For those who are exhausted from trying to measure up, and for those who have felt the weight of religious expectation, God has always been here, waiting to meet you exactly where you are. We must start with a gentle but firm truth: Salvation is a gift for us to rest in, not a wage for us to work for. In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Bible offers this sanctuary: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." This means we can finally stop striving to earn what He has already given. We cannot obtain this new life through our own effort, background, or by fixing ourselves first. It is a work of God alone, offered to us simply because He loves us. When Jesus said, "It is finished," He meant the heavy lifting had been done so that we could simply come home.
We don't seek the New Birth to get to Heaven; we receive the New Birth because we were made for God. Heaven is simply where we finally see clearly the One who has loved us all along.
Acknowledgment of Need: We must be honest about our condition. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Restoration begins when we stop hiding our brokenness.
The Sacrifice of Christ: Relationship is established because Jesus Christ paid the debt we could not pay. He died in our place so that we could live in His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The Response of Faith: We obtain this salvation by trusting in Christ’s finished work. John 1:12 says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."
If you are ready to begin this relationship and be made "inherently ready" for eternal life, you can settle this matter with God right now. Speak these words to Him from a heart of absolute honesty:
"Heavenly Father, I come to You today acknowledging my need for a Savior. I believe that You so loved the world that You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for my sins and that You raised Him from the dead to give me new life.
Right now, I put my trust in the finished work of Your Son. I ask that You send Your Holy Spirit to dwell within me, making me a new creation and sealing me for eternity. Thank You for the gift of salvation and for bringing me back into a relationship with You. I ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen."
If you have placed your faith in Christ, you have His word as your guarantee. 1 John 5:13 says: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." You don't have to wonder; you can be certain because God is faithful to His promise.