Then he said, “I tell you the truth unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:3
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” Acts 16:31
The fundamental of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and confession and repentance of sin is a decision to wholeheartedly serve God. A prayer of humility, lifelong dedication, and making the covenant vow to become a faithful follower of Jesus. We renounce our sins, receive baptism by water immersion, and begin our new life.
Faith, trust, obedience, prayer, and study of the scriptures in the Bible are the foundation and building blocks of our journey with Jesus. Daily we become transformed, possessing the Character of Christ–Sanctification [a lifelong journey of growing in righteousness]. Our righteousness is by faith. And for our unwavering dedication to God, He gives us unmerited love, grace, and mercies. Our destination is eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth if we fulfill our part in the Plan of Salvation.
God, the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the Trinity- Godhead. Following Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, we read, When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly, a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17. This is one of the few scriptures that mentions the three components of the Trinity, Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
As a young girl (age 5), I was taught that Jesus the Son of God died for us because sin makes us disobey and do wrong things. We pray every day, are obedient to God and our parents. And God will reward us by living forever in heaven. By that simple explanation and the innocent faith and trust in what my Mom taught me, I started serving God. Learning this simple prayer, “God is great, God is good, and we thank him for our food. Amen.” reinforced my childlike faith in God. When we love God, we keep His commandments and communicate with Him through prayer.
How did we end up in a complex maze regarding Salvation? Enter the greatest enemy of humanity, Satan, who tricks many into believing that serving God is complicated with intricate complexities. Let’s compare it to a maze. After many attempts, you finally guess the right path to the exit through logical deduction. Not so! We are never in a dilemma of confusion when we serve God. Why? Because we have a Teacher, the Holy Spirit, who provides us with 100% accurate discernment of the truth contained in the Holy Scriptures, which are God-breathed.
The Apostle Paul was a patient and spiritual mentor to the early Christians.
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:8-10
God is not a religion or denomination. He shows no favoritism toward any particular group of individuals with the exception of those that believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. Obedience is our highest form of worship to God. There are no good deeds, acts of kindness, or attempting to do the right thing, which will give us eternal life. Yes, faith without works is dead, but we can never work our way to heaven.
Falling in love with Jesus Christ provides a worry-free and peaceful life. Knowing that God can never make a mistake prevents us from experiencing negative consequences. No one else can boast that guarantee of a perfect outcome!
Pray often! Ask God to reveal your purpose and manner to witness to others through His Holy Spirit. Disciples always have the responsibility of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Because of technological advances, we can reach thousands of individuals, globally. Truly, technology is a blessing. Isn’t God good?
Prayer: God, many are only concerned about themselves. Holy Spirit, please give us direction along with a sense of purpose to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries
