"FREE GIFT"
The free gift we offer is not one that can be downloaded. It is the gift of salvation that God offers all through His Son Jesus Christ. We all have sinned and messed up; but God provides salvation not only to cleanse you from sin, but to declare you righteous before Him. Being baptized, belonging to a particular denomination or shaking the Pastor’s hand does not make you saved. Accepting Jesus Christ into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior makes you saved.
Here are scriptures to show how it’s done:
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
These scriptures tell you that everyone in the world has sinned; but by God’s love (by sending Jesus Christ to die for OUR sins), He has provided salvation. Salvation is when you allow Jesus’ suffering and death to pay for your sins. This is a free gift of God; not anything you can work for. Therefore, you can’t say that you did anything to get or earn it.
The Bible goes on further to say:
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me..."
Acts 4:12
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
You may have heard that it doesn’t matter what god you worship, it’s all still God. That’s not true. These scriptures say that the name of Jesus is the only name that can save us. Not Buddha. Not Muhammad. No other name by Jesus.
How then does one become saved? The Bible says:
Romans 10:8-11
But what does it say? "The word is near you, even, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is the word of faith which we preach); that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the mouth confession is made to salvation.
Romans 10:13
For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Making a simple confession and believing it in your heart is how you become saved. The offer is open to all.
But wait! Look at what the Bible says about this:
John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.
All the things you have done in the past are gone once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. When you accept Jesus into your heart, He erases those sins from your past!
Again, let's turn to the Bible:
I Corinthians 1:21, 25
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Deuteronomy 30:19
"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;"
It really comes down to whether you believe the Bible or not. If you do, then all of this applies to you. God has set the Bible before us to guide us into His righteousness, prosperity and His perfect will for our lives. Following the Bible is life and blessings. To choose not to follow the Bible is death and cursing.
A Prayer For Salvation - Accept Your Gift
Should you decide to accept the free gift of eternal life God has made available to you through Jesus, believe in your heart and say the following prayer with your mouth:
"I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe He died for me on Calvary's tree, bearing my sins for me. I believe that He rose from the dead and is alive right now.
Dear Lord Jesus, come into my life now! Come into my heart now.
I believe in my heart, therefore, I say with my mouth that Jesus Christ is my personal Lord and Savior. And I am, right now, born again."
If you just prayed the prayer above you are now born again. Nothing spectacular may have happen to you as you prayed and you may not feel any different from the way you felt two minutes before you prayed. But make no mistake, you are saved. Don't let anyone or even yourself convince you otherwise. When you leave this life, heaven will be your home.
We, at Maranatha, would like to know if your prayed that prayer. Please take a moment to email me, Pastor James Smith, and let me know who you are. We would like to help you in your walk with the Lord in any way we can.
Please click on CONTACT US on the menu then click on my name, Pastor James Smith.
Thank you and welcome to the family of God. |
