The Beginning

There is one God, who created everything. He is a holy and perfect God, and He determines what is "right" and "wrong".

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.Jesus (Matthew 5:48)

The Problem

God's standards are unattainable. Every one has done something wrong. No one is perfect. All of us have committed some sin or another.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GodRomans 3:23

The Bad News

The natural consequence of sin is death in Hell. In the Bible, Hell is referred to as the "second death".

For the wages of sin is deathRomans 6:23

The Good News

God loves all of mankind, even the worst of us. That is why He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8

Jesus Christ came to Earth, was born of a virgin, and lived a perfect, sinless life. At the end of His life, Jesus was falsely accused and put to death.

The punishment for our sin was placed on Jesus Christ. Our sins require a payment of death, and since Jesus had no sin, his death is a sufficient payment for our sins.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.Romans 5:9

That's Not All

After Jesus Christ gave up His life on the cross, He remained dead for three days. At the end of that time, He rose from the dead and returned to Heaven. This illustrates that Jesus Christ has power even over death.

I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day1 Corinthians 15:3-4

What To Do

Jesus Christ died for our sins, and offers us that payment as a free gift. All we have to do is repent of our sins, believe in God, and receive His gift, trusting in Him to save us from Hell. When we place our faith in God, He guarantees us a place in Heaven with Him.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.Romans 10:9
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.Romans 10:13

An Example

If you would like to receive Christ, you can pray a prayer something like this one. It is not the prayer - or any specific words - that are important; rather, it is your decision to repent of your sins, believe in God, and receive God's free gift of eternal life.

Dear God, I know that I have sinned, and I am sorry for that sin. I believe that you paid the debt for my sin, and I accept your free gift of eternal life.

The most popular verse in the Bible summarizes God's plan of salvation:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.John 3:16

If you have placed your trust in Christ, I recommend that you find a local Christian church to attend, where you can become friends with other Christians and learn more about God. Receiving Christ is the first step on an incredible journey!