Salvation
Becoming a follower of Jesus
Start your journey with Jesus.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16
God loves you. Nothing you do can make Him love you more, and nothing can make Him love you less. But God loves you too much to leave you as you are.
The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23). Sin isn’t just about bad behavior—it brings real consequences. The wages of sin is death—not only physical death, but spiritual and relational death as well. It separates us from God and from the life we were created to live.
The truth is, we need help—and we cannot fix this on our own. That’s why Jesus came. What we could never do for ourselves, God did for us through Jesus Christ. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die and pay the penalty for the sin that separates us from Him. And then He rose again—coming back to life as the ultimate victory over sin and death.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” —Acts 4:12
Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned. You receive this gift by putting your faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus and choosing to follow Him. If you’ve been living apart from God and are ready to receive this gift and commit your life to Him, you can do that right now, wherever you are.
Decide to follow Jesus.
Admit
Admit that you’re a sinner in need of a Savior, and ask for forgiveness of your sins.
Believe
Believe that Jesus died and rose again to pay the penalty for your sins and give you new life in Him.
Choose
Giving your life to Jesus is the first step, but discovering how to become more like Christ and growing in your faith are lifelong commitments.
Salvation Prayer.
If you’re ready to take this step, then pray the prayer below. There’s nothing special about these particular words, so feel free to make them your own. What’s important is that you’re acknowledging your genuine need for God, your belief in Jesus, and making a commitment to Him.
Salvation Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I come to you as a sinner in need of a Savior.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
Today, I make Jesus the Lord of my life.
I believe He died so I could be forgiven and rose again to give me life.
I receive this new life. This is my new beginning. I am a child of God.
Amen.
Congratulations on making the best decision of your life!
When you make the decision to follow Christ, you get a new beginning. You’re not just a better version of yourself; you’re new. For whatever has held you back or felt like a cycle of bondage or shame for you, there’s healing and freedom in Christ. As a follower of Jesus, you’re no longer walking through life alone. You have God’s presence with you every step of the way.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17 | NIV
Following Jesus starts with one decision, but it’s lived out every day. We’ve provided the resources below to help you take your next steps.
Next Steps.
This is the first step - not the last! We want to help begin your new journey in Jesus. Follow these steps below AND make sure to check out the free resources below which include: books, devotionals, videos and more!
Salvation/New Believers FAQs
Resources.
We know there's a lot out there and finding the right resources can be overwhelming. Our staff wanted to provide some places to start learning and growing in your new found faith here!
Here at Harvest
Personal Growth and Study
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Free visual summaries/teaching of Scripture
Recommended Material to kickstart your relationship with Jesus and understanding of Christianity.
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Basic Christianity – John Stott (clear introduction to faith and salvation)
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Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live. – David Platt (discipleship and living out faith)
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The Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren (understanding God’s purpose for your life)
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Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis (classic explanation of Christian belief)