Clearing up a Common Misconception

Most people think that the Bible teaches that good people go to Heaven and bad people go to the awful place that the Bible calls Hell.  The truth is that the Bible teaches that no one is good (Romans 3:10,12) and that we all fall short of being good enough for Heaven (Romans 3:23).  The Bible teaches that we all deserve to pay for our own sins and that the penalty is eternal death (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:14-15).

The Good News

The good news is  that God loves you so much that He came to Earth in the form of a man (Jesus Christ - 1 Tim. 3:16) so that He could die on the Cross to pay the penalty that we all deserve to pay (Matthew 1:23; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 Peter 3:16).  And now that He has paid your way to Heaven, He offers you eternal life as a free gift (Romans 6:23b; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9).

It’s as Simple as ABC

You can receive this free gift of salvation right now by receiving Christ as your Savior (John 1:12).  You do this by:

A - Admitting that you are a sinner who can do nothing to save yourself.

B - Believing that Christ died for your sins on the cross.  (Acts 16:31)

C - Calling on Christ in prayer and asking him to save you.  (Romans 10:9-10, 13)

Would You Like to Receive Christ Right Now?

Obviously, reading or repeating a prayer cannot save you, God is looking at your heart.  However, if this prayer genuinely represents the cry of your heart, then we offer it as a sample prayer of how to call on Christ.

“Dear Jesus, I freely admit that I am a sinner, that I can do nothing to save myself, and that I deserve to be punished for my own sins.  I am genuinely sorry for my sins against you and I ask you to forgive me.  I believe that you were punished for my sins and that you died in my place upon the Cross and rose again.  So right now I ask you to come into my heart and be my Savior.   I give up all trust in my own good works or my own religion to earn my way to Heaven and I trust in you and you alone as my Savior.  Please give me a home in Heaven and take over my life, because I give it to you right now!  In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

What Now?

Here are some first steps for getting started right as a new Christian.

1. Thank Jesus for saving you and becoming your Savior.

2. Tell someone what Jesus has done for you.

3. Start reading the Bible every day. 

    (Start with the Gospel of Matthew or John and read at least a chapter a day.)

4. Start praying every day.

    (Prayer is just talking to God.  Just honestly share your heart.)

5. Find a good Church that believes the Bible.  We recommend Baptist.

    (If you live in our area, we would love to have you come as our guest this

     Sunday here at Rowland Road Baptist Church in Monroe, LA.)

6. Publicly confess your faith in Christ by baptism and join a local church.

7. Start living every day for Christ and tell others of His love.