Accepting Jesus are easy words to say but not easy to act upon. This topic is worth discussing since some people wonder how to accept Jesus in their life.
To accept Jesus means admitting that one is a sinner, repenting, and agreeing to make him your personal savior. After taking this step of faith, one has to start living according to his word. John 14:6.
What does it mean to accept Jesus into your life? How can Christians accept Jesus into their lives? Is accepting Jesus a gradual process? These are some of the questions that this article will answer. By the end of it, one can also discover the Bible verses that teach Christians how to accept Jesus into their lives. Read on to find out more!
What does it mean to accept Jesus into your life?
Accepting Jesus into your life means accepting him as your personal savior. It is repenting your sins and living according to his word. Jesus came to save us from sin, and it is faith in him that can save us by his grace.
The Bible tells us in Romans 3:10- 18 that every human is a sinner, and we have all engaged in evil acts. Due to our sins, we deserve God’s judgment. However, God gave us his only son to die for our sins. Accepting Jesus into your life means believing that Jesus paid for your sins and resurrected you so that you can have eternal life, as explained in John 3:16.
This verse shares the same message as 1st Corinthians 15:3-4 which says, I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried and raised from the dead on the third day, just as the scripture said.
Some assume that Christianity is going to church, performing rituals, or not committing specific sins. However, true Christianity is having a personal relationship with Jesus. It begins with accepting him into your life. Accepting Christ is a gift, and it is not forced. Salvation is offered by we have to accept the offer for us to receive the gift of eternal life.
How can Christians accept Jesus into their lives?
Accepting Jesus into your life begins with admitting sin. 1 John 1:8-9 says, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins.
After admitting sin, we must believe that Jesus died to save us from our sins. No matter your sins, God can save you since he is a merciful God. This should encourage you as you start accepting Jesus into your life since it can free you from guilt. Hebrews 8:12 says For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.
The next step to accepting Jesus into your life is confessing and repenting your sins. You must apologize to God for sinning by praying. As you pray, you should accept Jesus as your personal savior and start living according to the Spirit. Once you believe in Christ as your personal savior, you receive the Holy Spirit.
After you have accepted Jesus into your life, you should spend every day growing your relationship with God. You can do this by praying every day. Ask God to guide you on how to live a righteous life, and take your time to understand his word. Going through a few Bible verses each day can help you grow spiritually.
You should also look for a good church that can nurture you spiritually. This will help you learn more about God’s word and connect you with other believers. You should also get baptized. In Acts 2:38, Peter said, 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. Getting baptized helps you devote your faith to God, and it is your outward expression of your decision.
Once you accept Jesus in your life and start growing in grace, you change to be more like Jesus, as explained in 2 Corinthians 3: 18. The book of 2nd Corinthians 5:17 says that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. Therefore, they should leave their old ways behind and become new.
Is accepting Jesus a gradual process?
From the above steps, you can tell that accepting Jesus is a gradual process. It does not all happen in one phase. This is because it involves admitting to sin, believing in the death and resurrection of Jesus, confessing sin, getting baptized, and living the Christian lifestyle.
Accepting to get saved takes some soul searching, and it does not occur in one day. Many Christians reveal that they first get the conviction to be saved before doing it.
After getting saved, living according to God’s word takes dedication. You may encounter temptations every day, but with spiritual guidance, you can overcome them.
People who have accepted Jesus must obey God and shun evil every day. Accepting Jesus is a process of daily spiritual renewal. Being a Christian does not mean that one is perfect. Christians must work hard daily to fulfill God’s desires and grow their relationship with him.
What Bible verses teach Christians on how to accept Jesus into their lives?
Romans 10:9 says, If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. This Bible verse teaches us the process of accepting Jesus into our lives, including confessing, believing, and receiving salvation.
In 1 John 4:13, the apostle John wrote to his children to ensure they abided in Christ. This verse says, By this, we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us of his SpiritSpirit. This verse teaches us that we must abide in Him after accepting Jesus as our savior.
The same book in chapter 1:9 says, But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. This verse shows that to accept Jesus into their life, one must be willing to confess their sins.
We can also learn about accepting Jesus into our lives by focusing on Luke’s teachings in Acts 2:21. This verse says, But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. In this verse, God encourages us to call on his name and assures us of salvation. This is one of the major steps in accepting Jesus.
The same book also talks about the steps of accepting Jesus in Acts 2:38. This verse says, Turn back to God, Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit.
In the book of John 14:6, written by John, Jesus told his disciples, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Without me, no one can go to the father. This verse teaches us the importance of accepting Jesus in our lives.
According to 1st Timothy 2:4, Christians can learn that God yearns for more souls to accept Jesus. This verse says, who desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
The book of Romans 6:23 talks about the consequence of not accepting Jesus and the reward of accepting Jesus in your life. This verse says, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
References
- What does it mean to accept Jesus as your personal savior
- The call to Belong to Christ and Participate in His Redemptive Work in the World
- Don Stewart: When Does a Person Receive the Holy Spirit
- Living according to the SpiritSpirit leads to a New Quality of Life
- Why is accepting Christ mentioned in evangelism when it is not in the Bible
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
