"For God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"In this new life one's nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant, such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and He is equally available to all." (Colossians 3:11, Living Bible).

God loves us regardless of who we are, what we have done or our social standing. God created us to live in a relationship of love with God. We, however, broke that relationship by sin. Still, God continues to love us and pursue us. God is like a shephard who searches the countryside for one sheep that gets lost (Luke 15:3-8).

Every person in the world can say, "I am loved by my creator. The proof is the Cross where Jeasus died for me."

2: FROM SIN TO SALVATION.

(a) We must admit that we are a sinner -

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of god" (Romans 3:23).

"Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin" (James 4:17).

" If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8).

(b) We must realize that we Cannot Save Ourselves -

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; It is the gift of God - not the results of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

(c) We must acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Only Savior -

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

(d) We must Receive Christ by Faith as our Savior -

" But to all who receive him, who believe in his name, He gave power to become children of God" (John 1:12).

RECEIVING CHRIST is more than believing that Christ was a real person. It is even more than believing Christ to be the Savior of the world. We receive Christ as we repent of our sins (that is turn from our sins), ask Christ to forgive our sins and make Christ the leader of our life. It is making Christ the "Chairman of the board," the "Head Coach," the "Executive Officer" of our life.

If you would like to receive Christ as your Savior and Lord, here's a prayer that you may pray:

"Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. Forgive me. Come into my heart and take control. As evidence of my faith in You, I thank you now for giving me salvation. Amen."

3: GOD'S WORD AND SPIRIT BRING ASSURANCE.

Witness of the word:

"listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me" (Revelation 3:20).

Jesus makes a promise - that He will come into our lives if we open the door. Jesus keeps His promises. Having asked Him to be our Savior, we know He is in our hearts because He said He would be. OUR ASSURANCE IS NOT BASED ON FEELINGS, BUT ON JESUS' PROMISES!!

Witness of the Spirit:

"It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:16).

For John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, this witness came at a meeting on Aldersgate Street, London. He wrote: "....about a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart, through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for my salvation: and an assurance was given to me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." (Wesley's Journal, May 24, 1738).

For some, this inward confidence comes gradually. For others, it is a sudden discovery at the moment of faith. For some it is a very emotional experience, for others its a quiet warming of the heart. However it happens -- EACH OF US CAN HAVE ASSURANCE THAT CHRIST IS IN US AND WE ARE IN CHRIST.

If you desire a greater assurance that Christ is your Savior and Lord, here is a possible prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I trust my life to you as my Savior and Lord. On the authority of your word I claim the assurance that you have forgiven me, and you are now in me. As evidence of my faith in you, I thank You now. Amen."

4: LOVE IS THE FRUIT OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

Jesus said:

"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13: 34-35). We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another " (1 John 3:14).

"Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8).

IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO MAKES LOVE POSSIBLE

Paul wrote,

"...God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given us" (Romans 5:5).

"...the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and self control" (Galations 5:22).

As we give the control of our lives to the Holy Spirit, He gives us a heart of love and enables us to express true love in all our relationships.

Do you need to give the controls of your life to the Holy Spirit, so that you live in the power of His Love? Here is a prayer which you may want to pray:

"Lord Jesus, I want your love to dominate my life and to be expressed in all my actions and relationships. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Empower me to love as You Loved me. As evidence of my faith in you, I thank you now. Amen."

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; everything has become new!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

YOU ARE NOW FREE TO LIVE THE WONDERFUL NEW LIFE CHRIST HAS FOR YOU!!

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