Some time ago I looked at doing some cleaning work, professionally cleaning ovens, toilets, kitchens, bathrooms etc. To do this I used professional quality products. Manufactures make these products, janitorial supply warehouses sell them, I bought them, but until I put them to use they did no cleaning for me.
It is much like this with our sin. God has a plan for our salvation, Jesus died to make this forgiveness, this freedom from sin available to us, but until we take hold of it for ourselves and have the sin cleaned out of our souls, we are not one bit cleaner.
Salvation, Your Response
We have seen that God made the world good, in fact “very good”, but that between Adam, Eve, and Satan, it was messed up and that to this very day the world is corrupted.
We have looked at the effect that sin, (the transgressing or breaking of God’s rules), has on us, in separating us from God, and condemning us to eternal punishment.
We have also seen that Jesus came to free us from sin. Having said this, why is not everybody now free from sin? The answer is that, although Jesus has paid sufficient for all sin to be forgiven…
…not all have appropriated, or asked for it. You must respond to the free gift of God. He will not force it on you.
So how do we get hold of this free salvation?
A decision must be made. God has already been working for your salvation. He planned the way of salvation; He came to earth as Jesus and died paying the price for your sin.
And now He has been working in your heart, prompting you to seek Him.
The fact that you are doing this course shows that He has put the interest in your heart to seek the things of God. You have begun to respond by giving time to look into the message of salvation that God has given to us in the Bible.
But there is a big decision that you have to make.
We will look at it in three steps.
1st — Believe.
You first need to come to the point where you say “Yes, I believe that Jesus is God, and that He died for my sins, and I need Him to forgive me”.
(As you read these next two verses it might be helpful for you to know that Baptism is a simple public sign or act that says you are a follower of Jesus)
This ‘believing’ is not just believing IN God, believing that HE exists. Even Satan and the devils believe that.
It is believing ON Him, a putting of your trust in Him to be your saviour.
2nd — Repent.
The people that we read about in Acts chapter two at the beginning of this study believed in Jesus and believed in their need to be forgiven, that is why they called out “what shall we do?” Peter took them on from just belief to repentance.
Repentance literally means to change direction. In the Bible it is used to mean to stop living for yourself by your own ideas and to start living for God and by His rules. This is a turning from what is wrong in your life. The verse that best describes repentance is:
You may find that there are some things that you will need to put right. You may have to confess wrong words or actions that you have had. You may even have to put right past sins: stealing, cheating etc.
Take a look at the following verses.
(Zacchaeus was not saved by what he did, what he did was a sign that a change had happened in his life.)
3rd — Be Baptised.
They already believed, then Peter told them to repent, then he told them to be baptised.
Baptism as we have already said is a public and personal action showing that you have put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Saviour.
Why do we need to be Baptised?
First, it is as an act of obedience. The Bible says you should be baptised, therefore we should obey.
Second, it will help you and others to remember that there is to be no turning back now. Third, it is a public confession of your faith in Jesus Christ.
Now YOU must decide
There is nothing that I or anyone else can do to help you into the Kingdom of God. You know that God made the world good, but that our sin messed it up; that this sin has the punishment of eternal death, but that Jesus came and died to take away our sin. Now YOU need to decide! Will you turn away from Jesus, put it off or will you call on him today?
Call on Him to give you life and life more abundantly.
Home Task
Memorise
Will you ask Jesus Christ to become your saviour?
- If Yes:
- Tell Him that you believe that:
- He made the world and made it good
- You are a sinner and need to be saved from sin and its consequences
- He died to pay for your sin and to be able to forgive you
- And ask to be forgiven
Then ask to be baptised.
And ask for someone to lead you through a discipleship course.
- If No:
- Do you need more help?
- Ask the person who is leading you through this book, if they can not answer your questions they may know someone who can or contact me through our contact me page
- Just not interested?
But you’re on your own.
I would not want to stand in your shoes when God judges all people, and you can not say “I did not know, not now!”
Hello Andrew.
I was very exited and encouraged to get your details with my last Living Waters order, so I took a look at your website. I am based in Porthleven in Cornwall and also have used the Way of the Master in street witnessing for the past 4 years. I have also started offering Way of the Master training this year, I have just done one course so far with 30 people attending, but hoping to step it up over the next few months, maybe utilising your experience could be one way. My wife Sharon and myself will be praying about your ministry and for your ministry. God Bless. Neil Smith.
Great to hear form you Neil.
I look forward to meeting you some time soon.