Eternal Life Begins with Jesus
“Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” (John 11:25–26a)
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Why is it important?
At Otterbein, we believe choosing to begin a relationship with Jesus & becoming more like Jesus throughout our lives is a big deal. It is a big deal because Jesus says it is a big deal. And it is a big deal because a relationship with Jesus can change everything.
It can change how you you feel about life—both the good & the bad things that happen. It can have a positive impact on your relationships. It can impact your finances. It can give you purpose in life. It can help you not fear what will happen when your time on this earth is over & you enter into your eternal life.
It is our hope and prayer that you have chosen to begin a personal relationship with Jesus. If you haven’t we would like to encourage you to look over the Becoming A Christian section below. It will provide an overview of what the Bible teaches about beginning a relationship with Jesus & what is involved in making that choice.
If you are a follower of Jesus, growing in your relationship with Jesus is also very important. Our ultimate goal should be to act like Jesus in every way (1 John 2:6). If you are new to your faith or have recently recommitted your life to Jesus, we encourage you to check out the Beginning Your Journey section below. It will provide some practical suggestions & tools to help you begin your spiritual journey.
We want to come alongside you in any way we can to help you with spiritual questions & help you take the next step in your spiritual journey. We also want to help answer any questions you have. Click here to complete a form to let us know how we can help you take the next step. Someone from our church will be in contact with you to assist you.
Lastly, if you choose to become a follower of Jesus, we encourage you to share the news with others. We would love for you to share it with us so we can pray for you & rejoice in what God has done in your life. On the Let Us Know contact form, there is a place where you can share your decision with us to become a follower of Jesus.
Step 1: God’s Purpose—Peace and Life
God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life — abundant and eternal.
The Bible Says…
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” —Romans 5:1 (NIV)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16 (NIV)
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” —John 10:10 (NIV)
Why don’t most people have this peace and abundant life that God planned for us to have?
Step 2: The Problem—Our Separation
God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him. God gave us a will and a freedom of choice. We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God.
The Bible Says…
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” —Romans 3:23 (NIV)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 6:23 (NIV)
Our Attempts to Reach God
People have tried in many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God. The Bible says…
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” –Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” –Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)
No bridge reaches God … except one.
Step 3: God’s Bridge—The Cross
Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people.
The Bible Says…
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.” —1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” —1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8 (NIV)
God has provided the only way. Each person must make a choice.
Step 4: Our Response—Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation.
The Bible Says…
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” —Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” —John 1:12 (NIV)
“That 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.” —Romans 10:9 (NIV)
Where are you?
Will you receive Jesus Christ right now? Here is how you can receive Christ:
Step 5: Prayer
God wants us to communicate our desire to become a follower of Jesus through prayer. God cares about the sincerity of our desire and what is really going on in our heart. As you pray, you can use your own words or you can use the sample prayer if it communicates the desires of your heart.
Sample Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I
believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now
invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow
You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Assurance: His Word
If you prayed this prayer, the Bible says…
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” —Romans 10:13 (NIV)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8,9 (NIV)
“What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” —2 Corinthians 5:17
“I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life” —1 John 5:13
At Otterbein, we are committed to help you learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ as well as how to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ after you have chosen to follow Him.
If you have recently made a decision to follow Jesus or you are recommitting yourself, we would like to provide some additional resources that will help you know the next step in moving forward in your new commitment to follow Jesus Christ. Click here and check the appropriate box on the contact form. We also encourage you to do several other things:
Please do not hesitate to contact us and let us know how we can help. Following Jesus is the most important & best decision you will ever make. We want to help you experience this new relationship with Christ in the way God meant for it to be experienced.
