But what does that mean, really?

It is important to understand your decision so that you can experience the fullest life that God has in store for you. The prayer you prayed brought about a huge change on the inside of you, but it was only the first step in a lifetime journey of following Christ.

1. Our Sin

We are all born with a sin nature. Because of our sin, we are unable to have a relationship with God without forgiveness.

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 3:23

2. God’s Gift

We can’t earn God’s forgiveness – it must be given. Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice so that we could be forgiven.

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Romans 5:8

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Ephesians 2:8-9

3. Our Response

We must accept this free gift from God by believing that we are sinful, that Jesus is our Savior and committing our lives to Him.

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

4. The Result

When we put our faith in Jesus to forgive our sins, we are immediately forgiven, we are considered God’s child & our relationship with God begins.

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

Part of that journey is becoming on the outside who we are on the inside; allowing the change we’ve experienced in our heart to be experienced in our lifestyle. As a child of God, we commit our lives to becoming more like Christ every day in our actions, words & obedience.

1. We Bring honor to God

Jesus died to save us and the greatest way that we honor Him is by living for Him. We never earn God’s love or forgiveness by our obedience, but it is the best way to thank Him for it.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Romans 12:1

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

2 Corinthians 5:15

2. We Bring Light to this World

This world is a dark place that is in desperate need of grace, love, mercy, and righteousness. When we live our lives for Christ, we influence those around us with the light and life that we found in Christ.

You are the light of the world.

Matthew 5:14