This is the most important question you will ever consider in your life! Many never personally grapple seriously with their own personal salvation, getting distracted with life and all of its complexities; we strongly urge you to give this matter your immediate and full attention. It is the most wonderful and fulfilling decision you will ever make! In the privacy of your own world, we would be honored if you would take a few minutes and consider the simple and yet incredibly profound Biblical truths below. Please let us know your sincere thoughts, questions, and struggles with this issue; we would love to be a help to you in this most important area of your life.
First, it must be understood and accepted honestly that not everyone is a child of God; not everyone has been born into God’s family. Please note what Jesus Himself said to Nicodemus in John 3:3-5:
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Also read what He stated to the Jews in John 8:37-44:
I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
The fact that we, as human beings, are not all God’s children just because we are alive or because we are good people is clear. Thankfully, it is also clear that through Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for our sins, we all can become a child of God. As Jesus continued His discourse with Nicodemus, not only did He make him aware that he must be born again (which Jesus explains is spiritual birth), He also gives him the wonderful news that God so loved the world ... that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). That means that each and every person who has ever lived can be one of God’s children. This Biblical truth needs to be dealt with by everyone individually. In this light, please note this information carefully:
The Scriptures clearly teach that sin (as defined by God Himself and not man) causes spiritual and physical death. This first occurred in the Garden of Eden. The Lord told Adam and Eve that on the very day they disobeyed and broke His command (by eating of the forbidden tree) they would surely die. When they ate the forbidden fruit they immediately did die spiritually. At the same time, they also began to die physically. Their sin set a chain reaction in motion that has been passed on to all of mankind. Note Paul’s clear commentary on this truth in Romans 5:12:
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Spiritual and physical death is a reality in our lives because of sin. We must deal with the reality of sin in our lives. We have all personally broken God’s commands on some level and therefore, like Adam and Eve, are under the curse (penalty) of sin. We are spiritually dead. This Biblical truth is made clear throughout the pages of the Bible in many passages (i.e. Romans 3:23; I John 1:8). We cannot simply pretend that it is not true because God Himself has said it is. We can only begin to deal with our sin and its consequences when we first admit to ourselves that it is true--WE are sinful.
- God Himself made a plan to deal with the spiritual death of mankind. Sin must be dealt with and an atonement made. The atonement could not be made by one who was already spiritually dead (all of mankind); it had to be made by One who was not already under the curse of sin. That is why the story of God becoming man is such a wonderful and sweet story! Jesus took upon Himself humanity - God, became a man and did so without the baggage of sin. He (like the first Adam in the garden of Eden) had no sin in Himself and therefore was not under the curse of sin and was spiritually ALIVE!! While He walked upon this planet the scriptures are clear that (unlike the first Adam in the garden) He never sinned; see Hebrew 4:15:
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
When Christ went to the cross, He did so as a sinless sacrifice. He was still spiritually alive and had no sin of His own for which to die, therefore, He could die for ours.
It is also imperative to accept that death could not keep Him! Three days later He arose victorious even over death. Below are a few Bible passages that teach us this wonderful truth.
Isaiah 53:5-6: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Romans 5:6-8: For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
I Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: - To be spiritually born, we must individually and personally put our trust in the sacrifice that He lovingly made for us. We are not automatically forgiven and born into God’s family; we do not just magically become spiritually alive at some point or for some good deed. God’s Word gives us clear directions in this matter; they are:
- God Himself made a plan to deal with the “spiritual death” of mankind. Sin must be dealt with and an atonement made. The atonement could not be made by one who was already spiritually dead (all of mankind), it had to be made by one who was not already under the curse of sin. That is why the story of God becoming man is such a wonderful and sweet story. Jesus took upon Himself...humanity, God, became a man, and yet, He did so without the baggage of sin. He (like the first Adam in the garden of Eden), had no sin in Himself and therefore was not under the curse of sin and was “spiritually ALIVE!!” While He walked upon this planet the scriptures are very clear that (unlike the first Adam in the garden), He never sinned (Hebrew 4:15). When Christ went to the cross, He did so as a sinless sacrifice. He was still spiritually alive and had no sin of His own to die for, and therefore, He could die for ours. (It is important to see also that “death” could not keep Him, and that three days later He arose victorious even over death.) Note a few of the Bible passages that teach us this wonderful truth. Isaiah 53:5-6 / Romans 5: 6-8 / I Corinthians 15:1-4.
- To be “spiritually born,” we must individually and personally put our trust in the sacrifice that He lovingly made for us. We are not automatically forgiven and born into God’s family; we do not just magically somehow become spiritually alive at some point or for some good deed. God’s Word gives us clear directions in this matter we must follow.
They are:
- an acknowledgement of our own sinfulness and spiritual “deadness.”
- an acceptance of the biblical truth that Jesus actually paid for our sin when He died upon the cross... and rose three days later.
- an asking for forgiveness (based upon Christ’s payment) by a personal prayer directed toward God the Father Himself. (It should be stated that this prayer involves honest belief in the above truths as well as genuine belief that He will indeed forgive those who come to Him in sincerity and truth
- a decision to give your life to Christ over self.
Though these truths are woven throughout Scripture, one of the most well-beloved is found in Romans 10:8-13:
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If after you have prayerfully considered and understand that you have never personally trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, please do so today (and then tell someone who will rejoice with you)! If you have already personally accepted Christ’s gift of salvation, then you are forgiven - spiritually you have been born into God’s family, and are indeed spiritually alive! This means that the principles in God’s Word are available to you in very specific ways. How exciting to see what the Lord Himself has designed for our spiritual well-being!!
