So, how can I receive God's gift of eternal salvation, have all of my sins forgiven, and know that Heaven will be my home?
Ephesians 1:13In 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,
1. Hearing
Today, you have heard the gospel that Christ died for your sins and that salvation is a free gift. 2. Believing Do you believe the gospel? Do you believe that you are a sinner and that you cannot earn salvation? Do you believe that because of your sin you are deserving of eternal judgment in the lake of fire? Do you believe that Jesus Christ gave his life for you so that you can have eternal life with him? 3. TrustingMany people believe that Jesus Christ died. But many of these people are still trying to please God by their works. Trusting the gospel means that you have made the decision to rely completely on Christ's sacrifice on the cross as the full payment for your sins.
Psalms 2:12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Won't you make that decision to trust him right now? Receive the gift of God into your life -- don't wait! -- for none of us are guaranteed another moment of life on earth.
2 Corinthians 6:2b...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
If you have made that decision, you may want to pray to God to thank him for the gift of eternal life that he has provided for you. But remember that you are saved by trusting in the gospel, not by saying a prayer. God is concerned with the condition of your heart, not some words that you recite. If you want to thank God for this gift, but aren't really sure how to pray to him, you can use the following as a guide:
LORD, I know that I am a sinner. I know that, as a sinner, I deserve death. And I know that I cannot earn eternal life or work my way to heaven. But I believe that You shed your innocent blood, died on the cross, and rose again to pay my sin-debt so that I can have eternal life as a free gift through you. I have decided to trust in you as my Savior and receive that gift. Thank you for dying for me and for your free gift of eternal life by faith in your finished work alone. In Jesus' name, Amen.
If you have placed your trust in the gospel, you are now eternally saved! Nothing can change that!
Romans 8:38,39For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Bible says that you are now sealed with the Holy Spirit and are a member of the Body of Christ. No one, not even you, can now separate you from God's love. You can now know, based on the Word of God, that you have eternal life. And since you didn't do anything to earn eternal life, you don't have to follow any list of rules and regulations to keep eternal life.
Let me repeat the question I asked you at the beginning: Do you know where you will spend eternity?
Your answer can now be a resounding YES!
If you were to die right now and God were to ask you, "Why should I let you into my heaven?" You can now say with confidence based on the authority of the Word of God, "Because Christ died for my sins and I received Him by faith!"