We often hear that all it takes is “faith” in leading the Christian life. While all of us have a basic idea of what faith is all about, I wanted to use the word “faith” as a simple reminder of what God expects of us in accepting His son, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
“F” means to face the fact that we are sinners and without Jesus we have no hope of reconciling with God. Romans 3:23 tells us “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (NIV)
“A” means we have to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that Jesus was crucified on a cross, was dead and buried, and on the third day He arose from the grave alive. This completed God’s plan for creating the way for us to rebuild our relationship with Him. It means accepting that Jesus paid our personal sin debt. John 3:18 says “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (NIV)
“I” means we must increase our knowledge and understanding of God’s word. To do this we have to study the Bible and spend time with those who have matured in their spiritual walk with God. 2 Peter 3:18 tells us” But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (NIV)
“T” means we have to trust that God is in control of our lives and the world around us. There will be events that occur in our lives that we will not understand but we have to rely upon God and His will to get us through those times. The human mind cannot even begin to comprehend the magnitude and awesomeness of the Living God! That is why it is so incredibly important to surround yourself with people who share your “faith” so that you have a support system in place when those difficult times arrive. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (NIV)
“H” means we have to hold on to God’s hand even when it is not easy or accepted by the world around us. We have to hold to His promises, letting go of our sinful past and looking ahead to being a productive servant of our Lord. Philippians 3:12-14 says “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Jesus Christ took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior then you simply need to pray something like this:
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and have displeased You in many ways. I believe You died for my sin, and only through faith in Your death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I want to turn from my sin and ask You to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day on, I will follow You by living a life that pleases You. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen.
Accepting Jesus Christ is just the beginning of a wonderful journey with God! You can get to know Him better in a number of ways:
- Follow Christ’s example in baptism.
- Find a fellowship of Believers where you can worship God and grow in your faith.
- Get involved in Sunday School and Bible study.
- Find someone to be a Christian mentor for you. Someone who is willing not only to teach and counsel you but will guide you in your growth as a Christian.
- Begin a daily walk with God where you study the Bible and pray. Make it a priority in your daily activities to set aside time for you and God.
We would love to hear about your decision to follow Christ or if you have other questions please don’t hesitate to contact us!