Salvation in Christ

Reality: "The quality or state of being actual or true."

Reality #1:

God loves you...He really does. He doesn't just love the whole world in some general, hands-off, vague sort of way. He loves you; Individually, personally, completely. And He wants to hang-out with you...spend time with you...know you...help you.

But there's a problem...

Reality #2:

Sin. Sin is a word that means "missed the mark." Archerers used the term to mean any shot that wasn't a "bullseye." I don't know about you, but I don't hit a bullseye with everything in my life. We're not perfect...and that means we have sin.

God, on the other hand, is perfect. He always hits a bullseye. He's what the Bible calls 'holy' (completely separate from sin). That means that even though He loves us and wants to hang-out with us...He can't! Our sin is in the way!

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

But there is a way...

Reality #3

Jesus. You've heard of Him. He's God...but He came to earth 2000 years ago as a baby (I know...I don't fully understand it either). God became flesh and blood so that you and I could always hang-out with Him. How's that?...

The Bible says that the penalty for our sin is death (Romans 3:23). But Jesus (being God) paid the penalty for us when He died on a cross...and then He rose from the dead three days later!!

The Bible says: "for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

But there's one more reality you need to know...

Reality #4

You need to want to be in a relationship with Jesus. You need to stop trusting in yourself to figure out your life and give your life over to Him. You'll never be good enough to earn a spot in heaven...but don't feel bad....we're all in the same boat.

Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6)

Jesus died for you...that's how much God loves you...you need to believe the reality instead of buying in to the illusion that you can be good enough on your own.

And you can ask Jesus to come into your life today...to forgive your sin...to begin living in reality: an awesome relationship with Jesus.

There no formula, no specific words you need to say. It could be something like this:

"Jesus, thank you for dying on a cross to pay the penalty for my sin. I'm tired of trying to live a good life on my own. I want to throw away the illusion and embrace reality. Please take over my life...lead me...and help me to follow...amen."

"This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in the Son. So, whoever has the Son has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life. My purpose in writing this is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion" (1 John 5:11-13)