We are excited that you are looking into this question that has transformed so many lives over the history of humanity. It is no small thing to take a step toward the Almighty God. Responding to the call of Christ is the beginning of the ultimate experience that we can have. It is where we come face-to-face with the God of the Universe, through His Son Jesus, and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to become children of God. It follows these steps (or click here for a more visual representation):

Acknowledge Your Need

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. — Romans 3:23

In order to know saving grace, we must respond to the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 15 tells us “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” God’s mission is to reconcile humanity to right standing with Him. For this, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save humanity from their sin. Acknowledging that we are separated from a Holy God because of that sin is the first step toward redemption.

Sin is just a word, but it represents a heart that chooses its own way rather than God’s. God’s standard is perfection. Sin is missing that mark. No one was, is, or will be perfect except for Jesus. The Bible states that the result of sin is death, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The only way to find forgiveness for sin is through a Savior, and no one comes to the Father except through the Son.

Repent of Your Sin

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out. — Acts 3:19

Repent and turn to God. Repentance is not making a resolution to do better. It is not just the conviction of sin; as a person may be convinced that he is wrong and still not repent. D.L. Moody liked to describe repentance this way: “Man is born with his back toward God. When he truly repents, he turns right around and faces God. Repentance is a change of mind, a change of heart, and brings about a change of action.”

The Bible says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord… for He will abundantly pardon.” You must repent of your sin and ask God to end its mastery over you. From the tiniest lie to the boldest error, we all know the depths of our own brokenness, and we must ask our gracious Father to forgive us for what we have done. He is the only one who can fix our broken state. We are dead in our sin and need to be reborn into life.

Believe In Jesus Christ as Your Savior

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. — John 3:16

After repentance, you must believe in the completed work Christ accomplished on the cross for your salvation, according to the Gospel. You must be reborn out of sin and death and into the life of the redeemed. You must believe that Christ died for your sins and that He was resurrected from death to life so that His sacrifice covers the debt your sin has accrued. No one can become good enough to be worthy of saving or do enough good to save themselves. The Bible is clear: the only way is to “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

Belief and faith work together. It does not come from our own power or our ability to do enough good to deserve it. It is of His grace, stamped with His assurance that He will never leave us or forsake us. In belief, through faith, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit toward His purpose.

Make Your Decision to Follow Him

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved — Romans 10:9

The choice to confess His Lordship is now before you. You must believe in Christ and, though faith, receive Him personally into your life as your Lord and Savior, that you will be saved from the power of sin and its consequences. “To all who receive Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

You can say something like this?

“God, I’m convinced that I am a sinner and that Christ alone can save me. I willingly repent of my sinful life and believe Jesus Christ died for me. I want to receive Him as my personal Savior. I want to be reconciled to you and to a life marked by your purpose rather than my own. Please give me your Holy Spirit and change my heart to know what you want for my life. Please be the Lord of my life and lead me to know your will.”

Surrender Yourself and Submit to His Lordship

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and gave his life for my salvation. — Galatians 2:20

The pathway of the new creation in Christ is one of redefining identity in Him. To be reconciled to Him, as His children, is to be secure for all eternity in the hands of the One True God. This life seeks God as the center of all things, trusts the Almighty as faithful to His promises, and lives in obedience to the Word of God, as well as the leading of the Holy Spirit.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” As we lean on His understanding, we submit to His Lordship in our lives. Like Christ, we must take up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow the will of the Almighty above our own. He transforms our hearts and minds through sanctification, giving us a soft spirit to His desires; growing us in love, grace, faithfulness, holiness, truth, peace, and obedience.

Grow the Depth of Your Experience of the Almighty

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! — 2 Peter 3:18

The best way to grow in your faith is to read the Bible and spend time talking to God in prayer. Additionally, we are called to be in community with other faithful believers. Being discipled by a seasoned believer, as well as learning from sound Biblical teaching, is essential for Christian growth.

We are commanded to love God and love others; to imitate Christ by making disciples as we grow in our experience of Him. We are called “not to conform to the patterns of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, in Christ.” He has promised that in Him, we will be like a tree, firmly planted by the water; producing fruit and prospering in whatever we do. He has also called us to share His truth, “spurring one another on toward love and good deeds; encouraging one another all the more as you see the Day approaching.”