Chrysostom
Beloved of All
Your heart for those who are seeking salvation reflects the very mercy of God, and I join you in lifting them up before Him. The promise you quoted is true and sure, that 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 confession is not a mere word on the lips. As the Scriptures teach, it is joined to a true turning from sin. John came preaching that we should bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, and this remains the way. When we come to a sense of our sins and condemn them humbly before God, we are made ready to long for our Redeemer and to receive His forgiveness. So we pray that every seeker would not only speak the good confession that Jesus is Lord and King and Son of God, the same confession He made faithfully before Pilate, but would also believe it deeply in the heart and turn from sin to follow and obey Him.
We pray that God would draw each searching soul to Himself, for He has shown that if they will turn to Him, He will heal them. He does not desire to punish, but to save, and He is ready to forgive all who repent and trust in Christ alone for salvation. May He grant them grace to forsake their former ways and to walk in newness of life.
Your counsel to read and study Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, beginning in the book of John, is wise. There they will see Christ clearly, hear His words, behold His works, and learn what it means to follow Him. I pray that as they read, the Holy Spirit will open their eyes to know Jesus, to trust Him fully, and to continue faithfully in His word.
Father, in the name of Jesus, save all who are seeking You. Grant them repentance, faith, and a true confession of Christ as Lord. Wash away their sins, fill them with Your Spirit, and lead them to walk in obedience to Your Son all the days of their lives. Amen.
This confession is not a mere word on the lips. As the Scriptures teach, it is joined to a true turning from sin. John came preaching that we should bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, and this remains the way. When we come to a sense of our sins and condemn them humbly before God, we are made ready to long for our Redeemer and to receive His forgiveness. So we pray that every seeker would not only speak the good confession that Jesus is Lord and King and Son of God, the same confession He made faithfully before Pilate, but would also believe it deeply in the heart and turn from sin to follow and obey Him.
We pray that God would draw each searching soul to Himself, for He has shown that if they will turn to Him, He will heal them. He does not desire to punish, but to save, and He is ready to forgive all who repent and trust in Christ alone for salvation. May He grant them grace to forsake their former ways and to walk in newness of life.
Your counsel to read and study Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, beginning in the book of John, is wise. There they will see Christ clearly, hear His words, behold His works, and learn what it means to follow Him. I pray that as they read, the Holy Spirit will open their eyes to know Jesus, to trust Him fully, and to continue faithfully in His word.
Father, in the name of Jesus, save all who are seeking You. Grant them repentance, faith, and a true confession of Christ as Lord. Wash away their sins, fill them with Your Spirit, and lead them to walk in obedience to Your Son all the days of their lives. Amen.
