WHY SHOULD I GET SAVED!?

Gee! I have to give up everything!

Hey! I'm a good person.
He doesn't work on a merit system. He works with FAITH!

If I get saved I can't do anything that's fun anymore.
I can tell you from experience, and not only mine, that when you are saved, Jesus RENEWS your mind, and you WANT to do what's right. You are very surprised when you all of a sudden notice that YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THE SAME THINGS!

If I get saved I'll have to walk around with a Bible in my hands all the time.
I don't know anyone who walks around with a Bible in their hands ALL the time, however, many do keep one handy. It is not a sin if you don't.

If I get saved I can't use cuss words anymore.
Christians aren't perfect, and if you slip up, just ask for forgiveness. Besides, what's so great about cuss words? In my opinion, they only show a lack of knowledge of the English language. There are many, more interesting and appropriate words.

If I get saved I gotta be good ALL the time.
Impossible, even for a Christian. That's one of the reasons Christians pray and ask for forgiveness on a daily basis.

If I get saved I gotta go to church EVERY Sunday.
Your heart is the temple of the Lord. The church is a place to go to learn what the Bible says and means. It is also a place of support for anyone who needs it, and socializing with other Christians.

If I get saved I can't drink anymore.
Getting drunk is not appropriate for anyone. It also is unhealthy, and in some cases, even dangerous. However, if you are a social drinker, a drink or two is not a sin.

If I get saved I can't do drugs anymore.
Street drugs are mind-altering killers. Alcohol, also considered a drug, can be too, if used to excess.

If I get saved I can't hang out with my friends anymore.
Perhaps you could get your friends to hang out with you--if you love them!

If I get saved it will be like being in prison.
Getting saved is FREEDOM from bondage. Don't fool yourself--if you aren't saved, you ARE in bondage to Satan—shackles and chains.

I'm not ready to give up my life!
Right now, you are like the walking dead. Jesus wants you to HAVE a life.

Besides, we're all God's children, and He wouldn't send any of us to hell…
"For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity…The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth" Ps 5:4; 11:5

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom 6:23

"But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God; even to them that believe on his name."

7 things the LORD hates, Prov 6: 16-19:
*A proud look
*A lying tongue
*Hands that shed innocent blood
*A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations (thinking up evil things to do)
*Feet that are swift in running to mischief
*A false witness that speaketh lies
*And he that soweth discord among brethren

Jesus is a Giver, not a taker.
Jesus offers you a "relationship" with Him. He wants to:

…be your friend
Jn 15: 12 – 14
"This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

Jesus' shows His love in that:
*He died for you
*His love is an unconditional love
*He treats servants as friends
*He loves the unlovable

How we show Jesus our love:
*We share the knowledge of Jesus' purpose and willingly adopt it as our own.
*We try to imitate his love.

…forgive you for your sins 1 Jn 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Jesus is faithful to forgive us ALL sins if we confess them. Confessing means we believe what God says about sin and we must keep confessing our sins on a daily basis. But even more importantly, because OUR punishment was put upon Jesus at the cross: it is HIS BLOOD that cleansed us—NOT our confession. A Christian confesses his wrong-doing on a daily basis, or more depending on his/her needs. We are ALWAYS forgiven.

…give you joy Ps 16:11
"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore."

…give you strength 2 Cor 12:9
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

In your weakness, He will be strong.

…give you guidance Is 58:11
"And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."

Never worry about the necessities of life. He will sustain you in all your needs.

…be your doctor Ps 30:2
"O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me."

Again, I can verify, through experience, that Jesus DOES heal. He healed me from alcoholism and terminal cancer (3 specialists gave me this death verdict).

…give you comfort 2 Cor 1:3,4
"Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

God comforts us so that He can use us to comfort others. He always knows exactly what we need. He always gives us exactly what we need.

…remove your fear Is 54:14
"In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear; and from terror; for it shall not come near thee."

Put yourself in the hands of the Almighty God, and seek refuge under His mighty wings. He loves you so dearly!

…remove your anger Heb 10:30
"For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people."

The Lord sees when you have been attacked, abused, hurt, or worse. He deals with it much better than we ever could. I knew a man who killed a child. He got out of it legally, but his life went down more and more as each day passed. After about 7 years, he was killed by his best friend, and he died physically, in his sins.

…give you knowledge Ps 32:8
"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."

When difficulties arise, the first thing we should do is to seek God. He is constantly watching us with "His eye", and guiding us. This is a divine promise from God.

…give you love Rom 8: 38, 39
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

NOTHING hostile, nor any conceivable event can EVER tear us away from the love of our Father, God.

…fills your financial needs Matt 6:30
"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?"

God knows EVERYTHING about you; He even knows the exact number of hairs on your head. He is your Source, and He WILL take care of you if you just believe Him. Have FAITH in Him! He will not let you down.

…heal you from sickness Is 53:5
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

When Jesus died on the cross, he was beaten, tortured and killed for our sins. "By his 'stripes' we WERE healed", and so all we have to do now is BELIEVE him and receive what we already have been given.

As I mentioned above, I was healed from both alcoholism and terminal cancer.

Yes, there are occasions where God prefers to bring his child "home" with Him. My son was such a person. He had cancer—Hodgkins Disease--and rather than be healed, he was taken "home". I always tried to look at it in this respect: That all parents who love their children want the best for them, and who knows what's best more than God the Father? I could never give my son what God can give him, and I WILL see him again some day soon.

There are also occasions where one does not have enough faith to receive. You must believe His Word with all your heart, and TRUST Him with all your heart. By reading your Bible on a regular basis, your faith will build more and more every day.

FAITH, according to Mirriam Webster's Dictionary:
1. A strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
2. Complete confidence in a person or plan etc
3. Institution to express belief in a divine power
4. Loyalty or allegiance to a cause or a person

…give you patience Luke 21:19
"In your patience, possess ye your souls."

…give you security Ps 9:9
"The Lord also will will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."

…heal your broken heart Ps 147:3
"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."

…carry the load when it gets too heavy Is 40: 29-31
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

…give you peace Jn 14:27
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I uanto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

…bless you Ps 84:11
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

Grace (noun) according to Mirriam Webster's Dictionary:
1. A state of sanctification by God
2. Elegance and beauty of movement or expression
3. A sense of propriety and consideration for others
4. A disposition to kindness and compassion; benign good will
5. A short prayer of thanks before a meal
6. Free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God

Another Definition of Grace:
That attribute of God that can take the person who realizes he's nothing more than a fallen creature; he's under sin; he's under condemnation; and there's nothing he can do...THEN the Grace of God REACHES DOWN and SAVES him on the basis of his BELIEVING the Gospel!!!

Glory (noun), according to Mirriam Webster's Dictionary:
1. A state of high honor
2. Brilliant radiant beauty
3. An indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint

…be your Savior I Tim 4:10
"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."

Savior, according to The New Nave's Topical Bible:
One who saves, delivers, or preserves from any evil or danger, whether physical or spiritual, temporal or eternal

…be your Redeemer
Redeemer (noun) according to Mirriam Webster's Dictionary:
To Christians he was both God and man--the Messiah sent to save the human race from the sin it inherited through the Fall of Man [in the Garden of Eden]

Synonyms:
Christ; Good Shepherd; Jesus; Jesus Christ; Jesus of Nazareth; Savior; Saviour. God

***HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU ETERNAL LIFE!

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

So there you have it folks! Who can beat these reasons for accepting Jesus as their Savior? If you are finally convinced that Jesus is the Way to go, and your heart is sincere, then just say this little prayer: Jesus, please forgive me for all of my sins and be my Lord and Savior. I know that you died for me on the cross, but that you arose on the third day, ALIVE, to sit at the Father's right hand. I give my life to you, Lord Jesus. Amen!