First you must accept that you are a sinner:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" -Romans 3:23

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." -Romans 3:10

No one is perfect. No one can live up to God's perfect standard.

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Second, you must accept that as a sinner you owe a penalty:

"For the wages of sin is death." -Romans 6:23 

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." -Ezekiel 18:4

This death is described in the Bible as the second death, the lake of fire.

"Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." -Revelation 20:14

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Third, you must accept that Jesus Christ has already paid your sin debt:

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." -Romans 5:6

"...that he by grace of God should taste death for every man" -Hebrews 2:9

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

"And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." -1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Christ was not a sinner, and the Bible teaches that God took all of our sin and placed it on Christ. While Christ was bearing all of our sins in His own body, God sacrificed Him in our place to pay the debt we owe. This is not something God has promised He will do. It is something God has already done.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

-John 3:16

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

-2 Corinthians 5:21

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Fourth, you must accept by faith what Jesus Christ did for you:

Dozens of times in the Gospel of John the Bible says, "Believe."

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God in him." -John 3:36

In this verse, Jesus divides the world into two groups: those who are believing and those who are not believing on the Son. Those who believe have everlasting life, and those who believe not shall not see life. 

The word believe means "to trust, to depend on, to rely on." To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ means that you accept the facts that you are a sinner, that as a sinner you owe the sin penalty, and that Jesus Christ died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay the debt you owe. But it means going one step further. It means that you will completely trust Christ to get you to Heaven-that you will put the matter of your salvation into His hands and depend on Him for everlasting life.

Now the moment you do this, God promises that you are not condemned but that you have everlasting life and you shall not perish. 

"Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." -John 5:24

If you will trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, pray this simple prayer:

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Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I deserve to pay my own sin debt, but I do believe that You died on the cross and arose from the dead for me to pay the debt that I owe. Today, the best I know how, I trust You as my Savior. I will depend on You from this moment on for my salvation. Now help me to live for You and to be a good Christian. Amen. 

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If you have prayed this simple prayer and put you faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ, please give us a call or come see us with the contact information at the bottom of the page.

 

originally written by Curtis Hutson