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Mbarara, Uganda
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STEP 1: Acknowledge you are a fallen human being in need of help
People often blame God for creating a world with such evil and suffering in it. But the Bible teaches us that in the beginning God created everything wonderfully perfect and good. He created a world without sin, sorrow, sickness or death. So who should we blame for the current state of affairs? If you look into a mirror, there you will the culprit. In Adam all humanity rebelled against God and we plunged ourselves and his lovely creation into destruction. Sin is a heredity spiritual disease that all of us are born with. We have all fallen into sin and disobeyed God. When humanity first fell into sin the whole realm of nature also plunged into corruption along with us. Sin, suffering and death entered the whole world and every part is now tainted with it. All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God – all of us are to blame. God is righteous and he would not be God if He didn’t judge us as deserving punishment for our sin. Sin can’t be ignored by God. We are fallen people in a fallen world everything is broken and nothing works properly we are helpless to restore ourselves, heal ourselves or fix the situation.
STEP 2: Only believe
Deep in your heart many of you know the above is true. So what is the answer? Has God left us to our own self-inflicted destruction? Is there a way to be saved from this awful situation? Is there a possibility of everlasting life in a world ending in death?
Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:9-11)
In order for God to remain just and yet also offer a pardon for sin he sent his own sinless son Jesus Christ to die on our behalf and pay the price justice demands for the sins of the world. Jesus could do this because He is the eternal son of the Father – fully God and yet also fully man. The fact that Jesus rose again vindicated his death and proved that his sacrifice for our sins had been accomplished. Jesus is alive and he has conquered the realm of sin and death forever.
Salvation is a free gift but YOU have to decide to receive it. If you truly believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again ten you have received pardon from all sins and a guarantee by his shed blood of entering heaven when you die. Christ did all the work to get you to heaven, nothing you can do can get you there except to trust that Jesus did it all for you – only believe!
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
Why don’t you say the prayer below out loud to the Lord right now and thank him for dying for you so that you could receive eternal life?
Heavenly Father, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. (Take time to ask God’s forgiveness for anything particular that is on your conscience.) I believe you sent your son Jesus Christ who died for my sins and was raised from the dead. I open my heart and give my life to you. Jesus you are my Lord and Savior. Fill me with you Holy Spirit. Thank you Father for saving me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Next time you come to one of our services make sure that you respond to the salvation appeal at the end. That way we can help you take your first steps in your new journey of faith. We also invite you to attend a special six week class for new believers held in the church every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
STEP 3: Time for a change of heart and mind
Repentance means a change of mind and lifestyle coming directly out of a change of heart. When you truly believe in your heart that Jesus died and rose again, it is proof that a great miracle has taken place inside you. You have become born again! God has given you a spiritual heart transplant! The old ‘fallen’ you has passed away and now you are a new creation.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3)
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. (Romans 6:6)
Your heart has changed and now your thinking and lifestyle should also progressively change to become harmonised with your brand new nature. This is what we call the process of repentance, the renewal of the mind, or discipleship. Our thinking is often still stuck in the mindset of our pre-Christian days, but your new Christian journey is one of self-discovery (finding out who you really are) now that you are in Christ. This is done through learning and following the truths of the Bible and fellowshipping with other believers.
STEP 4: Baptism in water
Water baptism is God’s appointed way in which you pledge your new allegiance to Jesus Christ. Baptism doesn’t save you but it does confirm your conversion. Baptism is also a mighty deliverance from the past life of sin. If you become a Christian during one of our services make sure you get baptised as soon as you can. Please give your name and telephone number at the church office so that we can inform you of the next time for baptism.
STEP 5: Baptism in the Holy Spirit
When Jesus left this earth, he promised that he would send his Spirit to be with Christians here. It is through the Holy Spirit that you will be able to live successfully as a Christian. When you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you, but more than that, Jesus wants to fill you with his Spirit. If you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, just ask Jesus and he will fill you. There are always trained people ready to pray for you after our services to be filled with the Holy Spirit.