Salvation to gain eternal life in heaven with God

When we lay claim to the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection but are not willing to pay the price of living a new life surrendered to God, we do not respond to God’s favor in the way that He requires us to. It was in relation to these people that Dietrich Bonhoeffer made his well known statement.

“The justification of the sinner in the world degenerated into the justification of sin and the world. Costly grace was turned into cheap grace without discipleship.” 

Jesus made it clear that the pathway to eternal life is a difficult one and there are few that find it. Just reading or saying a profession of faith without a change of heart does not  provide an assurance that a person is saved and on the narrow pathway to eternal life in heaven.

Although salvation is received only by faith, there is a cost of making the profession of faith from your heart which is reflected in a new life being lived. Salvation does not come through just saying a prayer from your mind, it comes through the recognition and repentance of sin (a turning away from it), true belief on the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a personal commitment to Jesus Christ to live a new life of obedience and separation to  God with new behaviors; and a changed heart which comes to God humbly in prayer seeking reconciliation to Him. True profession of faith is the full surrender of the person to Jesus Christ’s authority over their life.

If you are in a position where you want to make a profession of faith from your heart, considering the cost of making this commitment and walking on the narrow and difficult pathway, the following words will help you in seeking reconciliation with God.

Lord Jesus I believe that You came to earth and that You are the Son of God. I believe that You died on a cross for me and shed Your precious blood for me. I believe that You rose from the dead and are now seated at the right hand of God in heaven. I believe that You will return to earth to judge all people.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and am deeply sorry for my sins. Please forgive my sins, cleanse me with Your precious blood and save my soul. Thank you for giving me my life and I now surrender it to You. Please send the Holy Spirit to live inside me.

God in heaven, I believe that You are now my Father, Jesus my Saviour and the Holy Spirit my Comforter, Helper and Teacher. I believe that I am now spiritually alive to You, that Your Holy Spirit now lives in me and that I am Your child. I belong to You and no longer belong to Satan. 

I commit the rest of my life to you, I cast aside my old life and will now live a new life only for You. I want to increasingly know You, love You and be obedient to Your will. Not my will but Yours be done in my life. Amen

If you have truly prayed this prayer from your heart, God has heard it.  The evidence of your belief will appear in your life through new behaviors of turning away from sin, increasingly coming to know and love God and daily taking up the new life of obedience and commitment to Jesus Christ.  Carefully select and join a local church that will help and encourage you to live the new life for God.