I was struggling for a while (quite a few years). I finally trusted a friend enough to ask for her help. I wanted to share the lesson. She took the time away from her family to help me and I will be forever grateful.
We were asked at Chruch last Sunday to share the Gospel with others this week. I'm hoping my blog will reach more than I can in person, since I am not feeling well this week.
From my friend Michal, a wonderful woman of God:I would like you to for a moment forget your religious background and just come to the bible as a child... with no preconceived ideas. I am going to talk to you as if I did not know your back ground as well... and just let the bible speak to you and you decide whether or not your name really is written in the book of life or if you need to do something about it now. :)
1. The first and most important thing is that you know GOD loves you. Remember that some of the things I am writing you KNOW... Just go over it again to reassure your faith. :)
John 3:16-17 Say:
3:16 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.
3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.2. The bible says that our sin makes it so that WE CAN NOT ENTER INTO HEAVEN.
3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:Ok so all that this is saying is that... WE CAN NOT GET TO HEAVEN by doing good deeds.... There is NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT so, God Loving us so much sent his perfect son to die on the Cross to pay for our sins. So We HAVE ALL Sinned. So we can't get to heaven. BUT though Jesus we are Justified. (Bare with me, I know this is just a reminder)
Another verse that says we can not get saved by works is Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast.
So... That means that if we can not do anything to get to heaven.... WE ALSO CAN"T DO ANYTHING TO LOOSE OUR Salvation right? :) let me show you.
BUT FIRST: here is the payment for our sin...
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 6:23
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Rev 20:14So we see that because of our sin we are condemmed to the second death. and whoever is not saved will be cast into the lake of fire. (LITERAL not like some religions try to make it)
3. Jesus IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. John 14:6-7The truths to get from this verse is that, JEsus again... is the only way to heaven.... and that JESUS is GOD. The father and Jesus and the Holy Ghost are one. He says you have seen him already... but no one has seen the father right? Well... He is saying right here that he is the father. Do you believe this?
HERE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS EMAIL. HOW THE BIBLE SAYS WE GET SAVED.Romans 10:8-13
10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.* So the bible says we need to recognize that we are sinners condemned to go to hell
* We cant get to heaven by works (Like going to church, reading our bible, helping the poor, "speaking in tongues*, getting baptized or anything else) all these are types of Works... YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING!
* The only one that could pay for our sins was Jesus.
* IT IS AS CLEAR AS WATER, that if we believe with are hearts and confess with our mouths that JESUS IS GOD (LORD) and we believe He died for our sins and Rose on the 3rd day, we are saved!
So... Do you believe these things?
Have you confessed with your mouth?
I don't mean get baptized in some church, I don't mean go down the isle and have some weird experience or feeling that you were "FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST"... I mean have you specifically taken the time to out loud with your mouth Ask Jesus for salvation. Have you told him that you believe HE IS the only GOD. Have you told him you believe that he came and died on the cross to pay for your sins? Have you told him that you believe He rose from the dead?
Have you asked him to come into your heart and save you?
If you do not remember a specific time when you did this. .. it's like not remembering when you married your husband.
So, before He asked you to marry him, you both loved each other right? BUT it was not until it was official and you spoke it out loud in some type of wedding ceremony that you became his wife.
The same with Salvation.
You may believe and that's good... that's the first thing. Then you need to confess with your mouth like the verse says... and ask him to come into your heart and save you.
I John 5:7-13 says
5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.He that believeth on the son (jesus) has the witness in himself! SO that is why we need to really remember a time when we asked him to come in. He has given us a free will and if we don't ask him it does not matter what we do... He wont come in unless you ask him.
and GOD CAN NOT LIE... so if he says you are saved by doing these things only YOU ARE! and he gives us eternal life. (That means we don't experience the 2nd death, remember that verse?)
5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
5:12 He that hath the Son hath life (how can we get the son, he needs to be in our hearts); and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
5:13 These things have I written unto (INSERT YOUR NAME) you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that (YOU) ye may know that ye (HE/SHE) have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.I asked Jesus to come into my heart when I was 6 yrs old. So many things have happened since then... and I am a wicked sinner! BUT WHEN Jesus comes into your heart, God can no longer see the sin in us, that is how we can get to heaven. We become righteous in His eyes through Jesus who covered our sins with his blood.
So... all you have to do is believe, which you said you do! and confess... if you do not remember this step then you need to ask him it's that easy. And once that happens you never have to ask again, because He can not lie and he has sealed us with the Holy ghost.
Remember you CAN NOT LOOSE YOUR SALVATION EVER!!!! ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED!
John 10:28
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13
Here is an example of what I prayed as a little girl and when I go tell others about Christ and explain the gospel I have them pray this prayer after the asure themselves that they believe.
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I deserve to go to hell. Lord I believe you are GOD and that you died to pay for my sins and arose on the 3rd day. Lord Come into my heart and save me. Thank you Lord for sacrificing yourself in my place and thank you for the assurance of my salvation. In your precious name I pray. Amen.
This is just a sample, there is no magic to these Words, its just talking to The Lord with your heart. If you have already done this. Great, what about your girls and your husband. Just because you are saved does not mean they are. They need to make a personal decision themselves to trust in Jesus. And Going to church and been good little girls is not enough, even believing is not enough, they need to confess with their Mouths.
