Trust in Christ

The most important thing in life is to make sure that all is right between God and us individually. The Bible tells us how this is possible. God is pure, clean, holy and just, but in His sight we are sinful, and therefore unfit to know Him. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”¹ Sin is serious. It is the breaking of God’s commandments. Because of it, we deserve to be judged and separated from God forever. The Bible says, “Those who do not know God shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.”² However, the Bible also teaches that through the Lord Jesus Christ we can be forgiven, come to know God, and so go to heaven when we die. The Bible says, “Through this Man (the Lord Jesus) is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified.”³ We trust in Jesus Christ by welcoming Him into our lives. In that moment we become part of God’s family.

The Bible says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”⁴ How then does a person receive or trust in Christ? We need to trust Him as our Sin-Bearer. When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, God laid all our sins on Him. He took the punishment in our place. He died for the sin which would condemn us to hell. Therefore, you and I need to trust Christ as the One who is our Sin-Bearer. We should confess to God that we are guilty of sin and ask Him to pardon us. The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”⁵ We need to trust Christ as our Saviour. The Lord Jesus did not remain dead, He rose again three days later. As Saviour, Jesus both forgives past sin and gives us strength to live a new life. When a person asks Him into their life, it means they take Him as the One who will be their forever-friend, and give them power to live day by day. One day He will take them home to heaven.

The Bible says, “He is able to save to the uttermost, those who come to God through Him” and “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”⁶ We need to trust Christ as our Sovereign Lord. Trusting the Lord Jesus includes asking Him to cleanse the past from all that is wrong, and also to control the present and the future. He will guide your life as you serve and obey Him in everything. Jesus said, “The one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out.”⁷ The Bible says, “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”⁸ God commands everyone, everywhere to repent and believe. This means that you must be willing to turn from your sin and trust Christ. As you do this, God works a miracle in you, and makes you His forever. Has this happened to you? Will you now pray asking the Lord Jesus to be your personal Sin-bearer, Saviour and Lord? He will forgive you and come to live within your life. Many have found that praying with similar words to the ones below has helped them to put their trust in Christ. Will you pray like this now?

Heavenly Father, I confess my sin to You and I want to repent of it. Please forgive me. I trust Christ as my Sin-bearer, my Saviour and my Lord. Please come to live within me. Help me grow to become a strong Christian. Thank you for loving me. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

The Bible says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”⁹

Here are some tips for daily Christian living, once you have put your faith in Jesus Christ:

1. Start the habit of having a time of daily Bible reading and private prayer. God will speak to you through the Bible and you can speak to God through prayer. The Bible and prayer are vital for the Christian life. The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible. The Bible says, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”¹⁰ “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word (i.e. the Bible), that you may grow thereby.”¹¹

2. Do not forget that, as a child of Christ’s family, you ought to have regular fellowship with those who love Him. Join a Bible-believing Church and attend not only on Sunday, but also the Bible study and prayer meeting. The Bible says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together ... but exhorting one another.”¹²

3. Keep trusting the Lord Jesus, your living Saviour, in every moment of doubt, temptation or difficulty. He is your constant Companion. Ask Him and He will take care of you through every situation. The Bible says, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”¹³ “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”¹⁴

4. Sadly, as a Christian, you will find yourself still doing wrong. Christians should not expect to sin but if you do, confess it to God at once. You can know that it is forgiven, because God says so. You have not lost your relationship with God, but until there is confession and forgiveness, you will have lost your close fellowship with Him, though you are still His child. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”¹⁵ Remember heaven is not a reward; it is a gift. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”¹⁶

5. Try to share the gospel with others, by the things you say and the way you live. Never be a secret disciple, but make it your constant aim to introduce others to Christ. The Bible says, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.”¹⁷ Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”¹⁸

6. If ever you are in doubt as to whether something is right or wrong, ask yourself these three questions: 

a) Will it hinder the growth of my spiritual life? The Bible says, “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares.”¹⁹ 

b) Could it influence someone else to do wrong? The Bible says, “Beware lest somehow this liberty of yours should become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”²⁰

c) Will it displease the Lord Jesus? The Bible says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”²¹ Pray about it and God will show you what to do.

Footnotes

The references below are from the Bible, naming first the individual book of the Bible, then the chapter number and finally, the verse.

¹ Romans 3:23.

² 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9.

³ Acts 13:38,39.

⁴ John 1:12.

⁵ Isaiah 53:6.

⁶ Hebrews 7:25 & John 3:16.

⁷ John 6:37.

⁸ Romans 14:9.

⁹ Romans 10:13.

¹⁰ Isaiah 40:31.

¹¹ 1 Peter 2:2.

¹² Hebrews 10:25.

¹³ 1 Peter 5:7.

¹⁴ Isaiah 41:10.

¹⁵ 1 John 1:9.

¹⁶ Romans 6:23.

¹⁷ Matthew 10:32.

¹⁸ Mark 16:15.

¹⁹ Hebrews 12:1.

²⁰ 1 Corinthians 8:9.

²¹ 1 Corinthians 10:31.