How do I become a follower of Jesus?

 
What is the meaning of LIFE?
Does my LIFE have a purpose?
What does it look like to live LIFE to the fullest?
Does God care about my LIFE?
Can I have hope, joy, and peace in this LIFE?
Is there anything more to LIFE?
What does Jesus Christ have to do with my LIFE?

 

Using the word LIFE, you can find the answers to these questions based on God’s teaching in the Bible.

 L — Love – God loves you.

“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

God loves you and created you to be in relationship with Him forever.  He created you in His image (Genesis 1) so that you can know Him and be known by Him.

If God loves you and wants you to be in relationship with Him, what’s the problem?

 I — Isolation – Your sin isolates you from God.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23

Your sin causes you to fall short of God’s perfect and holy standards for your life.  As a result, you are isolated from God.

“For the wages of sin is death.”  Romans 6:23a

The penalty for sinning against God is death.  Because God is the source of life, your separation from Him ultimately leads to physical and spiritual death.\

Is there any way to overcome this isolation and restore your relationship with God? 

F — Forgiveness – God forgives us in Jesus Christ.

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”  1 Peter 3:18a

Because death is the price you owe for your sin, Jesus died in your place.  When you place your faith in Him as your Savior and Lord, God forgives you and your relationship with God is restored. 

E — Eternal Life – A right relationship with God results in eternal life.

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”  John 1:12

When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, God considers you to be in right relationship with Him as His child forever, and because God is the source of life, He gives you life forever.

Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  John 10:10b

Through Jesus Christ, you not only have an eternal relationship with God, but you also have a relationship with God right now.  Because of your relationship with God, you can begin to live an abundant life with purpose, meaning, joy, and hope right now.

 

All of this is possible only by God’s grace.  You do not deserve God’s love and forgiveness, and you cannot do anything to earn it.  No one and nothing but Jesus Christ can save you.  Your only hope is to put your faith in Him. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

John 14:6 – Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Are you ready to respond to God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ and receive life right now?

Your ABC’s can guide you. 

A—Admit

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19

Admit your sins to God.  Admit that you have disobeyed Him, fallen short of His perfect standards, and lived in a way that is displeasing to Him.

 B—Believe

“That 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.”  Romans 10:9 

Place your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord (the rightful leader of your life) and Savior (the one who saves you from the price of your sins by dying in your place so that you may be forgiven).  This act of belief means you trust fully in Jesus Christ alone to save you.\

C—Confess

“That 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.”  Romans 10:9

Confess your belief to God and to others.  You can confess your belief to God right now by praying a prayer similar to the one below.  This is the beginning of your new relationship with God, as you express to Him what you believe in your heart and mind. 

God, I admit to you that I am a sinner.  I believe that you sent Jesus who died on the cross and rose from the dead in order to pay the penalty for my sins.  I ask in Jesus’ name that you forgive my sins.  I place my faith in Jesus as my Savior, and I commit to live for Him as my Lord for the rest of my life.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

You should also confess this belief to other people.  If you know other Christians who would be excited about the decision you have made, call them right now.  If you know other people who do not yet trust in Jesus, now is a great time to tell them about what God has done for you and encourage them to trust in Jesus as well. 

Finally, we would love to celebrate your decision with you at First Baptist Mount Juliet.  Please call us at (615) 754-2525 or email us.  We welcome you into God’s family and would also love to welcome you into our church family.  If it is not possible for you to join our church family at First Baptist Mount Juliet, we encourage you to join the church family of another Bible-based church that exalts Jesus Christ as the only Lord and Savior.

If you still have questions about trusting Jesus, please call or email us at First Baptist Mount Juliet.  You can also visit www.gotlife.org.