Starting on the Journey

My journey of learning ladyhood began when I was quite young, and perhaps not the way you might think. My mother and I were chatting about different things, and somehow we got onto the topic of the angels celebrating in heaven when a sinner repents. (Luke 15:7)

It wasn’t even a new concept for me, since I had grown up in a Christian home and attended church regularly, but that day, something happened. With a new understanding dawning inside, I asked a very simple question:

“Can I do that?”

I didn’t understand every theological implication of salvation, but I knew enough to recognize that I am a sinner, and that Jesus died to pay for my sin. I understood enough to accept the gift of salvation offered to all who repent and believe, and so I did.

But the joy of salvation is that it is for all.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

That whosoever doesn’t mean “whoever is good enough,” nor does it mean “whoever is smart enough” or “whoever is pretty enough.” It doesn’t even mean “whoever has it all put together.”

No, the gift of salvation is truly for all. It is for you as much as it is for me. So, how do you start your own journey?

Repent

Repent is often viewed as a negative or harsh word, but it simply means agreeing with God about your sin. Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

If you’re at all like me, you can probably think of a time when you have done something God defines as wrong. Have you ever lied, stolen, wanted something that belonged to someone else, or used God’s name carelessly? (Exodus 20:1-17) Then, just like everyone else, you have sinned.

So, if everyone sins, what’s the problem?

The problem is that sin separates us from God, who is perfectly holy. We have “come short” of His standard of goodness, and the perfect justice of God requires that sin be punished. You see, we were not created to sin. Genesis 1-3 tell us that God made mankind sinless, but the very first two people chose to disobey God, thus introducing sin into the human race.

But while the justice of God requires sin to be punished, the mercy of God provided a way for justice to be rightly satisfied, while sparing us from the eternal punishment of sin:

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 3:23

This world is not all there is. Since all have sinned, and none of us can be good enough to meet God’s standard of holiness, all of us are by default under the penalty of eternal death in a very real place of torments called Hell.

But that isn’t what God wants for us—it isn’t what He wants for you.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

We know from John 3:16, quoted earier, that God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus. But Jesus—in perfect unity with God the Father—chose to leave His throne in heaven and come to earth. He chose to take on Him human flesh and blood and live a sinless life, so that He could die in your place to pay for the sins of all the human race.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18

To prove that His payment had been accepted by God, Jesus rose from the dead three days later. The nature of His death—crucifixion, with a spear thrust through His side at the end to make sure He had died—made it impossible for Him to come back to life, apart from the power of God. The resurrection proves that our sin has been paid for, and the payment accepted.

Believe

So how do we get this free gift of salvation paid for by Jesus’ death? Just as repentance is simple agreement with God that you have sinned, receiving His gift is also simple:

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

If you believe that you are a sinner, and that Christ died for you, and rose again to prove it, all you need to do is simply “call upon the name of the Lord.” Pray—talk to God, tell Him about your sin, ask Him to forgive you. Then remember the little word that means so much: shall. There is no uncertainty about whether God will accept us, if we come to Him in repentance and faith.

If you have never accepted the free gift of salvation, do so today! We are not guaranteed tomorrow. And if you do accept Christ as your Savior today, go to the “Contact” page and tell me about it—I would love to rejoice with you!