The Bible says: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1 John 1:8–10
- You must admit to yourself and to God:
I am not a good person. I am a sinner. I may not be a criminal, but I have wrong attitudes in my heart and I do things that do not please God. I am sorry for this.
The Bible says: In the New Testament book of Acts, chapter 16, a man who was not a follower of Jesus quickly came to the understanding that he needed God when he experienced a violent earthquake.
Immediately he asked two followers of Jesus, Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and your household.”
You must believe in your heart:
That Jesus is man and God; that he lived a perfect life having no sins and that with his death he took away your sins by paying the penalty that God demanded for the wrong things you have done; that God raised Him from the dead and through Him also gives you new life.
The Bible says: In the New Testament book of Romans, chapter 10, God causes St. Paul to write: “That 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 it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
You must confess with your mouth:
that “Jesus is Lord”; that He is above all rulers and kings of the world in which we live and above all spirit beings; that He is the ruler of this world and of everything in it.
God’s promise is: that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Calling on God means to pray to Him.
If the following statement is a sincere expression of what you believe about Jesus, then use it as your prayer. If it is not, then call on God to help you to believe in Him and to claim Him as your Lord!
Lord Jesus, I know that I need you. I am not a good person without you. Thank you for living the perfect life that I could never live to please God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Thank you that your resurrection gives me hope for new life. Through you I have the complete forgiveness of my sins and eternal life. Help me to follow you as my Lord. Amen.
If you can say the words of the prayer sincerely and truthfully, then you are a follower of Jesus! The Bible says: When Peter told people how they had sinned they wanted to know what they should do.
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’”
The promise is: that when a person turns from sin to Jesus (repent) and is baptized, sins are forgiven and the Holy Spirit, who will help one follow Christ, is received.
-To be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, tell the pastor or the leader of this class that you wish to be baptized. That person will make arrangements for your Baptism with you.
-To grow in being a follower of Christ continue to study about Jesus and all He has told us in the Bible.