How Jesus Saved Me

When I believed Jesus was God I entered the church and joined with the others who were trying their best to live by Christian principles as taught in the Bible. But pride and boasting, among other sins, could not be rooted out. My premise had been to follow the teachings of the church and forsake the ways of the world, but in my own effort I could find no way to deal with my shortcomings.

The first indication that something was wrong was after the initial 2 years in the church, in which time I stopped drinking and smoking, there was no further change. If you have a living relationship with the living God there should be growth, where there's root there's fruit. Secondly, I was following a rule book rather than following the Savior Himself who wants you to be a devoted servant and friend. He is the Head and we follow Him no matter what, because we have committed ourselves to a person. Do you have a relationship with Jesus or are you just trying to be a good person doing the best you can?

If you'll admit that you have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, Jesus "who knew no sin" wants to heal the broken relationship between you and the Father and usher you into His presence, which only He is able to do. In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". For it says in 1 Corinthians 5:23, "God has made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him". Having confessed our sin and received Jesus as our forgiver we must also receive Him as our leader.

As the discussion in John chapter 8 reveals, if we continue to walk in ways that are opposed to Him and His atoning death for our sins, we cannot claim to know God. It says there that if we walk unrepentantly we are showing that we are not God's children at all. You see, in John chapter 1, it says that "to all who received Him He gave the right to become the children of God", that means walking just as Jesus did as God's Son, but you'll have to sacrifice your own life to truly become a child of God. However, Jesus provides both direction and guaranteed success, though we must yield our will to His and surrender our lives to His agenda. After accepting Christ's forgiveness I've had to work my salvation, sometimes with great difficulty.

If you're not sure that Jesus is God, or claimed to be God, please follows this Is Jesus God? link for a brief discussion on a portion of John chapter 8. Is there any reason why you shouldn't receive Jesus as your Savior right now? If not then bow your head and tell Him that you have sinned and receive Him now as your Forgiver and Leader. Having done this be sure to tell someone what you have done, because it says, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved", Romans 10:9.

Maybe you still think believing in Christ and going to heaven really means being a good person and doing what's right. But think again because what faith is really all about is sinners receiving a free gift from God, which is forgiveness of sins. Can you earn a free gift? Maybe you can pay someone for the gift they give you? No, you simply receive it and keep it for it is now yours.

If this is what you think then please consider this Bible verse (Ephesians 2:8-10), "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them". You see, if it is then a gift, no amount of work can merit it, because it is received solely on Christ's merits. And further more, having once received it, never let it go, but rather let go of your earthly life here first, because faith is what God requires. Why not pray now and receive Christ today?