When you pray a prayer like that – and really mean it – several things happen all at once.

Jesus told a parable about a shepherd who had lost a sheep. He said that when that shepherd found his sheep, he rejoiced, and he invited his friends to rejoice with him. Then Jesus said, in Luke 15:7, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety- nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Think of it: When you accepted Jesus as your Savior, you became the reason for a party in heaven.

Second, when you prayed that prayer, all of your sins – past, present and future – were instantly forgiven. You asked for divine forgiveness, and divine forgiveness is what you got.

Fourth, when you asked Jesus to come and live in your heart, He moved right in.

Jesus promises to come into the life of anyone who opens their life to Him. Jesus is the Son of God, and, as such, He cannot lie. If He could lie, He would not be God. Therefore, when you invited Him in, He came in – just as He promised. From now on, Jesus lives in you. From now on, Jesus will be with you. You will never again be alone.

John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"

I John 3:1 says, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" That, my friend, is what you are – a child of God!

Finally, when you accepted Jesus, along with Him you received the gift of eternal life. As you walk with Him, you can be assured that you will live forever with Him in His heavenly home.

John 3:16 is the most wonderful verse in the entire Bible. It says, "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. " The whole reason that Jesus came to earth, that He died on the cross, was to make eternal life available to anyone who would believe.

You can make a better choice. One that will make your decision to follow Christ seem brighter and even more important. That choice is to follow Him and to base your new life on His principles as revealed in His Word, the Bible.

Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. To go on living your old way of life would be sinful and would bring sorrow to the heart of Jesus. To pattern your life after His Word, however, would bring joy to the Lord.

Get a Bible and begin to read it. Begin with the gospel of John. Ask a Christian friend or pastor to help you understand what you read.

Second, you need to begin a daily habit of conversation WITH Jesus through prayer. This is the means of communication that God has provided for us as His people. He wants us to talk to Him, and He wants to talk with us in turn. Listen for His voice.

Hebrews 10:22 says,"let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith." We draw near (experience a close relationship) to God through prayer. Give God the chance, and He will make Himself real to you. He will talk with you and teach you His ways. He will make Himself available to you as a counselor and friend.

Third, you need to open your life to Christian fellowship in the church. The church is the Body of Christ. It is the place where all of the people who belong to Him get together to love and support each other.

Hebrews 10:25 in the Living Bible, says, "Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near."

That verse reminds us of two important truths. First, that we really do need each other for love and support if we are going to live a Christian life successfully. Second, that Jesus is coming again, and that we need the church to help us be ready to receive Him when He returns. And you need the church, and your fellow believers, to help you become a strong and growing Christian.

We would invite you, of course, to make the Marsing Church of the Nazarene your church home. There are people here who would accept you, love you, and help you to grow in Christ. That, after all, is our mission: to help each other become all that Jesus wants us to be.

Sharing your decision to receive Jesus is called giving a testimony. Revelation 12:11 reminds us that we overcome "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony." In other words, you are a Christian today because you accepted the death of Jesus on the cross as payment for your sins, and you can strengthen your faith in Jesus by sharing your testimony with others. They need to hear what Jesus has done for you, and you need to tell them.