R. Shawn Edwards became a Christian shortly before my ninth birthday. A few months earlier, I had observed my cousin being baptized in a creek in Barren County, Kentucky. During his baptism, I sensed the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart. I realized that I had not lived a life that was pleasing to God. I had sinned against God. Sin is anything we do that does not please God. I wanted to change my life. The Bible states, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 6:23). “Therefore repent and. Return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)

 

The pastor of the church we had been attending talked with me on how to follow Jesus. After he shared how Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and that Jesus was buried and on the third day, God raised Him from the dead, I knew that I wanted to follow Jesus. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

 

I followed up on my decision to follow Jesus with baptism. No, my baptism did not save me. My faith in Jesus saved me. My baptism was a way of letting others know that I was a follower of Jesus. The Bible states, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (Rom 6:4)

 

My decision to follow Jesus has been the best decision of my life! I enjoy daily blessings from God and I have the assurance that God is with me daily. I also have peace in my heart where I will spend eternity. No, my life as a follower of Jesus Christ has not always been easy. I have some struggles and I have made some mistakes, but I am reminded that God does love me and will forgive me. The Bible states in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

I am also aware that I have a personal relationship with God through Jesus and no one can take this relationship away, 1 John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Should you sense God’s leading to follow Jesus, I would be happy to talk with you about this most important decision.

 

Should you sense God’s leading to follow Christ, then please consider the following:

1. Admit to God that you have made some mistakes against God and that you need Jesus as your Savior. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 6:23). “Therefore repent and. Return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)

Sin is anything we do that does not please God.

 

1. Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and that we should accept God’s gift of forgiveness. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
2. Confess your faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)

 

Can you honestly think of any reason why you should not invite Christ into your heart to be your Savior? Pray with God about this decision. Your attitude is important. You must be sincere. If you sense the Holy Spirit’s leading, then pray this suggested prayer:

“Lord, Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner in need of Your grace. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I ask You to enter my heart and be my Savior. Thank you for forgiving me and providing eternal life. Take control of my life and guide me to be the person You want me to be. In Your Name I pray, Amen.”