Jesus is life, joy and eternal pleasure. We are all infinitely precious and valuable to God. He is the potter and we are the clay. He created us to be with Him as Father and beloved child. When I finally saw that he is the Way, the Truth and the Life (no one gets to the Father, except through Jesus), I realized he's been chasing me with his love for my entire life. Everything began falling into place with him at the center of it!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrew 12:2

God delights when we see that what we really want and really need is only found in knowing him personally. As a born-again believer in Jesus Christ I see this truth throughout Scripture. Now all I want is to experience more of God and to share this good news with others. Most people are so busy hiding or suppressing their discontentment, it's refreshing and exciting when I meet people who are honest and seeking for the answer. God brings these people into our lives so we can share the light of Jesus.

One thing I can't get over is how the Holy Spirit sends waves of love as I learn more amazing things about God. There's nothing about him is not awesome and there are endless things to learn, forever! I now find real and lasting joy in him and crave more and more every day.

You must first understand that you’re a sinner who is separated from God by your sin. You must then believe the Gospel message (Gospel = good news!) : God sent His son Jesus Christ to the world as the only perfect sacrifice to redeem humanity. Jesus lived a sinless life, willingly died for our sins and rose again on the third day - completely conquering death for all who believe in Him. You need to confess your sin to God, accept Jesus’ freely offered grace and ask Him to come into your life. Salvation is a personal experience between ourselves and God. The specific words don’t really matter - you can pray to Him in your own words. What does matter is that you say them with complete honesty, humility and a contrite heart.

Here is a short video that explains Salvation:


When a person is saved the Spirit confirms this to them from within them and the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) will begin to grow and become visible proof to others of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside them. God completely changes us by His Spirit! We can't get there by our own works, rituals, family or good deeds. A “Christian” is not a person who said a repentance prayer or walked down an aisle or been raised in a Christian family. While each of these things can be a part of the Christian experience, they are not what makes a Christian. A Christian is a person who has repented of their sin and fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Saviour and therefore possesses the Holy Spirit.

"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" - Titus 3:5

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 36:26

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" - Romans 8:16

If you are struggling to grasp the significance of this, just ask God to personally show you why you need His forgiveness and to give you the faith in Jesus and humility to ask for His grace. God will answer you if you ask Him! He loves you dearly and desires that everyone would be with Him forever. That's why Jesus spent His ministry teaching us about the Father’s love and gave up His life for us.

Baptism

"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:4

What is Baptism?

Water baptism is for Christians who have already been saved through trust in Jesus and desire to make that public declaration of faith. It is an outward symbol of an inward change which shows that we’ve died to ourselves and now belong to God. You are fully submerged underwater to symbolise your death with Christ on the cross and then raised up again into a new life through the Spirit and united to the Father.

Baptism is not essential to our Salvation, but Jesus and His Disciples told the Church to do this. It’s like when two people exchange rings during their marriage ceremony as a symbol of their union. The rings are not the actual marriage itself, but a symbol of it. If we take our rings off our fingers it doesn’t change our marital status; so if we are not baptised it does not take away our salvation. A Christian cannot lose their salvation. Most, if not all, of what the Bible says happens to us when we receive Christ would be invalidated if salvation could be lost. Salvation is the gift of God, and God’s gifts are “irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). A Christian cannot be un-newly created. Eternal life cannot be temporary. God cannot renege on His Word. Scripture says that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

Why get Baptised?

When you decide to get baptised you are telling God, people and the devil that you are serious and unashamed about following Jesus Christ for the rest of your life.

• Truth: "Sanctify them by Your truth; Your word is truth - John 17:17
  
• God's blessing: "But He said, 'More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it'" - Luke 11:28
  
• Victory: "...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" - Ephesians 6:17
  
• Growth: "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" - Peter 2:2
  
• Power: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" - Romans 1:16
  
• Guidance: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" - Psalm 119:105

That being said, here are some beautiful promises from God to strengthen our minds, comfort our souls and build up our faith in Him alone.

Salvation

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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. - John 3:16-17

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 him, and he with me. - Revelation 3:20

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” - John 14:6

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. - Ephesians 2:8,9

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Assurance

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:30-31

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27:1

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:22-23

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39