Not about me.

To believe in Jesus doesn’t just mean to believe:

  • that He existed,

  • that He was a great person whose life and teachings have made a deep impact on the world,

  • that we acknowledge He was more than a mere man,

  • He was Son of God who came from heaven.

All of these things are true — but they aren’t enough to save us from our sins. Even the devil believes all these things about Jesus — but that doesn’t make him a Christian!

To believe in Jesus is to commit our lives to Him and to trust Him totally and completely for our salvation. But how does this work?

Imagine for a moment, there is a bridge in front of you that crosses a gorge. You know that it will hold you if you walk over it. But that doesn’t mean you believe.

When you walk over the bridge and entrust your life to crossing the gorge - that is believing. When you actually do something about it and walk across - that is faith!

The same is true with Jesus.

When you commit yourself to Jesus Christ and trust Him alone as your Lord and Saviour, you are praying a prayer of faith.

The Bible says that “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

You can pray this prayer. And have the peace of Jesus with you forever.

This is the sort of peace that many people strive for to have. People seek peace because there’s no lasting comfort or freedom in their lives. It’s like they are always unsettled. We can think of peace in three ways:

  • Psychological peace, the comfort within,

  • Relational peace, harmony among humanity,

  • Spiritual peace, which is between God and man.

The Bible explains that sin damages or wipes out our peace. At creation, humanity had peace with God, each other, and everything else. However, that peace was lost when choices of sin were made to turn against God. Peace can be restored, but we can’t do it alone. God provided a way.

Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, was sent to our world to take away our sins. He did so by allowing Himself to be crucified, and it was that sacrifice that made it possible for us to have peace again—peace within ourselves, peace with each other and peace with God.

But death was not the end for Jesus was resurrected which demonstrated that Jesus is God. It was also made clear that Jesus desires for everyone to have perfect peace.

“For He Himself is our peace, … and He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near” (Ephesians 2:14-17).

Jesus empowers each of us to overcome every type of sin. No matter how difficult your situation feels, Christ can break through it. Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me” (John 16:33). Therefore to have peace, we must know the One who can give peace. The issue is always our pride and our humility. The opportunity then is to surrender, and acknowledge our sin and commit our ways to Jesus. Entrusting ourselves Jesus is like crossing the gorge and entering and living in perfect peace.

So how does it work?

God loves us and wants us to experience peace and eternal life.

The Bible says:

"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 5:1

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16

"I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
John 10:10

What keeps us from having the life God planned for us?

Step 2 – The Problem: Our Separation from God

God created us in His image. He gave us a will and the freedom of choice; we choose to disobey Him and go our own way—which is called sin. This separates us from God.

The Bible says:

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

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23

Our choice to sin separates us from God. People have tried many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God.

The Bible says:

"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."
Proverbs 14:12

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."
Isaiah 59:2

No bridge reaches God... except one.

Step 3 – God’s Bridge: The Cross

Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave. When He did He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between us and God.

The Bible says:

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."
1 Timothy 2:5

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."
1 Peter 3:18

God has provided the only way back to Him. You must make a choice.

Step 4 – Our Response: Receive Christ

We must trust and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

The Bible says:

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

"If you declare 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

Which side are you on? The side with Christ or without Him?

Here is how you can accept Christ into your life:

  • Admit your need. (I am a sinner)

  • Be willing to turn from your sins. (Repent)

  • Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. (Be saved by faith)

  • Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive him as Lord and Savior)

We suggest a prayer like this one:

"Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen."