“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (Col. 1:21-22 NIV)
It’s super good news!
It starts with a problem, but ends with an over the top, amazing, almost too good to be true, solution!
The problem. Sin! The Bible says that “none are righteous,” (Rom. 3:10); that all of us have “sinned and come short” of God’s standard of righteousness (Rom. 3:23); and, because of our sin, we are hopelessly alienated from Him (Isa. 59:2).
The solution. Which the Bible calls “thegospel,” which means “good news,” is that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sin and to “bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Our promise verse at the top says, “He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” Now, THAT is why it’s rightfully called the “good news.”
You must receive God’s gift personally
Even though Jesus has done all the work on the cross to reconcile you to God, you must personally believe and receive His wonderful free gift for yourself. The Bible says it this way, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12). Another verse says, “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.” (Rom. 10:9)
Praying “The Sinner’s Prayer”
The “Sinner’s Prayer” is a term that describes the words spoken by a person when he or she has recognized their sin and their need for a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It goes something like this:
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
I prayed a similar prayer as the one above 45 plus years ago and Jesus has truly changed my life. I know he will change yours, too!
