Christocentric

Every now and then we Christians just need to get back to how we all began as believers. Are we saved and how did we get there? Are we assured of our salvation? Well, let me share first how I became a Christian.

I first accepted Christ as a seven year old after being handed a Gideon New Testament at my elementary school long, long ago. (See the article on my “Best of the Best” list on the Gideon Bibles being banned from schools.) I was touched to read that Jesus died for me and that God loved me so much He gave His only begotten Son. I understood that I needed God and I accepted His Son as My Savior! All I knew is that I wanted to belong to this mighty Father!

It was years later that I actually began to grow in Christ. The Gideon’s New Testament I had urged me to find a church home, but as a seven year old and a part of a military family always on the go, belonging to a church wasn’t something that we readily sought, especially having a father who was silent agnostic (I didn’t find out until much later).

What I’d like to do next is share what it was in the back of the Gideon New Testament that touched me as a young child to ask Christ to be my Lord and Savior. The book I’m looking at right now looks very similar to the one I had when I was a child. I don’t remember exactly of course, but it does ring a bell in my mind!

But here are some verses shared in the back of a Gideon New Testament that led to me becoming a Christian.

God Loves You

• For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16

All are Sinners

• For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23
• As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one. - Romans 3:10

God’s Remedy for Sin

• For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord - Romans 6:23
• But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the chidlren of God, even to those who believe in His name. - John 1:12
• For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

All May Be Saved Now

• Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelations 3:20
• For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” - Romans 10:13

My Decision to Receive Christ As My Savior
Confessing to God that I am a sinner, and believing that the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross and was raised for my justification, I do now receive and confess Him as my personal Saviour.

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Seeking a Church
After making your decision to receive Christ, we encourage you to pryaerfully seek a local church, congregation, or assembly that will assist you in growing as a new Christian by the clear teaching of the Bible.

Assurance As a Believer

• That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9
• “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. - John 5:24
• But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. - John 20:31

There have been times when I have joined new groups at church and I can remember attending for long periods of time without anyone ever asking me if I knew Christ or not. They just assumed I knew Christ. If you are a small group leader, make it your first priority to find out if your members know Christ.

If you already know Christ as your Savior, find out if your loved ones and friends know Christ and share the good news! Easier said then done, I know, but pray for the right opportunity and the courage to share your faith with others.

Are there any of you not sure of your salvation?
Any of you believe you can lose your salvation?
Any of you believe that Jesus isn’t the only way to God?
Any of you consider yourselves friends of Jesus without believing He’s the Son of God, equal to God?

Be sure to check out the “Accept Jesus Christ as Lord” link to the right. It will contain a video message about becoming/being saved from the pastor of the Rock Church San Diego, Miles McPherson.

If you have any questions about becoming saved and would like me to speak to you privately, please fill out the form under “About Carlotta” under the Page tab to the right, and I will contact you immediately! (Priority Contact)

Thank you!

Carlotta Morrow