It’s Easter week – And most of us living in the USA know that Easter is more than bunnies, baskets, and egg hunts. But some of us might not want to admit that that’s as far as our knowledge goes. We might be able to speak that Easter is about Jesus, how He hung on the cross on Friday and resurrected on Sunday… But some may be wondering, especially on this Easter weekend, how does that translate into real life? What is “Being saved?” How can we receive “the Gift of Salvation?”
I found this beautiful definition of the seasons on Pinterest the other day:
So true! What can Easter mean to you this year? It can mean that once and for all, YOU belong to Jesus Christ… Loved, Redeemed, Forgiven, Secured. That’s what it means to “be saved”… to be saved FROM sin, self, destruction, and eternal separation from God, who loves you so!… to be saved TO a beautiful purpose, a clean slate, eternal security, and the sheer Peace and Joy that comes in not being the only one who cares about the details of your life. If this sounds good to you, then read on, my friends… 🙂
Do you wonder what it means “to be saved”? Or do you ever long to have that special connection with God through Jesus Christ that you hear me or others talk about? That special intimate relationship with Jesus can be yours, simply for the self-surrender that accepts the Blessing. Intimacy with Jesus and Eternal Life in Heaven belong to all who belong to Jesus.
Do you want to belong to Him? It’s as simple as A, B, C.
A = Admit
Admit to God that you are a sinner. Everyone of us has a problem that the Bible calls “sin.” Sin is refusal to acknowledge God’s authority over our lives. Every person who does not live a life of perfect obedience to the Lord is guilty of sin. The Bible tells us that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Since none of us is perfect, all of us are sinners (Romans 3:10-18).
The result of sin is spiritual death (Romans 6:23). Spiritual death means eternal separation from God. By God’s perfect standard we are guilty of sin, and therefore subject to the punishment for sin – which is separation from God. Admitting that you are a sinner and separated from God is the first step of repentance, which is turning from sin and self, and turning toward God.
B = Believe
Believe in Jesus Christ as God’s son and receive Jesus’ gift of forgiveness from sin. God loves each of us, and offers us salvation. Although we have done nothing to deserve His love and salvation, God wants to save us. In the death of Jesus on the cross, God provided salvation for all who would repent of their sins and believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
You might be thinking: After what I’ve done to grieve God… HOW could He willingly die in my place?
Romans 5:8 gives us the beautiful answer: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” While Jesus died on the cross, He was mocked, spit upon, and cursed. Yet He still cried out, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do…” (Lk 23:34) With deep love for you, Jesus died in your place… knowing every evil act, word, and thought you would commit. He loves you unconditionally – even to the point of death when you are/were at your worst!
Tell Jesus how you feel, tell Him that you believe Him, you believe Who He is, and you receive what He has done for you. Then ask Him to forgive your sins and to be Lord of your life. Give yourself – your heart, your life, your plans, your past, your future, your ALL to Him… and He will give back to you forgiveness, freshness, fulfilling love, and eternal life with Him!
John 1:12 promises us that “to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.”
C = Confess
Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. After you have received Jesus Christ into your life, share your decision with another person. Tell your pastor or a Christian friend about your decision. Tell me! 🙂 Then tell others of the freedom and forgiveness you have found in Jesus! Romans 10:9-10 says, “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.” Don’t keep the good news to yourself! Confess it and share it!
What’s next? How do I get that “intimacy with Jesus”?
*Grow in your relationship with Jesus by getting to know Him through His Word. “Eat” His word daily. Just as you need food to sustain your physical life, you need His Word to sustain your spiritual life. Start reading the Bible in the book of John. If you don’t have a Bible, you can find a ton of versions online at www.BibleGateway.com. Get to know Jesus and how much He loves you. When you read the Bible, don’t worry about what you don’t understand. Just obey what you do understand, and you’ll find that the Scriptures will come alive to you. You will also find yourself so very loved, and you will start to love Jesus. That’s the beginning of that beautiful intimacy with Him.
*Pray about everything. Nothing is too big or too small for God! Philippians 4:6-7 tells us
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s peace,
which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7. New Living Translation
*Find a church that teaches and preaches the Bible, and plant yourself in it. You will need the strength of the fellowship of other believers. They will bless you, and you will bless them.
{If you are in the Cleveland, MS area, we would love to have you join us at FBC Cleveland. This Easter we will be having our 11:00 AM Easter service at the Bologna Performing Arts Center! Come join us there!!! – Every other service is at FBC, 101 North Bolivar, Cleveland.}
*You should also now confess Jesus, your Savior, before others. Share about your new faith in Christ with your family, coworkers and those whom God has placed on your daily path. Who are you going to share Jesus with today?
Want more?
Click here to learn to study the Bible by yourself and for yourself – and how to start having a daily “quiet time” with Jesus.
Dear sister or brother, I absolutely can’t wait for you to see the difference that knowing Jesus intimately makes in your life!!! I am praying for you!
With love from your sister in Christ,
