Follow Jesus

Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. 

You probably have an opinion about Jesus. Maybe you think He’s a great teacher or a prophet. Maybe you think He didn’t exist at all. Whatever you believe, we can probably agree that Jesus changed things. We believe He wants to change you too, and that he’s paved the way back to God for you. Jesus himself said:
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. John 14:6
Trusting Jesus as the way to God is not an exclusive path to God, it’s completely inclusive. No matter who you are, what you’ve done, no matter where you were born or the colour of your skin, Jesus is the way for you to have a relationship with God. Everybody’s invited. Everybody’s included. Everybody’s important. If you think you’re an exception to the rule, you’re wrong. 

Jesus loves you. Yes...you.

So how do you actually become a Christian?
You just have to take a few simple steps. Look at what the scriptures say:
If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,‘ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

That’s it! Confess with your mouth. Believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord...that God raised him from the dead, and your sins are forgiven and your relationship with God is begun. Do that, and you’re a Christian.

But you’re probably thinking, “Don’t I have to be a better person first?” No, you don’t. You don’t change in order to gain God’s love, you change because you’ve experienced his love.

When you trust Jesus as your Saviour, you walk into the fullness of God’s love. Gradually, over time, God’s love changes you as you follow Jesus. You change because you’re loved, not in order to be loved.

Through His death on the cross, and then coming back from the dead, Jesus took all of your wrong and gave you all of His right.

If you believe that and commit to following Him, your life will never be the same. It’s as simple as repenting of your sin, declaring you want to follow Jesus, and believing He is who He says He is.

Believing in Jesus is the first step on the greatest journey of your life. You haven’t finished the race—you’ve just gotten started.

Read Your Bible

So you want to get to know God. But how? Great question. Start praying (talk to God and approach him in Jesus’ name...God hears you...really!). But prayer really comes alive when you pair it with reading your Bible. You can’t have a close relationship with someone you never talk to. It’s impossible. God’s word—the Bible—is the primary way He speaks to us. And it’s the absolute best way to discover how to follow Jesus on a daily basis. If you want to know more about God and His promises, reading the Bible is your next step. You can download the YouVersion bible app for free for your phone or tablet.