However, many people don’t want to hear this great news. How can that be? Well, some don’t want to admit that they are sinful and separated from God. Others simply won’t believe that God would really carry through with a plan that places some people in heaven and some in hell – even though it is the people themselves that make that choice. Other people simply won’t believe in God or Heaven – period. People might scoff or ridicule or berate the person sharing – so we shy away from sharing at all out of fear of being rejected.

If we fail to share Christ – who will? If we refuse to share – what kind of faith do we possess? We are ambassadors for Christ – as though Christ is speaking through us. We have to be bold and brave and share the great news of salvation, even when we’re afraid or timid.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. ( 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

Read the parable of the seeds and the sower:

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:3-8; 18-23)

This parable should encourage us, as spiritual “sowers,” when sharing our faith or teaching or leading others. The farmer sowed good seed, but not all the seed sprouted, and even the plants that grew had varying yields. Don’t be discouraged if you do not always see results as you faithfully share your faith with others. Belief cannot be forced to follow a formula or fit into a mold. Rather, it is a miracle of God’s Holy Spirit as He uses your words to lead others to Him.

The four types of soil represent different responses to God’s message. People respond differently because they are in different states of readiness. Some are hardened, others are shallow, others are contaminated by distracting worries, and some are receptive. In fact, all of us have been in one or more of these states of “readiness” for receiving the good news from time to time in our lives. You can probably remember when you were rocky soil and when you were full of thorns and weeds. How has God’s Word taken root in your life? What kind of soil are you today? People are all different – and people change with time. Be prepared to deal with different soils, and don’t take it personally if someone doesn’t respond immediately. You do your part; the Holy Spirit will do His!

When it comes to sharing our faith, we really don’t have much choice in the matter! We’re commanded to share our faith. In Matthew 28:18-20, we read that God gave Jesus authority over heaven and earth. On the basis of that authority, Jesus told his disciples to make more disciples as they shared their faith, taught others, and baptized. With this same authority, Jesus still commands us to tell others the Good News and make them disciples for the kingdom. When someone is dying or leaving us, his or her last words are very important. Jesus left the disciples with these last words of instruction: they were under his authority; they were to make more disciples; they were to baptize and teach these new disciples to obey Christ; Christ would be with them always. Whereas in previous missions Jesus had sent his disciples only to the Jews (Matthew 10:5-6), their mission from now on would be worldwide. Jesus is Lord of the earth, and He died for the sins of people from all nations. We are to go - whether it is next door or to another country - and make disciples. It is not an option, but a command to all who call Jesus “Lord.” We are not all evangelists in the formal sense, but we have all received gifts that we can use to help fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28. As we obey, we have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us.

Still, some of us are a little timid about sharing our faith because of who we have to share with! You have heard me tell you to share with unbelievers; that makes sense – why would we share Christ with mature believers? When you hear that you should share with unbelievers, many of you assume I mean the horrible and cruel and outcasts of society. Well - I do mean them – but I mean others as well. Rich people who don’t know Christ need to find Him. Judges and teachers and coaches and airline pilots need to know Jesus – just as much as the wino or the drug dealer or the child molester. In Mark 2:16-17 we read of the self-righteous Pharisees who were indignant that Jesus would eat a meal with such sinners. But Jesus gladly associated with sinners – prostitutes and tax collectors and lepers and thieves and distasteful people - because He loved them dearly and because He knew that they needed to hear what He had to say. Jesus spent time with whoever needed or wanted to hear His message - poor, rich, bad, good.

In Joshua 2:8-13 we have the story of Rahab - a heathen, a Canaanite, and a prostitute (and an ancestor of Jesus!). Many would assume that Rahab would never be interested in God. Yet Rahab was willing to risk everything she had for a God she barely knew. We must not gauge a person’s interest in God by his or her background, life-style, or appearance. We should let nothing get in the way of our telling people about God. So, we must befriend those who need Christ, even if they do not seem to be ideal companions. Are there people you have been neglecting because of their reputation? They may be the ones who most need to see and hear the message of Christ’s love in and from you.

At Quarry Ridge we regularly talk about sharing our faith with the “spiritually-yearning.” Who are these folks? My best definition of a spiritually-yearning person is someone who apparently knows Jesus as Lord and Savior, but is not currently hooked into a fellowship and is not growing in their faith. We might also call these people “chronically un-churched” or “under-churched” or “disenfranchised believers.” These people need to discover that Christ’s Church – although not perfect by a long shot – is still this world’s best hope for growing to be more like the Savior who loves them and gave His life for them.

At the same time, I believe that there are those people who call themselves Christ-followers, are currently angry or frustrated at the church, and are away-without-leave (AWOL) while - in reality – they do not know Christ at all. There are millions of people in the world today who know all the right things to say – they have their “Christianese” down pat – but they have never really surrendered their lives to the Lordship of Christ. In short, they know intellectually who Christ is, but they have yet to give their hearts to Him. To put it bluntly: they are still nonbelievers. They’re missing pieces of the puzzle, and we need to help them complete their journey to Christ.

What about your family? For some, nothing can be more scary than sharing your faith with your family. (“Oh no – here comes the bible-thumping, fundamentalist Christian again!”) In 2 Timothy 1:5 we read of Timothy’s mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois, who were early Christian converts, possibly through Paul’s ministry in their home city, Lystra. (Acts 16:1) They had communicated their strong Christian faith to Timothy, even though his father was probably not a believer. What we learn from this is that we should not hide our light at home: our families are fertile fields for planting gospel seeds. Let your parents, children, spouse, brothers, and sisters know of your faith in Jesus, and be sure they see Christ’s love, helpfulness, and joy in you. We should never thump our bibles, demand allegiance, and drill them about being sinners. Instead, show them Jesus everyday – and they’ll want what you have!

Sharing our faith can be difficult at times because people misunderstand what we’re trying to tell them. Part of the problem is that we don’t know what to say (this little booklet exists to help you with that) but other times, people simply don’t grasp the spiritual truths right away. Don’t worry about that – God is at work in them and the Holy Spirit will help them connect all the dots in the long run. Here’s how we know that:

In John 4:13-15 we see Jesus sharing with the Samaritan woman at the well. He used an allegory to help her understand or to illustrate what He was saying. Many spiritual functions parallel physical functions: as our bodies hunger and thirst, so do our souls. But our souls need spiritual food and water. Jesus used this illustration to help the woman understand her need for spiritual filling. We would not think of depriving our bodies of food and water when they hunger or thirst. Why then should we deprive our souls? The living Word, Jesus Christ, and the written Word, the Bible, can satisfy our hungry and thirsty souls. But Jesus was misunderstood – the woman didn’t get it! The woman mistakenly believed that if she received the water Jesus offered, she would not have to return to the well each day. She was interested in Jesus’ message because she thought it could make her life easier. The woman confused the two kinds of water, perhaps because no one had ever talked with her about her spiritual hunger and thirst before. She did not immediately understand what Jesus meant.

What do we learn from this? It takes time to accept something that changes the very foundations of your life. Jesus allowed the woman time to ask questions and put the pieces together for herself. Sharing the Good News will not always have immediate results. When you ask people to let Jesus change their lives, let them ask questions, and give them time to weigh the matter.

The other way we can know that God will do His part in helping people connect all the dots is found in Acts chapter 10. Cornelius wasn’t a believer in Christ, but he was seeking God, and he was reverent and generous. Therefore, God sent Peter to tell Cornelius about Christ. Cornelius is an example that God “rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Those who sincerely seek God will find him! God sent Peter, and made Cornelius’s knowledge complete. God helped Cornelius connect the dots. Don’t miss a very important lesson here: God sent Peter – and Peter went. Even though Peter grumbled a bit, and had some misgivings, he went. You and I are being sent. We need to be ready and willing to share our faith.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2)

We need to be “instant” and prepared in our ability to share with others.

When we share our faith, some people will become very uncomfortable. Why is that? In John 4:16-20, when the Samaritan woman discovered that Jesus knew all about her private life, she quickly changed the subject. Often, when the conversation hits too close to home, people become uncomfortable, and they try to talk about something else. As we share our faith, we should gently guide the conversation back to Christ. His presence exposes sin and makes people squirm! Please resist the temptation to smile when this happens – it’s hard and distressing for the person on the hot seat! Just remember, Christ wants them to confess so He can forgive them and give them new life – and that’s what you’re sharing with them.

Of course, there will be those who will argue and fight over the good news. In Genesis 6:22 we have a story of how God sent warnings, but no one would listen. Noah got right to work when God told him to build the ark. Other people must have been warned about the coming disaster (1 Peter 3:20), but apparently they did not expect it to happen. Today, things haven’t changed much. Each day thousands of people are warned of God’s inevitable judgment, yet most of them don’t really believe it will happen. Don’t expect people to always welcome or accept your message of God’s coming judgment on sin. Those who don’t believe in God will deny his judgment and try to get you to deny God as well. Those who believe in God, but believe He is some kind of grandpa who will dismiss our faithlessness will try to get you to believe that sin has no consequence and everyone gets a free ticket to eternal life in heaven. When people argue and berate you and try to convert you to the world’s point of view, remember God’s promise to Noah to keep him safe – then pray that God will soften their hearts and try again another day.

The best way to answer questions, keep the arguing down to a minimum, and bring people to the point that they can make a decision is to present the good news in an easy to understand way that is also easy to take in and assimilate. Use the following notes to help you study, prepare, and share. It’s written in such a way that you could actually take someone through the information on these pages.

(Quarry Ridge has a booklet, and there are many different tracts or booklets produced by major publishers in the US, designed specifically for helping share your faith with someone. Try to have several of these on hand at all times.)

We strongly suggest that you draw some simple illustrations as you explain the Good News. People learn best when all of their senses are engaged; hearing, seeing, reading some of the scripture passages out loud – all help them learn and understand. Using drawings and/or word pictures can really drive home the point.

The GOOD NEWS!

The “Good News” is that we have a God who wants to give you a better life here and now, and who wants to give you a life that lasts forever!

Amazingly, 62% of all Americans consider themselves Christians. Yet, when asked:

“If you were to die today, do you know for certain you would go to Heaven?”

- about 70% of the people in the United States, answer with “I’m not sure ” or worse, “No, I’m not going to Heaven. ”

How would YOU answer this question about going to Heaven?

God wants you to know for certain whether or not you have eternal life. How can you know? Because you can have it in writing from God in His Word.

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who 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 so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
1 John 5:11-13, NIV

God LOVES you with His whole heart! You’re very important to Him! In fact, you have His very own IMAGE! (Read Genesis 1:27) He wants you to live a FULL life of peace and love with Him and to have eternal life.

However, our enemy, the devil, wants you to believe that you’re already OK and God is unfair and that you don’t need to do anything to receive eternal life. What does God think of the devil, whose name is Satan? He calls him “the father of LIES.” Satan’s plan is to cheat, lie, steal, undermine, and destroy you, and to trick you into hell. (Read John 10:10, Luke 22:31) God deplores the devil! (Matthew 13:39) God deplores him so much, and loves you so completely, that He subjected Himself to sheer, unbearable torture just to win you back.

But God has made it very simple and straightforward for us to enter a life of peace and love with Him. Let’s walk through four practical steps to having everlasting life with God. These steps are found in the Bible – so you can trust them and share them with a friend or loved one. These simple steps are the same ones used by people like Billy Graham to share their faith with people.

Step 1 - God’s Purpose: Peace & Eternal Life
Step 2 - Our Problem: Sin & Separation
Step 3 - God’s Remedy: The Cross
Step 4 - Our Response: Receive Christ

Step 1 - God’s Purpose: Peace and Eternal Life

You’ve probably seen John 3:16 signs at athletic events on TV. What this Bible verse says is:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

A little after that, we read:

“. . . we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

And then. . . “. . . the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23b

Since God loves us so much and desires for us to have peace and everlasting life with Him, why are many people NOT enjoying this experience? Well – there’s a huge reason for that.

Step 2 - Our Problem: Sin and Separation

God did not make us robots to mindlessly love and obey Him. Instead, He gave us a free will and the ability to make our own choices.

But, like Adam, we often choose to disobey God and go our own selfish ways. (Read Genesis 2-3) This side of our nature is called “sin” which simply means that our actions separate us from God.

The Bible Says…

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. . . the wages of sin is death.”
Romans 3:23; 6:23

“So (after Adam sinned) the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden. . . ”
Genesis 3:23a

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”
Isaiah 59:2

Our sin separates us from God.

Step 3 - God’s Remedy: The Cross

Here we find ourselves on one side of a deep chasm, and God on the other. How will we bridge the gap and get from our side to God’s side? There is nothing we can do – we all “fall short.” Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem of separation from God. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin, and rose from the grave to bridge completely the gap between God and us.

The Bible Says:

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12

“…God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, Himself man, is between them to bring them together…”
1 Timothy 2:5 (TLB)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word (Jesus) and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
John 5:24

“But wait!” you might be thinking. “Surely my good works will get me to Heaven – maybe somehow the good will outweigh the bad?” That’s an interesting thought. Unfortunately, even “. . . all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6)

“You can’t buy your way to Heaven. All the good things you do in your whole life wouldn’t get you one minute in Heaven.”
- Billy Graham

Instead, we must trust what Christ has done for us, not what we can do.

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”
Romans 5:1, 2 NLT

God has provided the only way. . . and we must make the choice. . .

Step 4 - Our Response: Receive Christ

We can receive Jesus Christ when we believe in His message and trust in Him alone to save us.

The Bible Says…

“All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
Acts 10:43

“(Jesus said) Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.”
John 14:1

“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.”
John 1:12

How to receive Christ:

Think through these four things – then pray a prayer that follows.

1. Admit your need. (Say it and mean it because it’s true.)

2. Be willing to turn from your sins and tell that to God. (With your whole heart, desire to stop sinning – that’s enough to start!)

3. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave and lives today. (He did! Over 500 eyewitnesses saw Him after He rose. (1 Corinthians 15:6) History and personal testimonies verify His life, death, and resurrection – but it takes your personal, faithful belief in this thing that you have not seen.)

4. Invite Jesus Christ be your Lord and Savior. (The Holy Spirit is the gift of God when you accept Christ. The Holy Spirit brings you the power to stop sinning and live a life pleasing to God.)

What to pray

You may use your own words or say one of these suggested prayers.

God, I am a sinner. I admit that I am separated from You because of my actions and my sinful nature. I repent from my sins, I’m turning the other way - away from where I was headed so that now I’m heading towards You! Father, I believe that Jesus died for me to take away my sins, and that He rose from the dead and lives forever! And, Lord Jesus, I invite You to come into my life and take over the throne of my heart. Come in and control my life through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who You will send to live in me. Amen.

Oh God, I am a sinner. I’m sorry for my sin. I’m willing to turn from my sin, and follow You instead, but I need your help. I believe Jesus died and rose again to pay the penalty for my sin. I receive Christ into my heart by faith. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, Jesus. I want you to be Lord of my life, from this moment on. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(“Amen” means, “so be it!” or “I agree!”)

God’s Assurance - You have His Word on it.

If you sincerely prayed a prayer of confession and asked Jesus Christ to come into your life, do you know what He has given you?

The Bible Says…

“Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13

“Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:39

“He who has the Son has Life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life…”
1 John 5:12-13, NKJV

“…if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
Romans 10:9, 10

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
2 Corinthians 1:21, 22

Your New Life

“When you receive Christ, you are born into God’s family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer. . . this is called regeneration or ‘new birth’ or being ‘born again.’”
- Billy Graham

You’re in God’s family now! Now you get to call Him, Father!

“Because you are [His children], God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:6

(Hebrew children called their fathers “abba,” which is like us calling Him “dad” or “daddy.” Yes – you can call Him Father!)

Are you aware that a huge party just started in Heaven to celebrate you? Heaven is more excited over your decision today than over ninety-nine people who already know Christ. I suggest you tell someone you received Christ and write down today’s date as your spiritual “birthday!”

“I tell you. . . there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” - Jesus Christ, as recorded in Luke 15:7

Just the beginning!

You need to know that I’m not going to tell you that our church needs your money nor am I going to dictate where you have to go to church or tell you the kind of clothing you need to wear or how you need to cut your hair!

Friend – you are a saint of God now! (Anyone who believes in Christ is called a “saint!”) Reading any further will NOT change the fact YOU ARE NOW GOING TO HEAVEN FOR SURE! That’s a done deal!

Here are some answers for questions you may have (along with even more assurances) that will help you live life until you arrive in Heaven:

Should I go to a church?

Most certainly, yes!

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:25

I recommended you find a Bible believing church, perhaps one close to your home. It will be full of imperfect believers, which is a great place to start. (Imperfect to us, maybe, but not imperfect in God’s eyes.)

“. . . by one sacrifice - His crucifixion - He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”
Hebrews 10:14

Perhaps you’re shy about going to church. That’s OK and perfectly normal. Go anyway! (Satan – our enemy – doesn’t want you to go because he doesn’t want you to grow to be more and more like Christ. So – you see – you have to go!)

At any rate, you need to be in a church. God created us to live in community with Him and with one another. It’s where we grow best, it’s where we feel loved, and it’s where people will call the best out of us.

Being in a growing, vibrant church will help you grow to be more like Christ.

In a church, you will be able to work on the 6 strengths of an unconditional follower of Christ:

1. Surrendering your life for God’s pleasure: WORSHIP
2. Living out Christ’s great commandment: LOVE
3. Following in Christ’s footsteps: GROW
4. Connecting to God’s family: BELONG
5. Developing a ministry to God and others: SERVE
6. Sharing the good news of Christ: TELL

Should I read the Bible?

Definitely yes!

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples. . . apart from Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:7, 8, 5b

Which Bible should I read?

At Quarry Ridge we highly recommend the New International Version Study Bible (NIV) as the best study Bible available today. It’s what the pastor uses during teaching on Sundays, and it’s the version we use in our children’s and youth ministries.

Some will benefit from the New Living Translation Life Application Study Bible (NLT). The language may be a little easier on the ear, and the life application information can be of great benefit, but the study notes lack the scope and depth of the NIV. Used side-by-side with the NIV, the NLT can help you go deep in study while learning from the life application notations.

Two other great NIV bibles – especially for you since you are a new believer who might need help with faith issues are The Journey and The Quest study bibles. Both are NIV bibles – so you get the great NIV translation along with helpful notes, callouts, and Q&As that address specific questions and needs of this new life in Jesus Christ. Set them side-by-side and see which one is best for you.

Where can I get a Bible?

Almost any bookstore will have several to choose from - it’s the best selling book of all time! Certainly any Christian Bookstore will have a huge selection of Bibles. In the United States, even Wal-Mart and K-Mart carry many Bible translations.

But if you can’t afford a Bible – I WILL BUY ONE FOR YOU! That’s a promise. Don’t let money stand in the way of you getting deep into God’s Word. It will be my pleasure to buy you the Bible you need if you can’t afford on right now. Then, maybe in the future, you can buy a new Bible for someone else!

Will I be able to understand the Bible and apply it to my life?

Yes – especially the more you read it and study it!

“. . . the Spirit of truth. . . will guide you into all truth.”
John 16:12

I will give you a great little brochure from my church called “Quarrying God’s Word.” It’s all about how to start studying you Bible. It will help you start – and if you follow the simple instructions, you’ll be well on your way as a student of the Word of God.

If I haven’t given you a copy within a few days, make sure you remind me, or call Quarry Ridge Community Church and they’ll send you one in the mail.

What about talking with God (prayer) - will He even hear me?

Absolutely!

“And we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will. And if we know He is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that He will give us what we ask for.”
1 John 5:14-15

Again, I have a good resource to help you learn to pray and begin a daily time alone with God. It’s called the Great Adventure manual, and it is full of information to help you get started with prayer. I’ll get you one of your own. Again – if I forget, call Quarry Ridge Community Church and they’ll send you one.

What if I don’t feel any different?

You might not feel any different. Don’t worry about that.

Think about two people getting married, and then consider this: When these two people get married, and say “I do”, and put on the rings and walk down the aisle – do they feel more married than they did 15 minutes before the wedding? No. They may feel a release of tension or they may feel less scared – but they don’t feel more married.

That’s what it’s like to become a follower of Christ. You may feel a release from some tension as if you found an answer to a tough question – but you might not feel a whole lot different than before you decided to follow Christ. The new feelings come slowly – through many different sources and because of many different situations. After awhile – you’ll look back and say – “Boy – I really am different than I used to be,” but the feeling may not overwhelm you.
Think of this: when two people know of each other, like you may have known of or about Christ, does that make them married? No. If they date and have a long courtship and even get engaged, and have the strongest human emotions for each other, like you may have had a strong emotional experience that you thought brought you closer to God, does that make them married? No, again.

When are these two people married? They’re married when they affirm their new covenant of marriage and say “I do.” Emotions may have played a part and even been present in the blending of these two lives – but it was an agreement between them, and the agreement confirmed with the words, “I do.”

Today you said “I do” to Jesus Christ. It was an act of your will. Your decision may have involved some emotions, but it was also a determined, intellectual decision on your part. Feelings can be fickle, so don’t worry if you don’t “feel” different.

The marriage example is nice, but since so many people seem to get divorced, what if Christ decides to “divorce” me?

Impossible! He says so in His Word:

“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ”
Hebrews 13:5

“If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
2 Timothy 2:13 NLT

Once you receive Christ, that’s it, even if you make a mistake and are “unfaithful,” He “remains faithful.” Now, that’s love!

But you don’t know me. I’ve actually done some things that may be unforgivable.

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Isaiah 1:18

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103:11-12

“This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE sinners - and I (The Apostle Paul - who used to help murder Christians) was the worst of them all. But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in Him and receive eternal life.”
1 Timothy 1:15-16 NLT

Now that I’m certain I’m going to Heaven, does that mean I will never sin again?

As you grow in your faith, you may have “growing pains” and commit sin. Now if you sin, you can tell the Lord about it – and He’ll forgive you and cleanse you. He promises:

“But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.”
1 John 1:9

Friend, the Christian journey is a great, life-long adventure! Challenges will come - but take heart:

“. . . the One who is in you (Holy Spirit) is greater than the one who is in the world (Satan).”
1 John 4:4

“I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.”
Philippians 4:13 NLT

Friend, rest easy tonight - and every night! Your name was written today in the Book of Life, which is kept safe in your future, permanent home - Heaven!

“I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine.”
Revelation 3:5

“…whose names are written in the Book of Life.”
Philippians 4:3

You’re there – because you asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior! Count on it! You have it in writing from God! And now God has Your Name in writing!

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”
—Jesus Christ, John 15:13-16

The Bible has been our source for all our assurance. So remember:

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life...”
1 John 5:12-13, NKJV

Now you can be absolutely certain you’re going to Heaven!