How To Accept Jesus As Your Savior
Accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior is the most important decision you can make in life. If you’re wondering how to invite Jesus into your heart and life, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: You accept Jesus by sincerely praying to Him, confessing your sins, committing to follow Him, and declaring Him as the Lord of your life.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through what it means to accept Christ, why you should do it, what the Bible says about salvation, and provide a step-by-step prayer to accept Jesus as your Savior and begin your journey of faith.
What It Means to Accept Jesus
Acknowledging You Are a Sinner
The first step in accepting Jesus as your Savior is recognizing that you are a sinner in need of salvation. The Bible teaches that all people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Admitting your sinful nature and specific sins you have committed is essential.
God promises that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9). Be honest with yourself and God about the areas of weakness and temptation in your life.
Believing Jesus Died For Your Sins
In addition to admitting your need for a Savior, you must believe that Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for your sins. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
When Jesus died and then rose again, he conquered sin and death on our behalf. If we put our trust in him, we can be forgiven and have a relationship with God.
Confessing & Repenting of Your Sins
Confession involves both an acknowledgment of sin and a decision to turn away from that sin. First John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
True repentance involves a change of heart and a change in behavior. We commit to actively fighting temptation and saying no to sinful actions, words, thoughts, and attitudes. This is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.
Making Jesus Lord of Your Life
Part of surrendering your life to Jesus means yielding control to him and recognizing his lordship. Philippians 2:9-11 declares that one day “every knee should bow” and “every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord”.
If he is your Lord, that means you choose to obey his teachings and submit to his authority over your life. Romans 10:9 says, “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.”
This doesn’t mean perfection, but rather a heart submitted to the transforming work of Christ in you.
Why You Should Accept Christ
For the Forgiveness of Sins
Accepting Jesus provides the opportunity for forgiveness and cleansing of our sins (1 John 1:9). When we confess our sins and put our faith in Christ, God forgives us completely due to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
We all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), but thankfully our merciful Father offers us redemption through His Son. As it says in Ephesians 1:7, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God’s grace.”
For a Personal Relationship with God
Coming to faith in Jesus enables us to connect personally with God – to communicate with Him, feel His presence, hear His guidance for our lives. Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Only through Christ can we have this close friendship with the Lord. God loves us immensely and desires an intimate father-child bond with each of us. Accepting His Son as our Savior allows that relationship to blossom to its full potential.
For Eternal Life in Heaven
By receiving Jesus, we gain the promise of eternal life with God in paradise. As Christ declares in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. “ What an awesome blessing!
Our earthly lives are merely a vapor compared to the timeless glory we can share in heaven with the Lord. The trials of this world become insignificant compared to the joy ahead for those who accept God’s free gift of salvation through His Son.
What the Bible Says About Salvation
We Have All Sinned
The Bible clearly states in Romans 3:23 that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This means that every human being has disobeyed God’s perfect standard and is in need of salvation.
Jesus Died to Pay the Penalty for Our Sins
Even though we are all sinners, God still loves us deeply. This is why He sent his Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins (John 3:16). Jesus lived a sinless life and willingly took our place on the cross, shedding His blood for the forgiveness of sins (1 Peter 2:24).
We Must Believe in Christ to be Saved
The Bible teaches that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot earn salvation on our own through good works. Ephesians 2:8-9 proclaims: “For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” When we place our trust in Christ, we receive the gift of eternal life.
Salvation Comes by Grace Through Faith in Jesus
Although we don’t deserve salvation, God still chose to provide it to us freely through Christ. This salvation cannot be earned, but only received by God’s grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). When we turn from our sins and believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, we experience the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit and become new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Bible makes clear that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12).
How to Accept Jesus Step-by-Step
Step 1: Admit You Are a Sinner
We are all sinners who fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23). The Bible teaches that sin separates us from a holy God (Isaiah 59:2). To restore that relationship with God, we must confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.
The amazing news is that Jesus already paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross. His death provides a way for us to be forgiven and reconnect with God.
Step 2: Believe Jesus Died for Your Sins
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus died in our place, taking the punishment that we deserve for our sins. When we place our trust in Him, we can be freed from guilt and condemnation.
Believe that His sacrifice is sufficient to remove your sins.
Step 3: Confess Your Sins to God
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). Come before God with humility and honesty. Admit the ways you have fallen short, sincerely repenting. He promises to forgive you when you confess your sins.
Step 4: Ask Jesus to Come Into Your Heart
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20) Invite Jesus into your life to be your Lord and Savior. There is no special prayer, but you can talk to God in your own words.
Ask Him to forgive you, change you, and be the center of your life.
Step 5: Commit Your Life to Following Jesus
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23) Accepting Jesus is just the first step. A relationship with God grows as we spend time reading the Bible, praying, worshipping, and being part of a community of believers.
Determine each day to follow Him and become more like Him.
Conclusion
Accepting Jesus into your heart is the starting point for an incredible journey of faith. If you earnestly pray the prayer to receive Christ, repent of your sins, and make Him the Lord of your life, you can be assured of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life with God in heaven.
This life-changing decision is the best one you’ll ever make. Welcome to the family of God!
