How can I be right with God?

 

To be “right” with God, we must first understand what is “wrong.” The answer is sin. “There is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3). We have rebelled against God's commands; We “like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6).

The bad news is that the penalty for sin is death. "The soul that sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). The good news is that a loving God has inspired us to bring us to salvation. Jesus declared His purpose to be that He “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10), and He declared that His purpose had been achieved when He was “finished” on the cross. !” Died with words (John 19:30).

Having a right relationship with God begins with confessing your sins. Next comes a humble confession of one's sins before God (Isaiah 57:15) and a determination to give up sins. "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10).

This repentance must be accompanied by faith – specifically, faith that Jesus' sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection qualify Him to be your Savior. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Many other passages speak of the necessity of having faith, such as (John 20:27; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:16; 3:11; 26; and Ephesians 2:8).

Being right with God is a matter of your response to what God has done on your behalf. He sent the Savior, He provided the sacrifice to take away your sins (John 1:29), and He gives you this promise: "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2: 21).

The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is one of the most beautiful examples of repentance and forgiveness. The younger son squandered the property gifted by his father in misdeeds (verse 13). When he recognized his wrongdoings, he decided to return home (verse 18). He guessed that he was no longer worthy to be called a son (verse 19), but he was wrong. The Father loved the returned rebel as he had loved before (verse 20). All was forgiven, and a banquet was ordered (verse 24). God is good at keeping His promises, including the promise of forgiveness. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 33:18).

If you want to get right with God, here's a simple prayer. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer cannot save you. Only faith in Jesus can save you from sin. This prayer is just a way of expressing your faith in Him and thanking Him for providing salvation for you. “Oh, God, I know that I have sinned against you, and I deserve punishment. But Jesus Christ took upon himself the punishment I deserve so that through faith in Him I can be forgiven I can. I put my trust in You for salvation. I thank You for Your amazing grace and forgiveness – the gift of eternal life! Amen.”