Are You Seeking Christ?

Someone has said we all have a God-sized hole in our hearts we are seeking to fill. Are you seeking a personal relationship with Christ but you aren’t sure how to go about it? You may find help in the letters, A—B—C.

A—Admit that you are a sinner

Sin is defined as separation from God. Since the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and the introduction of sin into the world, we have all been born into sin and have a sin-debt that must be satisfied. Until the sin-debt is paid we will continue to be spiritually separated from God. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23, NIV, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” which means we have all done things which are displeasing to God.

The punishment for our sin is being eternally separated from God. Romans 6:23, NIV, tells us, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God in His infinite love and mercy provides us a way of escape from the “wages of sin”. He sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8, NIV

Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He paid our sin-debt by willingly giving up His life for us on the cross. Jesus died in our place and was resurrected proving His death was sufficient to pay our sin-debt because through the cross He overcame both sin and death. “God made him who had no sin to be sin (or be a sin offering) for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV

B—Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and accept God’s gift of forgiveness from sin.

God grants forgiveness and salvation to all those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. By placing your faith in Jesus; trusting in Him as Savior; believing His death on the cross was sufficient payment for your sins, you will be saved. “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, NIV

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God offers us salvation as a gift. No amount of good deeds will ever save you; you cannot save yourself, it is a gift of God. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV

C—Confess your belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Romans 10:9, 10, and 13, NIV, tells us, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

There are no magic words to recite. Salvation is by grace through faith; God’s gift of grace, accepted because of faith in Jesus Christ. You must believe—you must believe sincerely and from the heart. Romans 10:17, NIV, says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

In Matthew 12:34, NIV, Jesus said, “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” You should and you will want to communicate your faith in Christ through prayer, praising and thanking God for His love, mercy, and grace. Thank Jesus Christ for paying your sin-debt in full and paving the way for your salvation.

You may wonder what next? Accepting Jesus as Lord is just the beginning of the faith journey. Strive to grow more and more in the likeness of Christ by following Christ’s example in baptism (Matthew 13:3); find and join a Bible-believeing, Bible-teaching church; where you can fellowship with other believers and grow in faith (Hebrews 10:25); also, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ through prayer (Romans 12:12) and Bible study (2 Timothy 3:16).

May God richly bless you as you pursue Christ daily and the abundant-full-life (John 10:10). May the knowledge of Jesus Christ; His character and His ways permeate your heart, your mind, your soul, your actions, and your attitude. AMEN.
(NIV=New International Version, ©2010, Biblica, INC.)