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How can I be born again?
Born Again For Free - For Everyone
Why we need it, how we get it, and what to do afterwards
Salvation is something that is discussed, talked about, argued about and many times disagreed upon. We all need salvation, none of us are born with salvation and none us can do anything on his/her own to earn salvation.
Salvation hasn't been around for ever.... only about 2000 years. Salvation is free, it doesn't cost anything. Salvation will probably cause you to lose some things, like drug addictions, drinking problems, hatred...stuff we often would love to lose. And salvation has changed millions of lives since then, mine included.
Mankind's need for salvation developed in the Garden of Eden. Originally Adam and Eve were in perfect fellowship with God. They knew Him personally and walked and talked with Him every day. They knew nothing about work or sin, hatred or embarrassment. That all changed when Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That simple act of disobedience separated us from God for thousands of years.
Adam and Eve were sent from the Garden. They worked the lands, were fruitful and brought forth generations which covered the land. But all of these people inherited the sin that Adam had placed upon all of mankind. You and I are no different, we were born with the same sin that separates us from God.
But God knew what would happen and He prepared a way for us to once again enjoy that same level of fellowship that Adam and Eve had in the Garden.
How we receive that inner peace in just a matter of understanding 4 simple statements.
First, understand that you are a sinner.
Sin separates us from God and causes a lack of peace...causes us to feel the void deep inside. The Bible says "For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God".
Next, understand that Jesus Christ died for on the cross for you.
Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Jesus understood that mankind was born with a sinful nature and that mankind was separated from God. He also knew that His death was the only way to bridge the gap that sin had put between man and God.
Then, you need to repent of your sin.
The word repent means to change direction or to turn from. Instead of running from God, we run to Him.
Finally, accept Jesus Christ in to your life.
Jesus said "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in." Becoming a Christian isn't about what church you go to or about what you wear....it's about having a personal relationship with Jesus, one in which He lives in your heart and life.
Would you like Jesus to come into your life right now?
YES, I WOULD!
His invitation is clear. We must come to Him. All that remains is a response. In Romans 6:23 we read "...the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." What do we have to do to receive that gift? Take it! Revelation 3:20 states "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me." Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks, seeking entrance into our lives. John 1:12 states "For as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God." If you would like to receive Jesus Christ into your heart and life right now, pray a prayer something like this from the sincerity of your heart...
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I receive you as my personal Lord and Saviour. Amen.
If you just prayed that prayer and really meant it, Jesus Christ has now taken residence in your heart! Not only that, but he has forgiven all your sin. The Bible tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness"(1 John 1:9) God also promises, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalms 103:12)
Your decision to receive Christ also means that you are now going to Heaven one day. That's a lot to be thankful for! You need to take some practical steps to grow strong spiritually: read the Bible, pray, and go to church. (Complete the section below to locate a church)
NO,I WOULDN'T!
Pure and simple....without knowing Jesus and asking Him into your life...you can never get to Heaven. There's nothing you can do to earn your way in...you can't get there based on good works...or reading the Bible or even going to church. You have to accept Him as your personal Lord and Saviour.
It's kind of like sitting on a fence....you can stay up there for a while...but sooner or later you've got to get down....your choice...on the side of the fence with Jesus or on the other side of the fence without Him.
Or think of it this way.....two boxes...black and white....no shades of grey... nothing in between...if you're not on the white box you have to be on the black box.
Maybe this will be a little clearer...either you've accepted Jesus Christ...or you've rejected Him...not saying anything isn't a statement of acceptance...think about it...are you really ready to reject Jesus Christ?....will you really have another opportunity to accept Him?...None of us knows what lies ahead...none of us knows how long we have to live...
There isn't a better time than now to accept Jesus Christ...
Being a Christian is not easy....Satan wants you to be away from God and he's going to do everything he can to throw stumbling blocks in your path. But as a Christian, he can't control your life anymore....Jesus lives within you...and He will not allow Satan to put anything in your path that you can't handle. Jesus said "In Me all things are possible"
The easiest way to avoid those stumbling blocks is to follow four basic steps as a Christian.
First, PRAY. You have a open line to God at anytime...use it....talk to Him...ask Him for strength...for guidance....for wisdom...You'll be surprised how good it feels to talk to God.
Next, READ THE BIBLE. The Bible is God's handbook for living life on earth. Every problem has been answered there. Read it, learn it, memorize it, the better you know it the more defence you'll have when Satan starts messing with you. Here is a a daily reading plan to help you read the the bible....Check it out.
Third, FELLOWSHIP. Find yourself a good Bible teaching church and attend regularly. Get involved in New Believers classes....volunteer your skills...Watch the people around you, much more is said by actions than is said by words.
Finally, WITNESS. Share your faith with others...I'm sure that those people that were around you before you accepted Christ have noticed the difference...tell them about it...let them know who made the change in your life. God calls us to go forth and spread the Good News to all the world (it's called the Great Commission).
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