Receiving Jesus Personally

You have now captured the strong momentum of the Bible’s message, how God has been unrelentingly committed over thousands of years to fulfill his purposes.

• Beginning in a garden, God, Adam and Eve were wonderfully bonded
• The couple disobeyed God, were alienated from him and thrust from his presence
• God initiated the process of redemption—stirring faith and anticipation through the law and the prophets
• At just the right time, Jesus, God’s son, was born of a young virgin and grew to manhood
• Jesus embarked on a brief period of intense ministry showing his Father’s true nature
• He was crucified, bearing in himself the sins of mankind
• Through his death, he made possible reconciliation between each person and God
• Reconciliation is offered but requires individual acceptance

This is the “what” of God’s plan of salvation. Now we look at the implications, the “so what.”

The way of salvation is to appropriate what God has done on our behalf and apply it personally. The Apostle John states, “But to all who received him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name.” (John 1:12)

The key elements of this personal decision include:

• Acknowledge your sinful condition
• Repent, which is to ask forgiveness for sin in your life
• Believe that Jesus, God’s son, came to earth, died and was resurrected, reestablishing the relationship between God and his creation, thus becoming your Savior
• Receive Jesus personally by an act of your will

Taking these vital steps toward God can be expressed in a prayer—not mental assent, but from the heart. The words can be your own, but might follow this guideline:

Dear God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I need your forgiveness. I believe you sent your son, Jesus, to sacrifice his life for me and redeem me from my sinful nature. I now turn from my sins and accept your forgiveness. I receive your son, Jesus Christ, into my life as my Lord and my Savior. I will trust you and follow you with all my heart. Amen.

The promise is yours. If you have received him, he is in you, and you are in him. The relationship that was tragically fractured has now been wonderfully restored.

Dive Deeper

The Christian View of Salvation

Does Everyone Have a Purpose?

Is God Personal?

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