilty as if we’ve broken them all (James 2:10). It also says that just looking at someone with lust is adultery and hate in your heart is murder. By God’s holy and perfect standard we’ve all sinned, which is punishable by death and eternity in hell.
God sends Jesus
Here is the good news! God loves you so much, he sent his one and only son Jesus Christ to earth. He was born of a virgin (Mary). He lived 33 years on earth completely human and tempted in every way that we are, but He didn’t sin even once.
He lived a completely sinless and blameless life according to God’s standards (10 commandments). Though He didn’t sin once, He was brutally beaten and murdered on a cross for your sins and my sins.
Jesus’s resurrection
His dead body was laid in a sealed and guarded tomb. Three days later he rose from the dead, appeared to several people, and the tomb was left empty. He conquered sin and death, and provides an opportunity for us to get right with God, even though we have sinned and will continue to.
Surrender
The Bible says that if we confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior and repent of our sin (ask for forgiveness and stop intentionally sinning), God will hear us in heaven, forgive our sins making us completely clean, and allow us to spend eternity in heaven with Him (1 Peter 2:24-25). What an incredible gift!
If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and would like to, pray this prayer from a genuine heart and get ready for God to change your life!
Father, I come before you fully aware of my sinful nature. I am choosing today to surrender my life to you and walk in oneness with you. Please forgive me of all my sin, past, present, and future, and wipe me clean. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may live according to your will and share your light and truth with those around me. Thank you for this fresh start and for the opportunity to do life with you. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
If you just prayed this prayer, I can’t wait to hear how God works in your life! This will be the best decision you’ve ever made! Please reach out to me using the form below and let me know you’ve chosen to make this decision. I’d love to pray for you and help you get connected as you begin your walk with God.