What an amazing thing we get to celebrate this season. We also recognize all that this season leads up to and all that Jesus did for you and for me.
By offering Himself up as a perfect sacrifice, paying the price for our mistakes, and then rising on the third day... Jesus defeated sin and death once and for all and made the way for us to have eternal life in Heaven.
All we have to do is accept that free gift.
If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus and want to hear more about what that means and how to begin one, you can text the word HOPE to 41224 to learn more.
The Good News
We’ve all made choices outside of God’s plan for us. The Bible calls that sinning, and everyone’s done it…every single one of us. Besides Jesus, no human has lived perfectly in every area of life (Romans 3:10, 23). One little white lie or selfish act is all it takes to sin.
The bad news is sin separates us from God and the relationship He wants to have with us. Sin creates a chasm between us (Isaiah 59:2).
The GOOD NEWS is that He made a way back from sin. God sent His only Son to be born as a human, to show us HOW to live in relationship with Him, and then to die for us. When He rose from the dead on the third day, sin was conquered forever. Jesus’ sacrifice closed the gap! Offering His perfect life for ours means our sins can be not only forgiven…but also forgotten. We just have to accept God’s perfect gift and begin a journey with Him (Romans 3:24-25).
What's the next step?
First, believe in your heart that Jesus is God’s son. Next, simply believe He died to pay the price for your sin (John 14:6, Romans 10:9-10). Finally, pray.
Here’s an idea of a prayer you could say:
God, I admit I’ve gone my own direction and tried to do things my way instead of Yours. Because of my sin, I haven’t been able to have a real relationship with You. Please forgive me of my wrong choices. I’m tired of living without You. I believe You sent Your only Son, Jesus, to die as a payment for my sin and to bridge the gap between us. I believe You raised Jesus from the dead and, in doing so, conquered sin and death forever. I confess there is no way to Heaven but through Your Son. Please take over in my life and help me follow You in every way. Amen!
Welcome to the family!
If you have a quick moment, could you get in touch with us? We’d love to hear your story! You can do that right here.
Also, here are some resources that might help as you begin your new journey of faith:
1. Read the Bible, beginning with the Gospel of John in the New Testament. Try an easy-to-read translation like the New International Version or the New Living Translation.
2. Crazy Love, by Francis Chan – Helps with beginning to understand the amazing LOVE God has for you…
3. New Believer's Guide to Effective Christian Living, by Greg Laurie – A guide to what’s next…
4. The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel – Reasons why we can believe the Bible is true…
What now?
Faith in Jesus isn’t a one-and-done kind of thing. It’s a lifelong journey, and you’ll need a little help along the way. We all do. Try to find a mentor or group of friends you can talk and pray with on a regular basis…and please consider joining a church in your community. It might take a while to find the right fit, but it will be so worth the effort!