Invitation to Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior The Good News of Jesus Christ I want to share with you the most important message you’ll ever hear.
This message is about the good news of Jesus Christ—the foundation of the Christian faith and the beginning of a relationship that can transform your life.

Understanding the Gospel: The Romans Road

1. Recognizing Our Need for Salvation (Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The Bible clearly states that every person has sinned. Sin is anything that goes against God’s will—whether in thought, word, or action. This sin separates us from God, creating a brokenness in our lives that we cannot mend on our own. Recognizing this truth is the first step toward understanding our need for salvation.

2. Understanding the Consequences of Sin (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The consequence of sin is spiritual death— eternal separation from God. This is not just a physical death, but a life apart from God’s goodness, now and forever. However, God offers us a free gift: eternal life through Jesus Christ. This gift cannot be earned; it is given to those who turn to Him in faith.

3. God’s Love Demonstrated (Romans 5:8) “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Despite our sin, God’s love is so great that He sent Jesus to take our punishment. Jesus died on the cross in our place, paying the price for our sin. Through His resurrection, Jesus offers us victory over sin and death, showing the depth of His love and the power of His salvation.

4. Responding to God’s Offer (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.” Salvation is not automatic; it requires a response. The Bible calls us not only to believe in Jesus but also to repent. Repentance means turning away from sin—acknowledging our wrongs and desiring a change of heart. It’s a genuine sorrow for sin and a decision to live differently, with Jesus as Lord of your life. True repentance leads to transformation, as you no longer live for yourself but for God. When you confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved—not just from sin’s penalty but also from its power.

A Prayer to Begin Your Journey

To truly accept this gift of salvation, there must be a turning point—a decision to repent, which means changing your mind and heart about sin and surrendering
to God’s will for your life. This is not about being perfect but about letting go of the life you once knew and stepping into a new life with Christ.

If you’re ready to take that step, you can pray this simple prayer of repentance and faith:

Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, in desperate need of Your grace. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and that You rose again, defeating death and offering me eternal life. I repent of my sins—I turn away from them and surrender my life to You. I ask You to come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Lead me and guide me as I begin this new life in You. Help me to walk in obedience to Your will and grow deeper in my faith every day. Amen.

Next Steps for Your New Journey

1. Get Baptized: Baptism is an important step of obedience and a public declaration of your faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself commanded us to be baptized, and it symbolizes the death of your old life of sin and your resurrection to new life in Christ.1 Baptism is an outward expression of the inward change that
has taken place in your heart. If you haven’t been baptized yet, I encourage you to speak with a pastor at your local church and take this step of obedience.

2. Connect with a Local Church: As a follower of Christ, it’s important to gather with other believers for worship, teaching, and fellowship. A local church can provide you with support, encouragement, and opportunities to grow in your faith. The Bible encourages us not to walk this journey alone but to build relationships with others who are on the same path.

3. Join a Small Group or Bible Study: Surround yourself with other believers who can encourage you, pray with you, and help you grow in your faith. Many churches offer small groups or Bible studies where you can connect with others who are on a similar journey.

4. Pray Regularly: Prayer is simply talking with God. It’s a way to build your relationship with Him, share your heart, and listen for His guidance. As you continue reading this book, you’ll discover more about the power of prayer—not only praying with your understanding, using words you know—but also the
idea of praying with your spirit. This deeper form of communication with God is something the Bible refers to as praying in the Spirit. It’s a gift that can strengthen your relationship with God and can be received by faith. Don’t worry if this is new to you—it will be explained in more detail later in the book as part of SPIRIT PRAYER, where you’ll learn how praying in both ways can deepen your connection with God.

You don’t have to walk this journey alone—God is with you every step of the way, and so are other believers who are eager to support and encourage you.

1. Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 6:4 “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
2. Hebrews 10:25 “Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”