What must I do to accept Jesus Christ?

Salvation (i.e. going to heaven) is not based on what we do (Ephesians 2:8-9) but on who we know (Luke 23:42-43, John 3:16-17, Acts 4:12).

Damnation (i.e. going to hell) is not based on what we do but on what we don’t do (II Thessalonians 1:8-9).

That is why there are thieves, murderers, adulterers, homosexuals, serial killers, rapists, and Satanists in heaven and philanthropists, charitable persons, physicians and caregivers, as well as world religious figures in hell.

Our eternal destiny, no matter what that may ultimately be, thus depends entirely upon our relationship with Jesus Christ and not on our deeds (works), no matter how good or how bad they may have been. For Christ’s death on the cross and his resurrection on the third day provides for repentance for forgiveness of all sins (Luke 24:46-47) and thus all who call upon the Lord will be saved no matter how “bad” they may have been (Romans 10:13). Likewise, all who do not, no matter how “good” they may have been, will perish (II Thessalonians 2:10).

Its all about what He did, not what we did (Romans 11:6).

John 3:16-17: 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

An important factor in reaching a decision to accept Jesus Christ and ask Him to forgive you of your sins is reaching a point in your life when you come to understand you are completely incapable of standing in judgment before a perfect, holy, sinless God – something we’re told in the Bible each and every one of us will someday have to do – and walking away blameless.

Because none of us can meet the standards of conduct acceptable to a holy God, the importance of having a relationship with Jesus Christ can not be understated. Why? Because all who die without receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will someday be sentenced to an eternal hell from which there will be no hope of escape or rescue.

Fortunately, the penalty God required all mankind to pay for living in disobedience to His will has already been paid on our behalf, if we will accept it! Jesus Christ, the Son of God, robed Himself in flesh and came into the world to make atonement for all our sins through His sacrificial death on the cross.

In return for Christ providing us a way to avoid the judgment we are all worthy of when our character is compared to that of a holy, sinless God, it is required of us to accept Jesus Christ by faith, believing in His sinless life, His death on the cross on our behalf, and His resurrection from the dead to avoid being sentenced to an eternal hell – a lake of fire prepared for all those who live in rebellion against God.

As Jesus loved us enough to leave the Majesty of Heaven and die a cruel death on the cross on our behalf, none of us should have a problem with accepting His free gift of salvation, should we? God couldn’t possibly love us more than He does nor make the process of securing one’s eternal salvation any simpler than it is so there is no better day than today for you to come to faith in Christ if you’re considering doing so. This is especially true when we consider that no one has the promise of a tomorrow.

Are you ready to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior?

The first step in becoming a Christian is to get into the proper mindset to do so. We call this repentance. To repent is to have a life-altering change of mind concerning one’s need to live a life of obedience to God. To make a decision to come to faith in Christ that is genuine – one that will stand the test of time – a sincerely remorseful, repentant heart is a necessary element. It has been said that repentance is the first word of the Gospel. So, are you ready?

All you have to do, if you’re ready, is bow your head in prayer, repent by sincerely asking Jesus Christ to forgive you of all your sins, ask Him to be your Savior having paid the price for your sins through His death on the cross, and promise to be as obedient to God’s will as you possibly can. It’s that simple.

There is no specific way to do it. There is no special prayer you have to say word for word. All it takes is a repentant heart and a sincere desire to turn from your former ways and follow Christ.

If you have prayed a prayer of forgiveness and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are now saved and no one can pluck you from His hand. You are a Christian and will inherit eternal life with Christ in Heaven when you die or He returns to this earth to gather His children home.

1st John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1st John 4:15: Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

What do I do now that I’ve accepted Christ?

• Seek other Christians to fellowship with in a church of your choice that uses the Bible alone for instruction in holy living. The Bible is the Word of God and needs to be adhered to as much as humanly possible.
• Start reading the Bible regularly to get to know God better and understand His will for your life. All new believers need to read the Word of God often to become mature and confident in their Christian faith.
• Be baptized by immersion. If you were baptized as an infant, you need to be baptized again. Baptism is your public acknowledgement of your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Although you can get to Heaven without being baptized, Jesus told us we should be baptized, just as He was! Follow the Lord’s example and do this as soon as possible.
• Tell others about your decision to follow Christ that they may be led to follow in your footsteps. There is no greater accomplishment than to lead another person to Christ!