Most people have questions and concerns when it comes to the topic of salvation. On a personal level, you may wonder if you are truly saved. Or if you’ve not yet made the decision to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you might have questions such as, “I’m already a good person so why do I need a Savior?” or “After all I’ve done, could God still love me enough to truly accept me into His kingdom?” These are legitimate questions and concerns that many people struggle with. Thankfully, with a basic understanding of Scripture, you will be able to find the answers you’ve been looking for.
STEP ONE: Open Your Heart to Jesus
A decision to follow Jesus is rarely a one-stop process. Most likely, you have heard about Jesus before from family members, friends, or co-workers. You may think that Jesus was a good teacher or a prophet. Or you may have gone to church for many years and even read the Bible. Knowing about Jesus, however, is not the same as putting your trust in Jesus. Open your heart today to receive the truth about who Jesus really is and what He did on the cross to offer salvation to you.
STEP TWO: Know the Truth
The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sinners deserve the punishment of death, but living in heaven with God after we die is a gift of salvation God offers to each of us. The Bible also says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The truth is, we have all sinned.
That sin has separated us from the love of God. But the Bible tells us in John 3:16 that God has a plan to offer us hope. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This is because Jesus took our sins upon Himself and paid for the punishment we deserved when He went to the cross. “And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
STEP THREE: Pray for Salvation
Romans 10:9-10 tells us, “…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.” If you feel you have a basic understanding of what sin is and what it leads to, as well as what it means to accept God’s gift of salvation and His Lordship, then you can pray along those lines. It’s okay to use your own words—tell God you are sorry for your sins, ask for His forgiveness, (repent) turn from your sins, and ask Jesus to be Lord over the rest of your life. Decide to trust with faith in Jesus to save you from your sins because of the work He did on the cross and not because of any good works you’ve done or could do, and you will be saved.
STEP FOUR: Prepare Your Heart for Baptism and Spiritual Growth
Once you have made the decision to put your trust in Jesus to save you and give you the gift of eternal life, you are truly saved. Welcome to the family of God! Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and empower you to live a godly life and to be bold in your witness for the Lord. Read the Bible to learn more about God and get grounded in the Truth. Come to church regularly to meet other Christians and grow in your faith. Choose to follow Christ’s example in water baptism. Call the church office for upcoming baptism dates and times.
It should be noted that Calvary Chapel Chino Hills does not necessarily endorse any particular resource and the entirety of its content.
START! The Bible for New Believers – A brand new life of faith begins when we place our trust in Jesus Christ. But that’s just the beginning. What happens next? Let START! The Bible, point you in the right direction. With notes and articles by Greg Laurie, this Bible is the perfect place to begin or renew your life of faith.
Click here click for how to “Know God” by Pastor Jack and for helpful information and resources.
New Beginnings Class
New Beginnings is a class for all new believers and those who have made a new commitment to follow Jesus. Each class will build upon another giving you a strong foundation for your life in Christ. You will learn what it means to follow Jesus in a caring, friendly, casual class setting. Call the church office for dates and times.