Before we can get "right" with God, we need to know what's "wrong." Sin is the answer. "No one does good, not even one person" (Psalm 14:3). We have disobeyed God's rules; we have "gone astray like sheep" (Isaiah 53:6).
The bad news is that death is the price for sin. "The soul that sins is the soul that dies" (Ezekiel 18:4). The good news is that a loving God has been looking for us so that we can be saved. Jesus said that His goal was to "seek and save what was lost" (Luke 19:10), and when He died on the cross, He said, "It is finished!" to show that He had reached His goal. (John 19:30).
To have a good relationship with God, you must first admit that you have done wrong. The next step is to tell God in a humble way what you did wrong (Isaiah 57:15). "Because you believe with your heart and are forgiven, and you confess with your mouth and are saved" (Romans 10:10).
This change of heart must be accompanied by faith. Specifically, you must believe that Jesus' death on the cross and miraculous resurrection make Him the right person to save you. "You will be saved if you say "Jesus is Lord" with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead" (Romans 10:9). John 20:27, Acts 16:31, Galatians 2:16, 3:11, and 26 and Ephesians 2:8 all talk about how important faith is.
Your relationship with God depends on how you respond to what God has done for you. He sent the Savior, made the sacrifice to take away your sin (John 1:29), and gives you this promise: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21).
The story of the prodigal son is a beautiful example of how to ask for forgiveness and change (Luke 15:11-32). The younger son did something shameful with the gift his father gave him (verse 13). When he realised he had done wrong, he decided to go back home (verse 18). He thought (verse 19) that he would no longer be thought of as a son, but he was wrong. The father still loved the rebel who had come back (verse 20). All was forgotten, and a party started (verse 24). God is good because He always keeps His promises, like the one to forgive. "The Lord is close to the hurting and saves those whose spirits are crushed" (Psalm 34:18).
Here is a sample prayer to help you get right with God. Don't forget that this prayer or any other prayer won't save you. Only putting your faith in Christ can save you from sin. This prayer is just a way to show God how much you believe in Him and thank Him for saving you. "God, I know I've done wrong against You and deserve to be punished. But Jesus Christ took the punishment I deserved so that I could be forgiven if I believed in Him. I put my faith in You to save me. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness, which is the gift of eternal life. Amen!"
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