How to begin a personal relationship

with Jesus Christ

I had just about everything a young man would want…friends, good health, girls, free education, playing collegiate baseball, a vehicle, spending money, etc. Yet, in the midst of all this, something was missing in my life. I looked to these “things” to fill this emptiness and meet the deepest needs of my heart. Whether it lasted a night, a week, or a year, the temporary so-called satisfaction would fade, leaving me emptier than before. It was then as a sophomore in college at Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM that I was presented with the answer to what was missing in my life. Two men came to our dormitory to share Jesus Christ. At first I thought they were crazy, as back then I thought “religion” was completely irrelevant to my life and I sent them away, unwilling to listen to them share the Gospel. The emptiness in my life continued, and again, those Christians just “happened” to visit my dormitory room weeks later. This time though, I let them talk to me. They shared the good news of Jesus Christ with me! As they talked, something within me knew in an intangible way that what they were saying was the ultimate truth. I knew that I needed to receive Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord if I wanted to have the emptiness taken away, the guilt removed, and fear of death and hell done away with. They left a little booklet with me that said the following:

1. God loves us and has a plan for our life.
   • Life here on earth and eternally in heaven.
   • “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
2. We are cut off from and outside of God’s plan for our life.
   • We have all sinned, which means we have thought, said, and done things less than perfect. Our sin separates us from God in this life, and if we die in this state of sin separation, we are eternally separated and enter judgement and hell.
   • “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
3. Being accepted and forgiven by God is a gift of grace and mercy, not by our human works and efforts.
   • Having our sins forgiven and receiving eternal life is NOT something we can earn or attain based on our own “goodness” by our good works or our good religious activities. It is only through the grace and mercy of God we can have our sins forgiven. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
   • The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to have our sins forgiven and the ONLY way to connect us into a personal relationship with God! Jesus Christ was God in human form…God with skin and hair. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:1,14).
   • Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to heaven! Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
4. Receiving Jesus Christ
   • Our choice is to receive or to reject Jesus Christ! Jesus said in John 3:16, “…that whoever believes.” 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.” It is our decision to say yes or no to Jesus Christ! I said yes, and I hope and pray that you too will say yes to Jesus!

A few days went by. One night I re-read the booklet those two men gave me. Then I deliberately chose to apply what the booklet said. I received Jesus Christ that night as my Savior and Lord! I was even under the influence of alcohol when I was “born again.” Yet, it was real. I woke up the next day with a slight hangover, but I knew something was different. What a journey it has been since then!

Perhaps you, at this very moment, are sensing the same emptiness and fears I had back then. If so, would you like to find out who you really are and enter God’s plan for your life? This can happen right now if you will, by faith, open your life to Jesus Christ. He will enter your heart, remove the weight of sin on your conscience, fill the emptiness, and give you 100% confidence that you will go to heaven, not hell, when you die. This is what a person must do to know Jesus Christ in a personal relationship. But, you have to truly mean this not just in your mind and emotions, but deep down in your will. If you really mean it, here is how you too can accept Jesus Christ:

1. Repent: “Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19). To repent means we realize we have sinned, we then leave those sins and old life behind, and turn control of our entire life to Jesus Christ.
2. Receive: “Yet to all who received Him He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). To receive Jesus Christ means we, by faith, engage our will and through a prayer, invite Christ into our heart. Like an unopened Christmas gift, Jesus Christ is useless to us until we receive His gift of the cross and resurrection, and apply Him and “receive” Him into our life.
3. Follow: The byproduct of repenting of our sin and receiving Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior is that we follow Jesus. Through the ups and downs of life, we follow Jesus Christ. It will not always be easy. Following Christ means sacrifice, perhaps persecution. Before you accept Christ, you need to evaluate your motives and be genuine in your commitment because Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me…No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:23, 62).

Are you willing by faith to repent, receive Jesus Christ, and follow Him? If you sincerely are ready to know God and make sure you will go to heaven when you die, the following are some sample words you can pray to begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Heavenly Father, I come to the cross. By faith I repent and turn from my sins and ask Your forgiveness. I receive you, Jesus Christ, as my Savior and Lord, surrendering my entire life to you. Come into my heart and fill me with your Holy Spirit, as I commit my life to You…to love You, follow You, serve You, and be a witness for You. In Jesus name, Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer and really meant it, Jesus Christ just went into your heart! He lives in you now, forever! Congratulations! This is just the beginning. We want to hear from you so please e-mail us at:  info@scottnute.org

Now, please go to the “Next Steps for New Christians” link under the Spiritual Growth section and begin applying the next steps today!