Christ is your Personal Savior!
God has a plan for your salvation.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)
Jesus describe the experience of salvation as the “new birth.”
“Jesus [said], “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3-5)
“Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:7).
This new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit.
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6)
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8).
When we believe the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and receive Him into our hearts, we experience this new birth.
“In him [Christ] you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)
A whole lifetime of spiritual growth and development follows.
“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence .... For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:2-8)
Not everyone has the same emotional experience in the new birth.
Some remember it in terms of forgiveness and joy. Others may remember it in terms of peace. Still others may remember the assurance that comes with the experience. All, however, remember that a profound change has taken place in their lives by the wonderful work of God's grace through Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).
When we receive the new birth through God's love and Christ's sacrifice, we are God's children forever.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
Do these words speak to you?
If they do, it is the Holy Spirit calling out to you, “Come, my child.” Answer Him. We will be glad to help you. If you are seeking answers to the questions in your heart or want to know more about God's plan for your salvation, call our pastor, Mark Anderson, or come to visit us and talk with our members. Expect to be welcomed. Don't worry about being cross-examined about your life or past. Every one of us is a sinner. The only difference between you and us is Christ; His death on the Cross redeemed us from sin and His action in our lives, through the Holy Spirit, produces in us the fruit of his salvation. You can share in the joy that His presence brings to life. Make your personal commitment to Jesus Christ and become a part of the family of God. Don't delay — your very soul is at stake.