The Good News of Jesus Christ

The good news of Jesus is that He loves you and He wants to have a relationship with you.

Jesus knows everything about you. He knows your name and how old you are. He knows the color of your eyes and the number of hairs on your head. He knows what you do, where you live, who you love, and how you feel. Jesus knows your thoughts—all of them—even the ones you wish He didn’t.

And He loves you.
You, specifically.

Jesus wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to shine His light into the dark places of your life, comfort you in your struggles, and set you free from the bondage of your sins. He wants to awaken your soul, soften your heart, and open your eyes to a better way to live. Jesus wants to save you and set you free.

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor,
today is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2b

To get saved means to receive God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus. This is often described as a process of accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior and turning away from sin to follow Him.

• Acknowledge your need for salvation: Understand that all people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from God and only by forgiveness of our sins can we be reconciled to God. Recognizing this need is the first step toward salvation.
• Believe in Jesus Christ: Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins and rose again. 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). Accept that Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for your sins and that through Him, you can have eternal life with God.
• Repent of your sins: Repentance means turning away from your sins and asking God for forgiveness. It’s a change of heart and mind that stems from the desire to live a life that is pleasing to God. Jesus preached, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (Matthew 4:17). Also, Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out (Acts 3:19).
• Confess Jesus as Lord: To confess Jesus as Lord means to openly acknowledge and declare that you want Jesus to be the ultimate authority in your life and to submit your life to His guidance, His love, and His will. 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).
• Receive Jesus into your life: Receiving Jesus means inviting Him into your life to heal your brokenness, transform your heart, and guide you toward a better way of living. Jesus says, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in (Revelation 3:20). 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).

To start this journey, you can sincerely pray a simple prayer like this:

Dear Jesus,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that my sin separates me from God.
I believe You died to pay the price for my sins and rose again, so I could be reconciled to God.
I need Your forgiveness, Lord.
Please help me to turn away from my sins and to live a life that is pleasing to you.
I want You to be the Lord of my life.
Please come into my life and transform my heart.
Help me to follow You and to live for You every day.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you truly believe this and open your heart to Jesus, you are now saved. Salvation is a gift from God, not something you can earn, but something freely given through grace. Once you’ve taken these steps, the Bible says three things happen:

1. Jesus (through the Holy Spirit) comes to live inside of you. He will help you, guide you, teach you, and comfort you throughout your life. (Acts 2:38; Ephesians 1:13)
2. Angels in heaven celebrate your salvation. (Luke 15:10)
3. Jesus prepares a place for you in heaven. (John 14:2)

You should celebrate too! Tell us or another believer that you have been saved and ask for prayer as you begin to grow in the knowledge of Jesus. Read the Bible as often as you can to learn more about your Savior. Pray and talk to God—He is always ready to listen! Join a community of believers so you can be discipled. Go and be baptized. (Galatians 3:26-27)

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