For anyone who isn't a Christian reading my blog, you might wonder how you can leave this earth in the Rapture of Jesus Christ. And even if the Rapture doesn't come and you live a long life, how are you guaranteed to go to Heaven when you die?
I'll tell you the hard truth right now. It has nothing to do with living a good life. God doesn't want your works -- so that no man may boast. God wants your faith.
People talk about being "born again" like it's a bad thing. But it's not. Do you know what it means? It means once you accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside your heart, making your body His temple. And once God lives in you, you are a new creation. The old has passed away, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
You begin to see the world through God-colored glasses, not sin-colored ones.
Fortunately for us, God put His entire Gospel into one Bible verse: John 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.
So what do you need to do to be saved?
#1.) BELIEVE. Believe that Christ is the Son of God, that He came to die for your sins and was raised from the dead on the third day.
#2.) REPENT. In order for Christ's blood to cover your sins, you must first admit you are a sinner. But repenting is more than admitting your faults. It's asking Christ to forgive you for them and then promising to turn away from your sins.
#3.) CONFESS. Tell someone! Don't keep it hidden in your heart. Most new believers confess their new faith in Christ by becoming baptized, which is a public proclamation of your faith. It symbolizes your "death" to your old life and your "rebirth" into your life with Jesus. But you CAN call up a Christian friend, find a church, send an email...
Once you do these things, that's IT!! God does the rest. How awesome is THAT?? It's called being covered by Grace, folks. It has NOTHING to do with whether or not you deserve Christ's blessing. Because the bottom line is NO ONE deserves it. I'm a sinner. Billy Graham is a sinner. St. Peter the Apostle was a sinner. We get in to Heaven ONLY by the Grace of God.
You see, when Christ died for you, His death was the substitute for yours. When you become a believer, then God takes your sin and puts them on Jesus' shoulders at the cross. In that way, when God looks at Christ on the cross, He sees YOU. But, when God looks at you, He sees the perfect life of CHRIST.
And that, my friends, is the Amazing Grace of our Awesome, Astounding, & Awe-Inspiring God!!
Hallelujah! \O/
Feel free to email me if you'd like to ask any question about your new Christian life. Welcome to the family! See you in the clouds!
becka_becks@yahoo.com
~~Becka
