Theology Thursday: New Life in Jesus Christ

In a world where man appears to promote self and live for self, the imperative message of salvation from sin seems to get watered down at best and lost in the “self-improvement” craze at worst. One of the primary focuses of the Bible is that man must be saved. Saved from what? The relationship that was severed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden caused man to be lost to the intended relationship God designed for him. Jesus was sent to the world to die for the sins of man as a final sacrifice for all sin past, present and future. It is the hope of the follower of Christ and the peace for those that have received salvation.

So how does this salvation occur? What do I have to do? There is actually nothing we can do to be back in God’s good graces. God did it all through Jesus. In Ephesians 2:8, 9 it states, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” I can never be good enough to be in a relationship with God because of my sin problem. Jesus came to remove the curse of Adam and give us hope beyond our works for eternal life with God because of the work of Jesus.

Jesus made the way for us, so what is our part? It is to receive. There is no perfect format to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, but I like to use a pathway found in Romans that shows us in the Bible the steps we can take.

1. Admit you are a sinner.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23

Until we admit we have an addiction to sin, we cannot receive the forgiveness of God.

2. Acknowledge Jesus as the answer for your life.

“But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

It is not about us being good enough, the price was paid for us before we were even born.

3. Accept Jesus as your personal Savior.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23

Jesus is the only answer for our sin problem, it is not found anywhere else.

4. Ask Jesus to be the master of your life.

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with your heart you believe and are justified and with your mouth you confess and are saved.” – Romans 10:9-10

It is just a matter of asking for this free gift.

5. Receive the free gift of salvation.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – Romans 10:13

We can have assurance that when we ask we DO receive.

6. Live in the new freedom of Christ.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39

Now you walk in faith. Begin developing this relationship in the same way you would with a new friend or a new love in your life. It takes intentional time and nurture, but be assured, Jesus is there to meet you all the way.

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