Lesson Two
THREE THINGS YOU MUST BELIEVE

Chapter 3: Eternal life

Now we come to the final chapter of this lesson. In the second chapter, you learned that it is only through Jesus Christ that your sins can be forgiven and you can be saved. Then the question comes to your mind: "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30).

This is not a new question. Mankind has asked this question down through the ages, for we must face this question at least once in our earthly life.

What is God's answer to the question? (No one else has the answer.) "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be savedóyou and your household" (Acts 16:31).

"Believe in the Lord Jesus"ówhat does this mean?
First, to believe in Jesus means to repent of your sins. There are three practical aspects to repentance:
(1) You admit that you are a sinner, and you recognize all the sins you have committedóknowingly and unknowingly, sins known to others and sins that are only known to you, sins in thoughts and in deeds; every and all sin.
(2) You confess those sins to God.
(3) You ask for forgiveness in Jesus' nameónot based on your own determination or willful resolution not to commit them again.

Second, you welcome (or receive, or accept) Jesus into your heart as your personal Savior. No one else can do this for youónot your parents or friends, your teachers or business partners. You yourself must open your own heart to Him.

This is a VERY PERSONAL matter, requiring a PERSONAL decision, and PERSONAL action. One thing must be made clear: Jesus does not force His way into your heart. You must first be willing to accept Him. Otherwise, He may be the personal Savior of your mother or father, brother or sister, but not your own! This does not mean that Jesus does not want to save everyone. On the contrary, as we have seen, He does want to save everybody. But each person must want to be saved if he or she is to be saved.

"I stand at the door and knock," Jesus says. "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in" (Revelation 3:20). Accepting Jesus as your personal Savior is the most important and glorious decision you can ever make. If you have accepted Him, you are now a child of God and no longer a condemned sinner. You can now enjoy the fullest relationship with God, which is the foundation of true happiness.

Third, what happens to a person who repents of his sins and accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior?

There is no way we can express the glorious result. The Bible says: "To all who received him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). "Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise'" (Luke 23:43).
"In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).

"To himÖI will give the right to eat from the tree of life," says Jesus again, "which is in the paradise of GodÖ. And I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:7 and 10).

"And this is what he promised us, even ETERNAL LIFE" (I John 2:25). "Eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ" is a free gift to you from God in His infinite love. Receive and welcome Him today with a repentant and trusting heart. Then, and only then, are you "born again" into the kingdom of God. These are terrific truths you are learning. Pray that God will keep them fresh in your mind. Now go to the Review Questions for Lesson Two and answer them.