We would like to tell you about the GIFT of eternal life. God has a plan for you and it includes His FREE GIFT of eternal life. Please take a moment and let us tell you about that GIFT...

I would like to ask you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die?

God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.”

In the Bible God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How?

First, you must realize you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death. “For the wages [or payment] of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from God in Hell. "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." (Revelation 20:14)  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

But God loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place. “For he (God) hath made Him [Jesus,] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Jesus had to shed His blood and die to pay the penalty we owe for our sin. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). “ . . . without shedding of blood is no remission [or pardon]” (Hebrews 9:22). “God commendeth (proved) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and He died in our place. He became our substitute. It is true. God cannot lie.

Many times in the Word of God we are commanded to repent. “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) And again in Luke 13:3 we read “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. And again in Acts 17:30 it says “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent."  This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with God that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what Jesus did for us on the Cross.  Repentance is a change of mind and attitude about your sin that results in a change of life and eternal destination.  This is not a "work" but an agreement in heart and mind with God that you are going in the wrong direction in life and in eternity.

In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . . .’

Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Savior.

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13). Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved doesn’t mean maybe, nor can, but shall be saved.

Do you believe the scriptures that you have read? If so, then right here, right now you can become a child of God. You can have all your sins forgiven and become a child of God if you will simply lift your heart to God in prayer.

If you want to become a Christian and be born into the family of God, pray this prayer from the heart and understand that it is not the prayer that saves you, but the fact that you are putting your faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save you. Pray this: “Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus was my substitute when He died on the Cross. I believe His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for me. As best as I know how I now receive Him as my Savior. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins, and the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace. Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, and meant it with all your heart, just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it!

You say, “Surely, it cannot be that simple.” Yes, that simple! Though it is simple for you, it was not simple for Jesus. Remember, He did all of the work on the cross so that it would be simple for you. It is scriptural and it is God’s plan.

Now that you are saved, remember God’s power will save you, keep you saved, and enable you to live a victorious Christian life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

After you are saved, there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth:

• Pray -- you talk to God.
• Read your Bible -- God talks to you.
• Witness -- you talk for God.

You should also be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ as a public testimony of your salvation, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord . . . .” (2 Timothy 1:8) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)  Notice in the last verse it says they were saved, then baptized. That is God’s plan. It also says they were added unto the church. Once you are saved, you should unite with a Bible-believing church without delay. Church is where we grow in the Lord (2 Peter 3:18) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. God’s people are your new family! Church is where we praise God and worship Him and fellowship with other believers. It is so important for you to become part of a local Bible believing church. It will help you to keep from falling.

Then you should start to share your testimony with others. Tell people about Jesus and His wonderful gift of salvation.

It would only be right that if you know the way to Heaven you should share it with others around you. “Whosoever therefore shall confess [testify of] Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).

Remember, none of these “works” (baptism, prayer, Bible reading, witnessing for Christ) saves you, but it is because you are saved that you should do these things in obedience to Him and to become closer to the Lord. Because you love Him for what He has done for you. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast. {10} For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10) 

If you have received Jesus today, Praise the Lord for your new life in Christ. Today is your second Birthday! You were born of the flesh the first time, today you were born of the spirit. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {7} Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:6-7) 

Enjoy your new found savior! Live your life for Him, He died for you! Do not trust your feelings. They change. Stand on God’s promises. They never change.

Remember, God’s simple plan of salvation is: 1. You are a sinner 2. there is a payment for sin which is death and Hell 3. Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again and has prepared a place in Heaven for all who will put their faith in Him and receive Him. 4. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal life by faith.

If you have trusted Christ as your saviour today, contact us and we will help you in your new found relationship with Christ.



Kornerb@truevine.net

(570) 868-6298