I don’t doubt that anyone who hasn’t heard much about Christianity has little idea of their need for salvation. The above scripture outlines that need in no uncertain terms. To receive forgiveness of your sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit you need to repent (turn back from sin), and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.
In other words you have a debt of sin that is owing to the creator God, Yahweh Elohim and you need to repent of that sin and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for that debt to be paid in the account of Jesus Christ. An account opened when Christ Jesus bore the sins of all men, and women ,on the Cross at Calvary.
Your debt can only be paid through the account of Christ Jesus when you agree to repent asking forgiveness of your sins from Jesus while believing that He, your precious Saviour, bore your sins on the Cross paying your sin debt. When your acceptance of Jesus’s redemption is enacted the Holy Spirit comes into your heart and God makes His place in your life.
This is often done in conjunction with the action of baptism which symbolises death to sin in the death of Jesus and resurrection into the newness of life in His resurrection. In immersion baptism which is symbolic of ritual cleansing. As the person being baptised kneels forward under the water this is symbolic of death to the old self and as they are raised above the water this symbolises resurrection into the newness of life in Jesus Christ. A new being.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Every member of mankind is born into sin. Sin permeates mankind and leads to unrighteousness which separates us from God. In many ways sin is like a virus and it is definitely the one item that God will not tolerate. Before God the consequence of our sin ought to be death. So, we as fallen persons are all due a guilty judgement and the penalty of death.
However, God has provided a way for us to evade the penalty of death through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus took on Himself, as our sinless Saviour, the penalty of that sin for all men. He bore our sin unto death in his crucifixion and death and gave the gift of eternal life to all who believe on him (Jesus Christ), in His resurrection.
Romans 10:9 “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
It comes back to you the sinner and your decision about the need to repent and turn from that sin. Will you believe on Jesus Christ? Will you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Will you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead that you by believing the gospel will be resurrected also.
By believing on Him will you be saved? Will you take to yourself and your family the free gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ? Are you sure of your salvation? Have you realised that your sins separate you from God and the consequence will be the eternal death. The second death with the final outcome of eternal separation from God and effectively eternal death forever.
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Will you not make Christ Jesus your Lord and Saviour? We speak of eternal life and the afterlife in the Kingdom of God. But what of the righteous life of the Christian who is saved and redeemed in the Saviour, the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ?
Would you be the believer who has been crucified with Christ. As the apostle Paul said “It is no longer I the live, but Christ that lives in me.” So if Christ lives in you what will you do as a Christian. Who will you be as a Christian.
In 1 John 1 verse 9 the apostle John says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” To be in Christ is to repent of all of our sins. It is to allow the Holy Spirit to live in out hearts on which He will write God’s Law and there reveal the nature of Christ in us.
The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” So anyone in Christ even in this life is a new creation. The old unrighteous life is done away with and the newness of life is yours if you believe on the only begotten Son of God. Jesus Christ.
Will you repent of your sins in the name of Jesus Christ. Will you be baptised in His name. The name above all names. He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. All things were created for Him and by Him. He loved you so much that He died for you when you were yet a sinner. Will you not hear his call and turn from your sins? Will you not believe on Jesus Christ? Will you not receive eternal life?
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