If You Want to be Saved...
True conversion and salvation begins with repentance.
John the Baptist's ministry came before Jesus Christ's to clear the way to call people to repent, before Jesus (God in the flesh), was willingly crucified as the "sacrificial lamb", who never sinned to cover our sins for atonement, so we could all be forgiven. This is significant. The first step is repentance.
God's perfect unconditional agape love is always available to us, his love for us never changes. The thing that changes is our ability to receive it. We can't receive it without first drawing near to him.
We can't draw near to him with sin in us. We need to first repent and accept the name of Jesus, the only one who has the ability to save us, God's only son, the beloved. Jesus was the only acceptable sacrifice. He was without sin because he was God in the flesh.
If we don't know that the things we have done are wrong and confess them to God and repent, we can't be saved.
The Bible says:
Romans 3:23
That means every single person in this world that has ever lived, since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, (besides Jesus) has sinned, and that includes YOU. You need to examine yourself, and ask yourself some hard questions and then be completely honest with yourself in your response. Before I ask these questions I will be the first to admit, I have done all of these things and more. I had to think back to what was really the beginning of change and conversion for me and it was a woman that asked me these hard questions, and prayed with me for forgiveness. That was the beginning of change for me. It was hard to face my own sin, even though I was ready because my life had turned so ugly and destructive.
You have to face these hard questions to get past this first step.
Be honest:
Have you ever taken God's name in vain?
Have you ever lied?
Have you ever had premarital sex or done something sexually immoral?
Have you ever done drugs or drank alcohol in excess or abused your body in any way?
Have you ever cheated someone or cheated at anything?
Have you ever boasted about yourself, shown off or been haughty or prideful?
Have you ever envied what someone else has or possesses?
Have you ever blasphemed the name of Jesus in front of others?
Have you ever been a hypocrite: saying one thing and doing another?
If you answered yes to even one of these questions, then you have sinned and are not worthy to be in the presence of a Holy, perfect God. Sin is sin, it doesn't matter the amount or degree. Just like any amount of dirt renders a white garment dirty, so does any amount of sin before a pure, perfect God who has no sin. Sin is abhorrent in his sight. But there is good news. God made a way for you to be forgiven of your sins and start with a fresh new slate, a second chance, being "born again", with a renewed mind in Christ.
Who do you believe Jesus Christ is? Jesus asked this of Peter, his disciple, and Peter answered: "You are the Christ, Son of the Living God." That is correct. Perhaps Peter was the very first to believe in Jesus Christ as the living God. Maybe that is why he is the "rock" on which the church is built. That is an important question. Be real. If you don't believe that he truly is the Messiah and God in the flesh, then change your mind. You don't have to know everything about Jesus, you don't have to even know anything other than just believing he is God, even an inkling of faith like a mustard seed that Jesus is what he said he was, and still is to this day.
John the Baptist's ministry came before Jesus Christ's to clear the way to call people to repent, before Jesus (God in the flesh), was willingly crucified as the "sacrificial lamb", who never sinned to cover our sins for atonement, so we could all be forgiven. This is significant. The first step is repentance.
God's perfect unconditional agape love is always available to us, his love for us never changes. The thing that changes is our ability to receive it. We can't receive it without first drawing near to him.
James 4:8
" Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
We can't draw near to him with sin in us. We need to first repent and accept the name of Jesus, the only one who has the ability to save us, God's only son, the beloved. Jesus was the only acceptable sacrifice. He was without sin because he was God in the flesh.
Ephesians 1:6
"to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved."
If we don't know that the things we have done are wrong and confess them to God and repent, we can't be saved.
Romans 3:23
"for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
You have to face these hard questions to get past this first step.
Be honest:
Have you ever taken God's name in vain?
Have you ever lied?
Have you ever had premarital sex or done something sexually immoral?
Have you ever done drugs or drank alcohol in excess or abused your body in any way?
Have you ever cheated someone or cheated at anything?
Have you ever boasted about yourself, shown off or been haughty or prideful?
Have you ever envied what someone else has or possesses?
Have you ever blasphemed the name of Jesus in front of others?
Have you ever been a hypocrite: saying one thing and doing another?
If you answered yes to even one of these questions, then you have sinned and are not worthy to be in the presence of a Holy, perfect God. Sin is sin, it doesn't matter the amount or degree. Just like any amount of dirt renders a white garment dirty, so does any amount of sin before a pure, perfect God who has no sin. Sin is abhorrent in his sight. But there is good news. God made a way for you to be forgiven of your sins and start with a fresh new slate, a second chance, being "born again", with a renewed mind in Christ.
Who do you believe Jesus Christ is? Jesus asked this of Peter, his disciple, and Peter answered: "You are the Christ, Son of the Living God." That is correct. Perhaps Peter was the very first to believe in Jesus Christ as the living God. Maybe that is why he is the "rock" on which the church is built. That is an important question. Be real. If you don't believe that he truly is the Messiah and God in the flesh, then change your mind. You don't have to know everything about Jesus, you don't have to even know anything other than just believing he is God, even an inkling of faith like a mustard seed that Jesus is what he said he was, and still is to this day.
I found this quote online:
"Repentance and faith can be understood as “two sides of the same coin.” It is impossible to place your faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior without first changing your mind about who He is and what He has done. Whether it is repentance from willful rejection or repentance from ignorance or disinterest, it is a change of mind. Biblical repentance, in relation to salvation, is changing your mind from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ."
"Repentance and faith can be understood as “two sides of the same coin.” It is impossible to place your faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior without first changing your mind about who He is and what He has done. Whether it is repentance from willful rejection or repentance from ignorance or disinterest, it is a change of mind. Biblical repentance, in relation to salvation, is changing your mind from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ."
This is salvation in a nutshell. It may seem too simple, but that is it. Truly repent, and believe in Jesus Christ as God and Savior. After that, you will grow in wisdom and understanding, but this is the beginning of all good changes for you. These are two actions you are more than capable of doing if you want the free gift of salvation.
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