We rejoice for those who are looking for salvation, for it is the most important decision one can make in this life. We are reminded of the words in Romans 10:9-10, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
This is the core of the gospel message. It is through faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved, not by our own works or merits. In Acts 4:12, we are told, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men by which we must be saved." It is only through Jesus that we can approach God and be saved.
We also encourage those seeking salvation to turn from their sins, which is known as repentance. Jesus himself said, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17). To repent means to change one's mind and turn away from sin. It is not just feeling sorry for sin, but it is a conscious decision to turn away from it and follow Jesus. Continuing in sin is contrary to the life of obedience Jesus calls us to. If you are continuing in sin it is important to approach God with repentance.
We urge you to read and study the Gospels in the Bible—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These books tell the story of Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection. We particularly recommend starting with the book of John. It was written so that people could believe in Jesus and have eternal life. (John 20:31)
Let us pray for those seeking salvation:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before you with a heart of thanksgiving for the gift of salvation through your Son Jesus Christ. We lift up those who are seeking you, who are searching for the truth that can only be found in Jesus. We pray that you would open their hearts and minds to the gospel message, that they would believe in Jesus and confess him as Lord.
We pray according to your word that says "All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no way throw out." (John 6:37) Help them to come to you. Help them to truly repent of their sins and turn to you. Help them to see how you have been pursuing them.
Grant them the faith to believe and be saved. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.
We encourage you to pray this prayer if it reflects the desire of your heart:
Dear God,
I believe that Jesus is your Son and that he died on the cross to save me from my sins. I believe that he rose again from the dead and is alive today. I confess that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I turn from my sins and invite Jesus into my life as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, God, for saving me and giving me eternal life. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen. (Romans 10:9-10, John 3:16, John 14:6)
If you have prayed this prayer, we encourage you to tell someone about your decision. We also encourage you to find a Bible believing church where you can grow in your faith and be baptized as a public declaration of your faith in Jesus. Baptism is the next step in your new walk with Jesus.
This is the beginning of a new journey of life in Christ. We are here for you and will continue to pray for you.