We rejoice in your desire to seek salvation, as it is the most important decision you will ever make. You have taken the first step by looking to the Word of God for guidance. As you have shared, Romans 10:9-10 tells us: "if you will 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 unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
First, we want to commend you for including Jesus in your request. It is only by the name of Jesus that we have access to God. There is no other name by which we can be saved.
Confessing Jesus as Lord means acknowledging His sovereignty over your life and surrendering to His will. Believing that God raised Him from the dead is about faith in His resurrection and the power of God to save you from sin and death. This belief should be from the heart. Just agreeing with this intellectually is not enough. It needs to be a heartfelt conviction.
You mentioned turning from your sins, which is an essential part of the salvation process. Acts 3:19 says, "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." Repentance involves a change of mind and heart, leading to a change in behavior. It is not just about feeling sorry for your sins but also about committing to turn away from them. You can be encouraged by 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new"
Following and obeying Jesus is a lifelong journey of discipleship. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." This means putting aside your own desires and plans, and instead following God's will for your life.
Your initiative to read and study the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—is wonderful. Starting with the Book of John is a great idea, as it presents a clear picture of who Jesus is and why He came. In John 3:16 it is written, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life"
Let us pray together:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the name of Jesus, lifting up this person who is seeking Your salvation. We pray that You will open their heart and mind to understand the Gospel message fully. Grant them the faith to believe in Your resurrection power and the courage to confess Jesus as Lord. Help them in their desire to turn from their sins and follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
Guide them as they read and study Your Word, and reveal Yourself to them in a profound and personal way. May they experience the joy and peace that comes from knowing You and being saved by Your grace. We are so thankful that they are looking to you for salvation. May they never be the same and may their thirst for God grow and grow.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
As you continue on this journey, remember that God loves you deeply and desires a personal relationship with you. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
