Foundations of the Faith: Day 2

Foundations of the Faith: Day 2SALVATION

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Initiation into Salvation

A few years after the resurrection of Jesus, the writer of Acts tells the story of a jailer who was very frightened because there had been an earthquake and he thought some of his prisoners were escaping. Two of them, Paul and Silas, were followers of Christ.

Paul and Silas quickly assured the jailer that no prisoners were getting away. Then the jailer, seeing that God had worked a miracle, asked how he could be saved. The answer the believers gave him was very simple. It is found in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." So the first step that must be taken to enter salvation is to believe in the Lord Jesus.

In what way must we believe? Again the Bible has the answer. It says that we must accept Him as our Lord and Savior, and depend on Him to take us to heaven.

"These have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in him you may have life" (John 20:31).

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we must also turn from sin. We must repent and ask God, for Jesus' sake, to forgive us and make us clean. If we ask Him to do this, we must also trust that He does forgive and cleanse us. Remember I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing."

This acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior is done simply by talking to Him as you would to a friend. If you have never taken this step, just tell God that you want to accept the forgiveness He offers.

Perhaps you could say in your own words something like:

"Dear Father, I recognize that I am a sinner.
I'm sorry for my sin and ask Your forgiveness. Cleanse me and keep me from all wrongdoing. I accept the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus who died for me.
I take Him now as my Lord and Savior. Thank You. Amen."

Once you have sincerely prayed this, you can trust that your sins are forgiven! You can praise and thank God that you belong to Him, that you are His child.

Memory Verses

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