Acts 2:38 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit.
The journey to a decision to become a follower of Jesus may be long or short but that
decision is a turning point. Once you make a decision to become a follower of Jesus and
do so, you are a new creation. Your mind and body may be just the same but your spirit
is totally renewed. Now that you have decided to follow Jesus, you need to repent. This
means there are some things you need to stop doing and some new things you need to start
doing so that your mind and body can be renewed as well and you can enjoy this new life.
Not everything will be easy. It may be very confusing at first, knowing what you must
turn away from and how quickly. It is important to have someone you trust, an experienced
follower of Jesus to help you through these things.
If you want to be serious about Jesus and become a disciple, then there is a cost
involved.
I Peter 4:3-4 (ESV)
For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to
do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless
idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same
flood of debauchery, and they malign you;
While it is good to remain friends with people you knew before coming to Jesus, you
will need to give up some things and there may be those who cannot understand the new
you. If they try to drag you back into old ways, you will need will need to stand firm.
In some cases, you may need to part company with them.
Turn to Jesus
If you are not sure of the decision you have made, here is the gospel message in its
simplest form:
- A Admit the old life was sinful, not taking notice of God's laws.
- B Believe in Jesus.
- C Choose to turn away from the old life and follow Jesus.
Here is a prayer based on that summary:
"Lord Jesus, I admit I have done wrong things in my life. I now believe
in You and choose to follow You. Help me turn my life around. Come into my life now as
my Lord and Saviour. Be my friend and help me live my life for You from now on."
You should also be baptised as an outward sign of the decision you have made. Many
people were baptised as babies. This raises the question, "Can I be baptised again?"
Yes, you can. This was not something you did as a voluntary act to symbolise coming to
Jesus. It was a religious ceremony over which you had no control. I personally was
baptised as a baby and later confirmed but had no knowledge of salvation. Later, I
accepted Jesus and was baptised about a year later in a Church of Christ church.
Many people make the decision and pray the prayer above but then do not turn from
their old lifestyle. As I said, there is a cost involved, but following Jesus should
not turn into a religious duty. Jesus is real and wants a relationship with you. As
you get to know Him through reading the Bible and spending time in prayer and worship,
and time with other followers of Jesus, your life will change because you want it to.
Assurance
Once you have made the decision to repent and be baptised and asked Jesus to come into
your life, you must believe that He has done so.
I John 5:11-13 (ESV)
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life
is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does
not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God
that you may know that you have eternal life.
There is much to learn and do. The decision is key. So long as you made the decision
to repent and be baptised, meant it and are working towards that goal, you are born
again. Memorize these 3 verses (I John 5:11-13) so that you can know for certain that
you ARE born again.