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God created you to have a relationship with you. He loves you. He wants you to know him personally, not just know about him. He wants to be a powerful presence in your life. But how can you know the all-mighty, invisible God? In John 14:6, Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." That is the answer: Through the Son. we know the Father. Knowing Jesus will change your life, transforming it from a life that ends in death to an everlasting life. You'll also notice gradual changes in your life as Jesus strengthens you against sin and asks you to live by his will.

You may not recognize it, but your wrong moral choices (called sin) have condemned you to a spiritual death (eternal separation from our Holy God). Jesus, who had no sin, chose to die to pay for your sins. When you recognize your sinful condition and accept by faith Jesus' death as payment, you receive life, which is eternal. Receiving this free gift of salvation is as simple as saying, "Jesus, I acknowledge my sin and your payment for it on the cross. I now ask you to forgive me and I willingly give my life to you." At that very moment, he will come into your innermost being and start you on a wonderful journey of intimacy with God.

Another way to explain this is through a step-by-step "path of salvation" approach. Many people find this sort of process helpful as they consider the important decision to give their life to Jesus. Here is a brief four-step system explaining that all people need the Lord, how to go about making that decision and key Scripture passages supporting each statement.

FIRST
Realize that everyone needs to be saved. No one is good enough; all are guilty of breaking God's law in some way and, therefore, already condemned and sentenced.

Romans 3:19-20
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

SECOND
Understand that there is hope in Christ. An eternal relationship with God does not come by keeping laws or being good, but only through faith in Christ. All have sinned, but anyone who receives Christ can be forgiven and accepted by God.

Romans 3:21-25
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood--to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While, we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

THIRD
Know that God forgives and accepts unconditionally anyone who believes in Christ.

Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

FINALLY
Trust Christ in your heart and confess him as Lord with your mouth.

Romans 10:9-10
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. 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.

Repeat aloud this prayer (or something similar -- what you mean is what matters, not the exact words you use)
I thank you heavenly Father, for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross and pay the penalty for sin. I now believe in him and accept him as my Lord. Thank you that I am saved in him.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

Other helpful passages relating to the topic of salvation:

Luke 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men came up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'" But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

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

John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

John 5:24
"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."

John 20:31
"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

Acts 10:43
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name

2 Corinthians 6:2
For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Revelation 3:20
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

NEXT
You may be wondering what kinds of practical steps you might take as you consider a relationship with God. Consider the following:

- Ask God to reveal himself to you if you're not sure he's there.
- Talk to people who display a genuine relationship with God--those who obviously love him.
- Spend time enjoying God's creation.
- Listen to the stories of older people who have walked with God for a long time.
- Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. You can trust God's "gentle whisper" to give you direction.
Ask him for wisdom and understanding.
- Read what other believers have said about Christianity. Ask your Christian friends for a list of
authors who have inspired them in their walk with God.
- Write down your questions, including those that arise as you read the Bible, and take them to a
trusted pastor, youth pastor, mentor or friend who can help you look for answers.
- Be aware that moments of doubts and questions are normal and legitimate as you get to know
God.
- Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings during your search for truth.

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