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SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST

John 17:3 is Jesus’ prayer for His disciples just before His arrest and final hours before the going to the cross to die for the sins of the world.  In His prayer Jesus gives us what I think is the best definition of salvation and eternal life.  He says that eternal life or salvation is “knowing God”.  

The Greek word Jesus uses for “knowing” is not the word he would have used if He was talking about a head knowing or a knowing through the senses such as taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing.  But Jesus used the word for “knowing” that means a heart knowing or an intimate knowing.  I find it interesting that in the Old Testament, “knowing” was used in Genesis 4:1 to describe the intimate union between a husband and wife in love that produces a new life or offspring.  

Using that picture then we could understand salvation as the intimate union of God’s Spirit with our spirit that produces God’s life in us.  Salvation is “knowing God”, not just knowing about God.  It is a heart knowing; an intimate, personal, relational connection with God through and made possible only through Jesus Christ that produces eternal life or God’s life in us.  Then once this new life has begun, once this radical relationship has been established the Life of Jesus now dwelling within the believer begins to change us from the inside out.  Jesus’ life in us changes our social life, our priorities, our politics, our financial patterns, our worldview, our self image, and our future.  Salvation is just the beginning not an end.  It is the threshold of a great adventure that lasts for eternity.

Ok, now having said all that, how does one come to “know God” and receive the gift of God called salvation or eternal life?  Well, it is simple, so simple that a little child can receive it.  It is simply saying “yes” and answering God’s Spirit when He knocks on the door of your heart...like He may be doing right now for you.  There are tons of Bible verses to back up the easy steps but the simple mechanics of this spiritual “birth” are:

1. Confess your need for God to forgive you of your sins.

2. Believe that Jesus died for you and is your only hope for eternal life.

3. Receive God’s Gift by asking Him to come into your heart and save you just as He promised you He would.

4. Look to Jesus to be the Lord or Master of your life on a daily basis.

Some things that will help nurture this new life to grow in us is to get into a good Bible believing and preaching church; get into a Bible study or discipleship group of people who are wanting to grow in their faith too; get into the habit of attending church regularly and reading the Bible daily, even if just for a few minutes before work; and develop the habit of praying or talking to God daily and throughout the day.  

After all, God is in you and with you and will always be listening and talking to you because He loves you and wants you to grow up in this relationship with Him.  And just like a child learning to walk you won’t be able to run until you walk and you won’t walk until you stand and you won’t stand until you crawl...be patient and know that God won’t ever turn away from you if you should fall or stumble.  God is so pleased that you are learning and trying to walk with Him like a child.  

And again, call or write me if we can help you in any other way.