The plan of salvation and forgiveness of sin, with Scriptures, is presented in order that a person may have the security of knowing he or she is saved will go to Heaven upon death.

CHRIST SEEKER:
COME HOME TO GOD!

IF YOU ARE SEEKING CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR:

Please consider carefully the information in the first part of this site. You can receive God's grace and inherit eternal life in Heaven-- today! All that is required of you is love-- love of God and of mankind-- and faith-- faith in Jesus Christ, that He died for your sins, rose from death, and will return to Earth to take you to Heaven to be with Him forever.

Eternal life is a gift from God, and all it takes is for you to receive it. I have tried to explain some of the beliefs of Christianity.

God, your Heavenly Father, has been waiting all of your life for you to come to Him-- to come home to an eternal home awaiting you in Heaven. Are you ready to accept His invitation to come home and be in His family forever?

IF YOU HAVE STRAYED AWAY FROM GOD'S LOVE:

Jesus taught a parable-- the Parable of the Prodigal (Lost) Son-- which is a parable that fits your present situation.

When you study and learn this parable, you will know the heart of God and how he will accept you back into His family, no matter how far you may have drifted away from Him and how low you have sunk in life.

Our Heavenly Father is a God of grace and restoration. Chome home to Him now!

GO TO the teaching of the Parable of the Prodigal (Lost) Son.

EASY RETURN:
This Web site is a companion to three other Web sites. To return to any of them, click on the title:

See THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, Mel Gibson's new movie. Take someone who needs salvation to the movie with you. This movie depicts the sacrifice of Jesus, the event upon which the New Covenant of God with man is based. Jesus came to Earth approximately two-thousand years ago for this purpose, and He will return again to call to Him those who have faith in His death, burial, and resurrection. Use this movie to witness to others about the Savior!
[Jesus said] "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (John 12:32)

WHO IS GOD?

God is the Creator of the universe and the spiritual Father of all persons. He created you and is your Father. He is eternal-- having neither beginning nor end.

God appears to mankind in three different ways (three different Persons):

  • God the Father is Creator and Supreme Ruler of the universe. He is Jehovah (Yahweh), the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (the God worshiped by the Jews). He is also the Father of Jesus (the Savior recognized by Christians), and is, therefore, the Father of Christians. God is the Judge of all men and women.

  • God the Son, Jesus the Christ (the Messiah), is God made flesh, Who lived on Earth two-thousand years ago to explain God's new plan (the New Covenant). Acceptance of the New Covenant is required for God's forgiveness of sin. Jesus was crucified, resurrected (brought to life from death), and ascended to Heaven, where He now waits until time to return for His believers-- resurrection of the dead and rapture (snatching away) of those who believe in Him as Savior. He is the Savior, the route God has chosen for man to be redeemed (bought back) from sin through belief in Jesus as Savior.

  • God the Holy Spirit is the presence of God who lives in each person's body. The Holy Spirit (the Holy Ghost) was left on Earth for the benefit of man, after Jesus ascended to Heaven. The Holy Spirit teaches, comforts, convicts of sin, restrains evil, and fulfills other functions as the earthly manifestation of God readily available to every person.

Together, the three manifestations of God form the Trinity.


SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY "GODS," HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS GOD IS REALLY GOD?

Many "gods" have been worshiped in the past. Today, millions of people worship such "gods" as Allah and Buddha.

The true God has told of Himself in The Holy Bible. To determine if The Holy Bible is true-- and, therefore, if God is real-- one of the easiest way is to study prophecy. More than one-fourth of The Bible is written about prophecy. Prophecy about past events has been fulfilled precisely as written centuries before the events. It seems logical that future events will occur precisely as prophesied. The background for future events prophesied in The Holy Bible is being set into motion at this moment. Prophecy about our generation has either been fulfilled or we can understand how it will be fulfilled. Only God can foretell the future with complete accuracy! No other "god" or man has ever prophesied with complete accuracy about future events.

Persons who genuinely accept Jesus as Savior know from personal experience that God is real. The transformation of life is so sudden and dramatic that it can only be the work of and a gift from God. The true God (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) provides His followers with a commandment to love everyone and to gain rewards only by giving of self to help others in need. The true God is not a god Who would command hatred of anyone or any group. The true God would never reward anyone for murdering innocent men, women, and children in His name. The true God rewards eternal life to anyone who demonstrates faith and love, and this gift of eternal life is peace for all persons, not a lustful life for people who commit murder in His name.


WHAT IS SIN?

God has written in The Holy Bible what He expects you to do with your life.

Whenever you act against one of God's commandments or whenever you fail to keep one of His commandments, you sin.


WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF COMMITTING SIN?

God, who is free of sin, will not tolerate sinners in His presence. Thus, sin separates you as a sinful person from sin-free God, causing you to be excluded from Heaven and to be sentenced to Hell-- UNLESS you obtain forgiveness of sin.

Sin will lead to death of your soul:

  • Romans 3:23-24: ... (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (25) God did this as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.... EXPLANATION: Justified: God's forgiveness of sin to restore the sinner to righteousness and to fellowship with Him. Grace: God's gift of salvation, which cannot be earned or purchased by the sinner, but is given by God because of His love. Redemption: the return of sinners from sin to God because of the price Jesus paid for sinners through His crucifixion. Faith in his blood: acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice-- the shedding of His blood during the crucifixion-- as the basis for the New Covenant (new agreement, new promise) between God and man. A person must accept this sacrifice before he or she can be bought back from sin to righteousness.

  • Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. EXPLANATION: Wages of sin means that a sinner should earn death of his or her soul through an eternity of torment in Hell. The gift of God is His grace given out of love that a sinner forgiven of his or her sins and accepting His gift of salvation will have eternal life in Heaven.


THERE SEEM TO BE SO MANY COMMANDMENTS IN THE BIBLE, HOW CAN YOU KEEP THEM ALL?

Jesus simplified commandments in the Bible by teaching that there are only two commandments that you need to remember.

In Jesus' time, the Jews observed six-hundred and thirteen laws and commandments. A Jewish lawyer tried to trick Jesus into saying that some were more important than others:

  • Matthew 22:36-40: (36) [A Pharisee law expert asked Jesus] "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" (37) Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' (38)This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (40) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
    NOTE: Marvel at the simplicity of Jesus' teaching. If you totally love God and wish never to offend Him and if you love all persons as you love yourself and never wish to harm anyone, how can you sin against God?


HOW CAN YOU BE FORGIVEN OF SIN?

You must take three steps to be forgiven of sin:

  1. Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. GO TO THIS SECTION NOW.

  2. Ask God to forgive your sins (confess your sins to God); forgive others who have sinned against you; and repent (turn away) from your sins. GO TO THIS SECTION NOW.

  3. Live the life of a Christian, as God expects and demands. GO TO THIS SECTION NOW.


STEP 1-- YOU MUST ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR:
This decision is the most important one you will make in your entire lifetime. If you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will spend a joyful eternity in Heaven. If you reject Him, you will spend an eternity of torment in Hell. If you refuse to decide this issue, you have, in effect, made the decision to reject Jesus. God does not decide where you spend eternity. He leaves this decision to you and you alone. You can choose Jesus and live eternally in Heaven, or you can reject Jesus and live eternally in Hell.

GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION:

God desires that no one will perish in Hell. To cleanse any person of sin and make him or her worthy to be in God's presence in Heaven, He has devised a plan to save persons-- to save you!-- from perishing.

The plan of salvation for you is this: A loving God offers you, His child, a way to bridge the gap between your sinful nature and His sin-free nature. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to Earth to die on a cross in your place for your sins. The blood He shed there washes sins from your life, IF you will accept His sacrifice:

  • John 3:16: [Jesus said] "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."


JESUS DIED FOR THE SINS OF ALL MANKIND-- INCLUDING YOUR SINS:

Jesus Christ, God's only Son, allowed Himself to be humiliated, cursed, tortured, and nailed to a wooden cross until He died, that His death would pay for your sins.

The blood Jesus shed on the cross is the only sacrifice God now considers worthy enough to buy you from the darkness of sin and eternal condemnation into the Light of sin forgiveness and eternal fellowship with God:

  • Hebrews 9:11-28, excerpted as verses 22, 26b, and 28: (22) In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.... (26) ... But now [Jesus Christ] has appeared once and for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.... (28) ... so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people, and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

  • Matthew 26:28: [Jesus said, after taking the cup of wine at the last Passover meal He ate with His disciples, just hours before His crucifixion] "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

  • Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

  • Ephesians 1:7: In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace....

  • And many other Bible passages, which are too numerous to include in this Web site.


JESUS ROSE FROM DEATH TO CLAIM VICTORY OVER HIS DEATH AND HIS FOLLOWERS-- INCLUDING YOU-- IF GOD'S GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE IS ACCEPTED:

God wants you to acccept the gift of eternal life purchased for you by the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus proved that He was God's Son by rising from death, and He promises you the same victory over your death, if you accept Him as your Savior.

After His death, Jesus was placed in a tomb for three days, but He arose to life. Hundreds of people who knew Him witnessed both His death on the cross and His return to life three days later:

  • Matthew 28:5-6: (5) The angel said to the women [who were looking into Jesus' empty tomb on the third day] "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. (6) He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

  • 1 Corinthians 15:3-8: (3) ... Christ died for our sins... (4) ... was buried... was raised on the third day... (5) and... appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve [disciples], (6-8) [ and then appeared to more than five hundred brothers, to James, to all the apostles, and to Paul].


JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY FOR YOU TO RECEIVE SALVATION:

Jesus is the only way you can achieve salvation from eternal death. Only God can grant salvation from eternal death in Hell, which is a pardon for the sins you commit.

God will grant this salvation (this pardon) only to you if you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, i.e., if you have faith in Jesus and make Him the Lord (Ruler) of your life and the Savior from your sins:

  • John 14:6: Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

  • John 1:12: Yet to all who received [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God....

  • Romans 10:13: ... [For] "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."


YOU CAN RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR ONLY THROUGH FAITH:

God chose one of the most basic emotions of a child-- faith-- to be the only door through which you can enter Heaven. Faith can be experienced by all persons-- the young and the old, the rich and the poor, and the educated and the uneducated. Faith can be experienced in a moment's time, rather than being experienced gradually over years. God made salvation simple in order that all persons would have equal opportunity to receive His gift. Salvation is as simple as believing with all your heart that Jesus' death paid the price for your sins; that this belief in Him will save you from the punishment you deserve for your sins; and that Jesus arose from death and ascended to Heaven, where He now awaits His return to Earth to take you and other believers with Him for eternal life in Heaven.

Salvation can be obtained only by grace (a gift God wants to give you freely because of His great love for you). Salvation cannot be purchased or earned, but can be accepted only as a gift:

  • Ephesians 2:8-9: (8) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God-- (9) not by works, so that no one can boast.

  • Hebrews, chapter 11, excerpted as verses 1 and 6: (1) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.... (6) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

  • John 6:28-29: (28) Then they asked [Jesus], "What must we do to do the work God requires?" (29) Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one [Jesus] he has sent."

  • 1 John 3:23: And this is [God's] command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another, as he commanded us.

  • Mark 16:16: [Jesus said] "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

  • John 3:15, 18: (15) [Jesus said] ... [That] everyone who believes in [Jesus] may have eternal life.... (18) Whoever believes in [Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.";

  • Revelation 3:20: [Jesus said] "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in...."


DOES THIS PLAN SEEM TOO SIMPLE FOR YOU?

God chose the simple, basic emotions of love and faith as the way for you to enter His Kingdom. These emotions can be experienced by all persons. There is no barrier of age, sex, race, wealth, social status, education, or any other manmade barrier. All persons stand as equals at the foot of Jesus' cross, and all persons are loved equally by God the Father.

A major stumbling block for many persons is that God's grace-- His gift of salvation for them-- is too simple. They reason, surely a gift this wonderful must require more of the recipient of the gift. Yet, this simplicity is the beauty of God's love for mankind. He made His plan simple in order that no one-- not even a little child-- would be denied access:

  • 1 Corinthians 10:13: The man without the Spirit does not accept the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

  • Mark 10:15: [Jesus said] "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it."


"YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN":

If you truly accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have a new (second) birth. Salvation should make a dramatic change in your life. The old, earthly person that was you should "die." In its place, a new, spiritual person that will forever be you should be born. This concept is the origin of the term "born-again Christian."

Jesus' teaching about the second birth is included in the following passage:

  • Read John 3:1-8: SUMMARY: A rich man, Nicodemus, inquired of Jesus about God's Kingdom. Jesus told him, "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again, ...born of water and of the Spirit." Then Jesus told Nicodemus, "You must be born again."


DO YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

First, understand and accept the following:

  • You are a sinner in need of salvation.

  • If you accept God's gift of salvation, you will spend eternity in total happiness in Heaven. If you reject God's gift of salvation, you will spend eternity in torment in the Lake of Fire (Hell).

  • You cannot save yourself from the judgment of God. Only God can save you-- and then, only if you wish to be saved.

  • Faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior is the only way you can be saved.


LISTEN TO THE URGING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

Does your life seem empty, or meaningless, or missing a purpose? Do you feel a need to seek God for your life? Do you feel sorrow or guilt for your sins? Are you frightened to live without God in your life?

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, you may be experiencing the Holy Spirit urging you to accept salvation and come to God. Respond to the Holy Spirit's urging immediately. You may never have another chance. You could die before this day is over, and your chance to receive salvation will be forever lost. Even if you live a long life, your heart may become so hardened by repeated rejection of God that you will never be saved:

  • John 16:13-14a: (13) [Jesus said] "... the Spirit of truth... will guide you into all truth.... (14) He will bring glory to me...."

  • Romans 8:16: The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

  • John 12:39-40: (39) For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: (40) "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn-- and I would heal them."

  • Hebrews 3:12-13: (12) See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. (13) ... so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.


PRAY AND ASK JESUS TO BE YOUR SAVIOR.

Pray to God that He will save you. There is no special prayer you must say. Go to a room by yourself; or, if you are more comfortable, ask a Christian to pray with you. Close the door. Pray (talk) to God. It does not matter whether you pray silently or aloud. Tell Him your needs. Tell Him that you want to accept Jesus as your Savior.

Some persons may pray by using beads, lighting candles, or praying through persons (alive or dead). Do not be hindered by not knowing or following these rituals. Such rituals are not taught in The Holy Bible, and you do not need them. Jesus taught that you pray when you talk to God in your own words. Prayer is available to you at any place and at any time.

Your first prayers may be clumsy and halting. Do not worry. God knows your heart. If you try to pray to Him out of love and a desire to follow His will for your life, He will take your stumbling words and will hear what your heart wants to say to Him. Your halting, uncertain words will be heard by God as the beautiful words you wish you could say.

You may be unfamiliar with prayer, and may have trouble saying your first prayer to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you do have trouble, I have written the following prayer you may use as your first prayer. Say the prayer only if you truly believe the words and accept them as your own. The next time you pray, use your own words and talk to God from your heart.

A PRAYER FOR YOU TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR

Dear God, my Father in Heaven,

I now know you are my God, my Heavenly Father. I love You because I now understand that You have always loved me with Your perfect love. You have waited all my life for me to come to You at this very moment, as a rebellious child might return home to his or her family. Thank You for Your faithful love and patience, while I strayed apart from You.

Father, I have sinned against you. I am deeply sorry for my sins because I now know they have kept me from having a personal relationship with You and have kept me from knowing You and understanding Your will for my life.

I ask You to forgive me of my sins. I ask that my sins be washed from my life by the blood of Jesus, which poured from His body while He was nailed on a cross because of my sins.

I ask that my heart and mind will always be open to the urging of Your Holy Spirit, and that, with Your help, I will be strengthened not to commit these sins again.

I know You will forgive me, as I forgive others. When I sin, please help me have the courage to ask people whom I wrong for them to forgive me. Please help me show love to people who wrong me, that I may forgive them-- even if they do not ask my forgiveness.

I accept Your Son, Jesus Christ, as my Savior. I want to make Him the Lord-- the Ruler-- of my life. I want to know Him personally; to walk in His ways; to make His Words the way by which I live my life; and to try to imitate Him in everything I think, say, or do.

I want to learn more about Your Way for my life and Your Kingdom on earth and in Heaven. Help me find a place of worship-- a church-- where You are praised and Your Holy Word is taught with reverence. Help me read The Holy Bible with understanding, that I may apply Your Word to my life.

Please make me always receptive to the Holy Spirit, as I read Your Word and implant It in my heart. Please give me strength through the Holy Spirit, as I tell others with no fear or embarrassment about Jesus Christ and Your Kingdom.

Father, I have today been re-born a new person-- a spiritual person, a person who will never face the second death, and a child in Your Kingdom. Thank You for writing my name in the Lamb's Book of Life this very day, that I may enjoy eternal life in Heaven with You. Thank You for this greatest of all gifts that I can ever receive. I now trust You for every part of my life forever and forever.

Father, I ask you to give me peace in my life. Wipe away my tears. Fill my heart with joy. Bring laughter to my life. Let me know love, as I give love to You and others and as I receive love from You and others. Let me live my life to its fullest, that I may bear good fruit for Your Kingdom all of my life. Father, I claim Your promises for blessings now and forever.

I love You, Father. With praise for You and with thanksgiving for everything You have provided and will provide, I worship You because only You are worthy. I pray in the precious name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

DO YOU HAVE "THE PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING?" DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO HELP CARRY YOUR BURDENS?

Now that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, do you feel more at peace? Many persons experience an unusual peace, after accepting God's grace, His gift of salvation, which is His promise of eternal life in Heaven. As a personal testimony, I do not doubt my own salvation and fate after death. The peace of knowing and loving God provides me with peace so profound and perfect that it defies description. I can only enjoy this peace as a gift from God for this life on earth now, with a promise of an even greater, more perfect peace to follow in Heaven. As Paul wrote:

  • Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
    Pray that you, too, will experience this peace of God in your life. Such peace is your earthly heritage and your gift as a child of God.

No matter how heavy your burdens weigh down your mind, body, and spirit, you now have God to help shoulder your load. As a child of God, you now have Someone who cares for and loves you to help with your burdens! God wants you to be released from your burdens of sins, concerns, fears, and guilt in order that you may enjoy more fully this life on earth. This is your earthly inheritance as a child of the King!

  • Matthew 11:28-30: (28) [Jesus said] "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

  • John 10:10b: [Jesus said] "... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."


WHAT HAS JUST NOW HAPPENED TO YOU?

If you truly asked Jesus Christ to become your Savior, several things have occurred in your life and soul:

First: Jesus entered your heart and mind! Upon your invitation, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, entered your heart and mind. Here, He will live as part of your life, as He promised:

  • Revelation 3:20: [Jesus said] "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in...."

Second: Your sins can now be forgiven! The purpose for Jesus' coming to earth was for Him to permit Himself to be crucified by His creation-- man. Through this unparalleled act of love, Jesus' blood became a sacrifice for you-- the only sacrifice by which your sins can be forgiven. By accepting Jesus as your Savior, you accepted His sacrifice-- His blood shed for you through His crucifixion. You now have the right to approach God and ask Him to forgive you of your sins:

  • Colossians 1:13-14: (13) For [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Third: You became a child of God. After being re-born spiritually, you now are a child of God, a child who will inherit the Father's Kingdom for eternity:

  • John 1:12-13: (12) Yet to all who received [Jesus Christ, as Savior], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- (13) children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

Fourth: You have the promise of eternal life in Heaven. When you received Jesus Christ as your Savior, your name was written in the Lamb's Book of Life in Heaven, ensuring your eternal life there-- a place where there is no death, tears, or want:

  • John 5:24: [Jesus said] "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes [God the Father] who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."

  • John 14:2-3: (2) [Jesus said] "In my Father's house [Heaven] are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am."

  • Revelation 21:27: Nothing impure will ever enter [New Jerusalem, or Heaven], nor will anyone who does what is shameful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Fifth: You are now a new person-- a re-born spiritual child of God. As a believer in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have been re-born-- re-created to be a new person, a person who lives to please your Lord, a person who expects the bounty of the Lord's riches to shower your life, and a person assured of eternal life in Heaven:

  • John 10:10b: [Jesus said] "... I have come that they [Jesus' followers] may have life, and have it to the full."

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!


WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO NOW?

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, there are several more steps you need to take:

First: Tell others about your decision to follow Jesus because following Jesus is a public matter, your willingness to acknowlege Jesus is a sign of your new faith, and telling others of Jesus is an act of obedience in spreading the Gospel.

Bible accounts disclose that Jesus called people to follow Him in public. Serving God is a public matter:

  • Matthew 10:32-33: (32) [Jesus said] "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. (33) But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."

Your willingness to acknowledge Jesus in public is a sign of your faith, and Jesus will reward you by acknowledging you before God the Father:

  • Romans 10:8b-10, 13: (8) ... "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," .... (9) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.... (13) for "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Telling others about Jesus is obedience to His command to spread the Gospel (the Good News about God's plan to save people from their sins through the crucifixion of Jesus) to others, which Jesus commanded you to do:

  • Matthew 28:19-20a: (19) [Jesus said] "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...."

Second: Talk to a Christian spiritual leader. You need to talk to a Christian Protestant minister, a Messianic Jewish rabbi or leader, or a Catholic priest as soon as possible and discuss your decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Third: Learn more about your new faith. You need to know more about being a Christian than I can present in this Web site. Find a Christian spiritual leader who truly loves and follows God in all three Persons-- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Talk to a minister or priest. Ask questions. Ask for literature. Learn more about your new faith.

Fourth: Join a Christian church. The Church is the body of Christ. Many individual churches form different parts of Christ's body. You will not find a "perfect" church. A mature Christian understands that any "perfect" church he or she joins would be made imperfect after he or she joins. The Church has been called a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints. All members come to church to seek God's will, to worship God, and to mend relationships with God and each other.

Find a church where the Gospel (the Good News of salvation through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ) is preached boldly and The Holy Bible is accepted as the inspired (given to man from God) and error-free Word of God.

Fifth: Be baptized. Many denominations baptize new believers by immersing them in water. There are many Bible verses to support this practice. Baptism is symbolic of:

  • The old, sinful, unsaved person dying and being buried in a watery grave, to be raised up as a new, spiritual person;

  • Washing from a person's soul his or her dirty, shameful sins in the baptismal water, to rise from the water spotless and clean because of Jesus' sacrifice; and

  • An affirmation of the promise of resurrection-- being raised from death (an earthly grave) to enjoy eternal life. Just as Jesus defeated death and rose from His grave so, too, the believer affirms belief in resurrection from death by symbolically rising from the watery grave of baptism).

By all means, be baptized. If not offered in your church, ask a minister in another church to baptize you. If you were baptized as an infant, be baptized again. Baptism is for believers in Jesus Christ. An infant cannot reason enough to believe in Jesus and, therefore, cannot accept and understand the significance of baptism.


LEARN AND USE YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS:

God gives each of His children one or more spiritual gifts. Learn your spiritual gifts and use them to serve God. For example:

  • 1 Corinthians 12:4-6: (4) There are different kinds of [spiritual] gifts, but the same [Holy] Spirit. (5) There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. (6) There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

There are nine spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit, recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10):

  1. The message of wisdom,
  2. The message of knowledge,
  3. Faith,
  4. Gifts of healing,
  5. Miraculous powers,
  6. Prophecy,
  7. Distinguishing between spirits,
  8. Speaking in different kinds of tongues [languages], and
  9. Interpretation of tongues [languages].


TELL OTHERS ABOUT YOUR SALVATION:

If you won an automobile in a contest, you would be so thrilled and excited you would tell everyone you know. God, the Creator of the universe, has given you the greatest gift you can ever receive-- a gift infinitely more valuable than an automobile. You should be so thrilled and grateful that you want to tell everyone you meet about God's gift to you, and invite them to receive the gift God has waiting for them.


PROUDLY ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR:

Jesus called men and women to be His followers in public, never secretly. Do not be ashamed to be a follower of Jesus Christ, but always proudly and boldly tell others about Him.

Jesus said He will acknowledge you in Heaven, as you acknowledge Him on earth:

  • Mark 8:38: [Jesus said] "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words..., the Son of Man [Jesus] will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's [God's] glory with the holy angels."


BY TELLING OTHERS ABOUT JESUS, YOU OBEY HIM AND EARN YOURSELF REWARDS IN HEAVEN:

The Good News that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind is called "the Gospel."

Any believer who accepts God's grace and is saved from eternal death in Hell-- and this includes you-- is expected to tell others about being saved. Some persons you might tell are family members, friends, neighbors, fellow students, and co-workers. Shortly before He ascended into Heaven after His resurrection, Jesus commanded every believer to spread the Gospel:

  • Matthew 28:19-20a: (19) [Jesus said] "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations [all people], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...."

If you spread the Gospel and cause others to be saved from eternal death, you will be rewarded in Heaven with the Crown of Rejoicing for Soul Winners:

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20: (19) For what is our glory, or joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? (20) Indeed, you are our glory and joy.


READ THE HOLY BIBLE-- GOD'S WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOU-- EVERY DAY:

Obtain a copy of The Holy Bible. Read this magnificent book daily. Memorize verses which are especially meaningful for you. Paul (in 2 Timothy) explained the source of the powerful, life-changing Bible (Scriptures) and the value of reading and following it; Peter (in 1 Peter) explained that the Bible is our eternal guide:

  • 2 Timothy 3:16-17: (16) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (17) so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

  • 1 Peter 1:23-25: (23) For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (24) For "All men are like grass, and their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, (25) but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.

There are several versions (translations) of The Holy Bible. The oldest English version is the King James Version (KJV). This version, first published in 1611, contains the most beautiful wording of any translation, but some English words are obsolete and may be difficult for a modern reader to understand. The Living Bible is probably the easiest translation to read. Other translations are available. The New International Version (NIV) and New King James Version (NKJV) are used in this Web site. Some Bibles contain more than one translation printed side-by-side.

If you are unfamiliar with The Bible, ask the pastor of your new church for a recommendation for a new believer in reading The Holy Bible. Or, you may read the Gospel of John first. Then, read at least one of the other Gospels (Matthew, Mark, or Luke). Then, read the Book of Romans. Then, begin a lifetime adventure of reading and learning from the most powerful, awesome book ever written. The Bible was spoken by the mouth of God and written down by the hands of certain men, whom He chose to record His Word. Most importantly, The Holy Bible speaks directly to you!

The Bible is divided into Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament, originally written mostly in Hebrew, records God's instructions for all mankind and His dealing with the Jews prior to the coming of the Messiah (Jesus) two-thousand years ago; it also contains commandments you are expected to keep as well as important prophecies about Jesus. The New Testament, originally written mostly in Greek, contains primarily the life and ministry of Jesus, His teachings, and His promise to return to take us to Heaven.


STEP 2-- SEEK GOD'S FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS:
God is willing to forgive you of your sins, as you forgive others of their sins against you, if you ask His forgiveness and repent of (turn away from) your sins.

GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU, AS YOU FORGIVE OTHERS:

Jesus taught that God forgives your sin, if you are willing to ask forgiveness of those against whom you sin.

  • Read Matthew 18:15-35. This teaching of Jesus, too long to reproduce here, is summarized: Jesus taught His disciples about forgiveness. Peter asked how many times he should forgive someone, and Jesus answered with an impossibly large number-- meaning that each follower should be always in an attitude of forgiveness. Then, Jesus told a parable about a servant (representing each person) who owed a king (representing God) a huge sum of money (representing our debt to God caused by our sins). When the king ordered the servant to re-pay the debt, the servant begged the king for mercy. The king forgave the servant's debt (representing God's willingness to forgive sins because of His grace). The forgiven servant left the king's presence, and saw a fellow servant who owed him a small amount (representing the trespasses your friends have made against you). Demanding repayment of the debt, the second servant could not re-pay the debt. The forgiven servant had his fellow servant thrown into prison. When the king learned of the unforgiving heart of the forgiven servant, he had him thrown into prison (representing banishment from God's presence). Then, Jesus added this statement (verse 35): "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He taught them a model prayer, called the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). One sentence (verse 12) sums up a requirement of God to forgive sin:

  • [Jesus prayed] "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."

To emphasize this requirement, Jesus further explained:

  • Matthew 6:14-15: (14) [Jesus said] "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (15) But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Jesus also taught:

  • Mark 11:25: [Jesus said] "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins."

  • Matthew 5:22-24: (22) [Jesus said] "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.... (23) Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, (24) leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother; then come and offer your gift."

  • Luke 17:3-4: (3) [Jesus said] "... If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. (4) If he sins against you seven times in a day and then comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."


GOD'S PROMISE TO FORGIVE SIN:

One of the most blessed, reassuring promises of God is that He is willing to forgive sin:

God promises to forgive your sin-- provided you forgive those who have sinned against you-- if you confess your sins to God (in prayer), if you are contrite (sorrowful that you have sinned), if you ask forgiveness of the sin, and if you repent (turn away from that sin toward God):

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

Not only will God forgive, He will even forget your sins:

  • Acts 3:19: So turn away from your sins. Turn to God. Then your sins will be wiped away. The time will come when the Lord will make everything new.

  • Hebrews 8:12 (part of the New Covenant): [God said] "I will forgive their evil ways. I will remember their sins no more."

God is willing to do this because Jesus paid the price for your sins and bought you from sin when He was crucified. Acceptance of His blood sacrifice is all you will ever need to enter God's presence:

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21: God made him [Jesus] who was no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

  • Ephesians 1:7: We have been set free because of what Christ has done. Through his blood our sins have been forgiven. We have been set free because God's grace is so rich.

  • Colossians 1:14: Because of what the Son [Jesus] has done, we have been set free. Because of him, all our sins have been forgiven.


STEP 3-- LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF YOUR SALVATION AND THE PRICE JESUS PAID TO SECURE YOUR SALVATION:
Jesus Christ, God made flesh, came to Earth to teach us the ways of God the Father, but, more importantly, to die for our sins and, then, to rise from death to prove His promise of resurrection for us. His life, death, burial, and resurrection to life is the pivotal point for all men and women, as it forms the basis of faith necessary for the gift of eternal life. To follow Jesus is a sacred, awesome responsibility.

BE WORTHY OF JESUS CHRIST:

To be a "Christian" means to be a "follower of Christ" or an "imitator of Christ's life." As a Christian, whatever you do, whatever you think, and whatever you say should be worthy of your being saved from the darkness of sin and eternal death in Hell, and should be a credit to Jesus Christ.

Make Paul's prayer for the church in Thessalonica your prayer for your life:

  • 2 Thessalonians 1.11: ... We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.


KEEP GOD'S TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS:

Jesus taught that there are two great commandments from God that you should observe. If you observe these commandments, all other instructions in The Holy Bible will easily fall into place:

Keep the greatest commandment of God to love Him above everything else:

  • Matthew 22:37: [Jesus said] "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with with all your mind.'"

Keep the second greatest commandment to love your fellow men and women:

  • Matthew 22:39:[Jesus said] "...'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"


PERFORM WORKS WORTHY OF BEING A CHRISTIAN:

You are saved from sin and receive eternal life in Heaven through FAITH in Jesus Christ as your Savior, but you will be rewarded in Heaven by the WORKS (DEEDS) you accomplish on Earth in Jesus' name. When you do something good for a person without pay and without seeking recognition for yourself-- but only because you love that person as God loves you-- you perform a good work (deed).

A worthy Christian will perform good works (deeds) for others:

  • Matthew 5:16: [Jesus said] "...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

  • Colossians 1:10: And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work....

You will be known and recognized both by God and your neighbor by your works, just as a tree is known by the type of fruit it bears:*

  • Read Matthew 7:15-23, in which Jesus said (verses 17 and 20): (17) "Every good tree bears good fruit.... (20) ...by their fruit you will recognize them."

    • EXPLANATION: GOOD FRUIT: If you do good things for people, if you are kind and loving, and if you try to live a life without sin, people will notice that there is Something [Someone] special in your life. Some people may even ask you about your new life. When a person asks, this is the Holy Spirit directing that person to you. Share the Gospel with him or her. Do not be discouraged if that person does not immediately receive Jesus as Savior. You will have planted a "seed," and that seed may sprout into faith at a later date. You have borne good fruit!
    BAD FRUIT: If you never do good things for people, if you are unkind and unloving, and if you lead a life filled with sin, people will not want any part of your "Christianity," even if you try to share the Gospel with them. You have borne bad fruit!

You-- like every other believer-- must appear at the Bema Judgment before Jesus as your Judge prior to beginning your eternity in Heaven:

  • 1 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat* of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
    *EXPLANATION: Paul used the Greek word bema, translated "judgment seat," in this verse. In the First Century, a bema was a bench upon which a judge sat at the finish line of a race course. The judge could determine the order in which the racers crossed the finish line so that prizes could be awarded. At the Bema Judgment, Jesus will not judge you to determine whether you enter Heaven. You made that decision during life, when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior. Jesus will, however, judge you to determine what works (deeds) you have performed (good works) or have not performed (bad works) in His name, and He will award you accordingly.

Jesus (John 14:2-3) promised He was going to build us homes (mansions, rooms) in Heaven (His Father's house), and He would return to take us there to be with Him. Paul (1 Corinthians 3:11) explained that it is each person who builds his or her own house on the foundation laid by Jesus, with each person's building materials being his or her works (deeds)-- good or bad-- while living life on Earth.

  • John 14:2-3a: (2) [Jesus said] "In my Father's house are many rooms.... I am going there to prepare a place for you. (3) And... I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am...."

  • 1 Corinthians 3:11-15: SUMMARY OF THESE VERSES: Jesus laid the foundation upon which you build your eternal home. If you build your home with precious, substantial materials (good works), your house will survive the fire of Jesus' judgment, you will be richly rewarded in Heaven, and you will be joyous that you can return a gift of appreciation to Jesus. If you build your house with cheap, flimsy materials (bad works or no works), your house will not survive the fire of Jesus' judgment, you will be less richly rewarded in Heaven, and you will be ashamed to have done so little for Jesus during your life.

Jesus told each of His followers to store up eternal rewards in Heaven. The only way you can store treasure in Heaven is by working for God's Kingdom while you live on Earth. Eternal treasure in Heaven cannot be purchased but can be earned only by sacrificing, or giving up, something of yourself while you live on Earth, and you can only do this when you do something good for someone in Jesus' name:

  • Matthew 6:19-21: (19) [Jesus said] "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

James taught that a believer must show good works (deeds) for others as an outcome of his or her faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Faith without action to help others is dead:

  • James 2:14-26: SUMMARY OF VERSES: This section of James' epistle explains the relationship between a Christ-follower's faith and his or her works (deeds) on behalf of his or her neighbor in Jesus' name. James wrote (verse 17): "... faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."


PRAY TO GOD (TALK TO YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER):

Prayer is a conversation you, God's child, have with God, your Heavenly Father. There are at least seven reasons to pray to God:

  1. Confession: Before God will forgive your sins, you must confess them to Him. Confess your sins, seek forgiveness, and ask God to give you strength to repent of these sins.

  2. Supplication: Ask God to supply needs in your life. Understand that God will grant your requests only if they are in your best interest and are consistent with God's plan for your life.

  3. Adoration: Honor God by telling Him you love Him. Worship Him in prayer. ("Worship" means that you find only God worthy of your unending love and devotion.)

  4. Intercession: Always intercede in prayer for others, asking God to help persons in need. Understand that God will grant a request for a person about whom you pray only if the request is in the best interest for that person and is consistent with God's plan for that person's life.

  5. Communion: Pray to become one with God. Pray that He will reveal His plan for your life and that you will be strengthened to follow this plan.

  6. Thanksgiving: Thank God for all He has done, is doing, and will do for you. Thank Him for your life and for all the gifts He has showered on you, including your salvation, as well as the many good things He does for you about which you are not even aware.

  7. Praise: Worship God by adoring Him for His greatness and His goodness to you.


A FEW OF MANY SCRIPTURES ABOUT PRAYER:

A few of the verses from The Holy Bible are included in this section.

Jesus gave a clear warning about proper prayer:

  • Matthew 6:6-8: (6) [Jesus said] "... when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (7) And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. (8) Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

God values prayer. Many centuries ago (before Jesus' birth), Jewish priests burned incense in places of worship as a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God. After Jesus, the relationship between God and man changed. The following are our responsibilites and privileges concerning praying to God:

  1. When Jesus Christ came to the world, the old order of priests, sacrifices, and worship rituals was replaced by the relationship God established with man through the crucifixion death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.

  2. Each person is now his or her own priest-- a priest who approaches God directly through worship, prayer, and sacrifice. You may consult a minister or priest for advice of for intercessory prayer, but only you-- as your own priest-- should approach God through prayer for your needs.

  3. God does not live in a temple, because now each believer's body is the temple of God. You do not need to go to a church to pray. God is always where you are. God hears your prayers where you are.

  4. You do not need anything to pray to God, if it is not instructed in The Bible. Rituals, such as using beads and lighting candles, are outside the instruction of The Bible. You may pray to God without knowing or following these rituals.

  5. Jesus Christ is our High Priest. He sits at the right hand of God in Heaven, and only He may make intercession for us. Therefore, do not pray through Mary, any "Saint,"* or any person dead or alive. Pray only directly to God, through His Son, Jesus.
    *The designation "saint" properly applies to any person found holy in God's sight, and will apply to every person in Heaven-- not just a few person given a title of honor by any church denomination.

God considers our prayers to be a sweet-smelling sacrifice to Him, as recorded by the Apostle John, who was rewarded with a glimpse of Heaven:

  • Revelation 5:8b: Each one [of the four living creatures and twenty-four elders before the throne of God] had a harp and they were holding golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
    NOTE 1: As noted above, "saints" in this verse should not be confused with the title "Saint" some churches bestow upon notable Christians. All believers-- including you-- are saints in Heaven.
    NOTE 2: When you pray, your prayers become beautiful incense, a sweet-smelling sacrifice before God. Why would this be? I think because all persons only have twenty-four hours in each day. If a person gives God a few minutes or a few hours of his or her time to talk to Him, rather than use the time for personal reasons, a sacrifice has been made. This sacrifice is more precious than money to God, because all persons are granted only the same number of hours each day, and spending some of this time in prayer is more of a sacrifice than writing a check and dropping it in an offering plate.

It was said that James, a leader in the First Century church, prayed on his knees so often that they became thickened like camels' knees. James urged all of God's children to pray, giving assurance that prayer is heard favorably by God:

  • James 5:16b: ...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Pray frequently. Paul urged us to be in frequent communication with God:

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: (16) Be joyful always; (17) pray continually; (18) give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.


FINALLY, KNOW THAT GOD LOVES YOU!

There are hundreds of verses in The Holy Bible which speak of God's great love for His children. God loves you! If the Creator of the universe thinks enough of you to know you, care for you, and love you, your life should be filled with encouragement, assurance, and joy.

Read 1 Corinthians, chapter 13, for Paul's beautiful description of love.

God loved you from the moment He created the universe, because He had you in mind even then, that you would now be part of His plan. God loved you from the moment you were conceived, while you grew in your mother's womb, when you were born, and every day of your life since birth. If you are pregnant now, He loves the little child growing in your body. If you will love Him in return by accepting His gift of salvation He offers to you, He will love you for eternity in Heaven.

  • A few Scriptures about God's love include: John 3:16; John 14:21; John 15:9; John 16:27; John 17:23, 26; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:35, 38-39; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; Ephesians 5:2; 1 John 3:1a; 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:7-21.


DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JESUS?

If you would like to know more about Jesus Christ, watch the film Jesus. This film and its videotape version have been viewed by hundreds of millions of persons around the world. Produced by Campus Crusade for Christ, the film has been translated into hundreds of languages. Jesus, based on the life of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, can be watched online. Watch this film now about the Son of God and the Savior of mankind-- your Way to eternal life in Heaven.

Watch the Jesus video IN ENGLISH.

Watch the Jesus video IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH.


DO YOU NEED AN ONLINE BIBLE STUDY AID?

An excellent Bible study aid is the BLUE LETTER BIBLE.


All Bible quotations are written in red. Scripture in the preceding section from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.



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THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL (LOST) SON

TEXT (Luke 15:11-24): (11) Then [Jesus] said: "A certain man had two sons. (12) And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. (13) And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. (14) But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. (15) Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. (16) And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. (17) But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! (18) I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, (19) and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' (20) And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. (21) And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' (22) But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. (23) And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; (24) for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry."

INTRODUCTION:
Jesus taught three parables about lost things or lost people in the fifteenth chapter of Luke:

  • Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7);
  • Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10); and
  • Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32).

The parable we are considering has been called by two titles:

  • "Parable of the Lost Son" because the father rejoices that his son was lost but now is found (verse 24b). Every person has been lost at some time in his or her life.
  • "Parable of the Prodigal Son" because of Jesus' description of the son's life as prodigal (verse 13). "Prodigal" means, among other definitions, "wasteful" and "recklessly extravagant." Every person has been wasteful of the gifts and opportunities God has given him or her. Every person has been reckless with the responsibilities God has entrusted to him or her.

This parable is rich in its message. In fact, there are several messages Jesus was conveying. God's Word has such brilliance that a given Scripture can communicate different things to different people at different times. In this site, we will concentrate on the first part of the parable only, and we will limit the discussion to a single message.

Consider two characters in the parable:

  • The father represents our Heavenly Father-- God.
  • The younger son represents every man or woman–- including you.

Although the parable is titled "Parable of the Lost (Prodigal) Son," I believe the parable is really about the father. Jesus told this parable to explain the relationship of our Heavenly Father (God) with His children.

  • We should not dwell on the son. We have all been there, and we should not want to go back to lost, prodigal living.
  • Rather, we should concentrate on the father. We want the love and forgiveness of our Heavenly Father. In this parable, Jesus introduces us to our Heavenly Father, whose grace and love surpass anything we can ever imagine. To learn this parable is to learn about our Heavenly Father.

Verse 11: My interpretation of Jesus' telling of two sons is this:

  • I believe the older, jealous son represents the Jews (Judaism), and the younger son represents Christians (Christianity). Jesus may have told this parable to "the younger son"–- His Church (Christians)–- to explain the grace and love the Father has for us. In this parable, the older son pouts because of the love the father showers on the younger, prodigal son, which recalls Paul's important teaching about the relationship of Jews and Christians (Romans 11:11-36), in which he teaches about the Jews' jealousy of the Christians (Romans 11:11): I say then, have [the Jews] stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

Verse 12: This demand of the younger son was a heart-breaking rebellion against and insult toward the father. A son who loved his father would not mention his inheritance to his father, but would wait until the father died before considering what wealth the father may have left him. By asking for his inheritance before the father's death, the young man was saying in effect: "You are dead to me. I have no use for you alive. All I care about is your wealth, and I want my share now."

  • God gives you free will. I believe Jesus was subtly emphasizing that you, like all persons, have freedom to disrespect and hate God–- in this life. God will let you exercise your free will, to say and do anything against Him. You can rebel against and curse God. God is still your Father, however, and He still loves you, regardless of how much you may disrespect and hate Him.

Verse 13: The son left his father, went among strangers, and wasted his inheritance.

  • When you become a child of God, He showers you with many riches. Riches available to you now include spiritual gifts; the constant presence of the Holy Spirit; the ability to have sins forgiven and forgotten, and guilt healed; peace; and joy. A Christian's home in this world is in the Body of Christ–- the Church. If you leave this home (the Body of Christ) and live with strangers (people living in sin, outside of the Body of Christ), you become prodigal. You squander your God-given gifts–- your inheritance from God–- by living with these strangers. As long as you live with these strangers, you can never appreciate God's grace, mercy, power, strength, and call to live for others. You waste the only life God has allotted to you.

Verse 14: Life with strangers–- life without God–- is never satisfying. Once you taste the riches of God, you can never be satisfied with substitutes offered by the world.

  • If you are living away from the place God wants you, you are experiencing spiritual famine, and your hunger can be satisfied only by coming home to the Father.

Verses 15-16: The younger son left his home of abundance and security. He worked as a farmhand. Jesus had him feeding swine. Jews would neither eat pork nor have anything to do with swine. For a young Jewish man to live with and care for hogs was the lowest, most degrading job he could have. The son was jealous of the hogs because the food he them was better than what he had to eat. Jesus said he was feeding the swine "pods," which were the sweet pods of the carob tree (keration in the Greek text). Keration was a coarse food, used to fatten swine and eaten only by people too poor to afford anything better.

  • The son was away from his father's table, and was starving. If you are a Christian, you are able to gather around the Lord's table, which is the Communion table. When you are in communion with God–- that is, when you eat from the Communion table–- you are filled with matzo (bread, the symbol of God's provision) and you drink of the wine (symbol of God's joy). Jesus is your Bread of Life, symbolized by matzo, and His blood, symbolized by wine, brings you eternal life. When you are not in communion with God but eat at a stranger's table, you will never be spiritually filled and will starve.

Verses 17-19: The son lived in despair and poverty, until he hit rock bottom. Only after he squandered his wealth and lost all hope did he realize his need to return to his father's house.

  • If the temptations and pleasures of the world lure you away from God, you may resist coming to the Father. But when you hit the depths of despair and realize there is no hope for your life, you will realize you must come to the Father.

Verse 20a: This verse is Jesus' portrayal of repentance. When the son realized he needed to come home to his father, he turned around and went away from the far country, where once were his "friends" and began the journey back to his father's home.

  • When you want to come to your Father, you must repent of your sins. You must turn away from the "friends," activities, and habits that separate you from your Father, to begin your journey toward your Father. Jesus said "he arose" to go to the father's home. You may fall to your lowest point of life, before you decide to pick yourself up from the gutter of a failed life and start your journey home to a victorious life.

Verse 20b: This verse is Jesus' portrayal of grace. By the world's standards, the father should have disowned the son. The son showed contempt for the father and a disrespect no Jewish father at that time could accept. Instead, Jesus portrayed the father as always watching the road upon which the son had left home, always looking with hope and anticipation for the son's return.

  • The father's love for his son depicts grace. You, like every person, have rebelled against and disrespected God. You have strayed far from God (Isaiah 53:6a): All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way;...
  • No matter how prodigal you have become, your Heavenly Father is faithfully waiting and watching for your return, just as the father in the parable was searching the road when he spotted his son far in the distance, coming home.
  • In the parable, the father ran to the son. In the Middle East in Jesus' time, a man would have to raise his robes above his knees to be able to run. A rich man would never run–- it would not be dignified to show his legs in public. But, this father was so thrilled to see his prodigal son, that he cared nothing about what others thought. He ran to meet the son. This is Jesus' picture of God coming to Earth to meet mankind. God has come to mankind in all three Persons of the Holy Trinity: (1) Jesus has come as the incarnate God, to give His life as the sacrifice of the New Covenant; (2) the Holy Spirit has come as the Paraclete who walks beside every person; and (3) God the Father has come to inhabit every person's body as His temple. God will run to meet you now. Your effort to find God is easy and minimal, compared to the efforts God has made to meet you.

Verse 21: The son confessed his sin before his father ("Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight...") and was contrite (sorrowful) that he had sinned ("...and [I] am no longer worthy to be called your son").

  • This is Jesus' teaching about forgiveness of sin. The Bible teaches that any person (including you) may receive forgiveness of sin. The formula for being forgiven is this:
    • Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
    • Forgive others who have sinned against you, in the same manner you want God to forgive you.
    • Confess sins to Father God with a contrite (sorrowful) heart.
    • Ask for forgiveness.
    • Repent (turn away from sin, have a change of mind and heart about the sin), trying not to commit that sin again.
    • Receive joy, restitution, and healing of guilt, confident that any sin forgiven by God is covered by the blood of your Savior and is forever forgotten by God.
  • God, through the Holy Spirit, may run to meet you, as did the father in the parable, but you as His prodigal child must still accept His grace. God will not force salvation and forgiveness on any person. Such gifts are freely given by God, but they must be accepted.

Verse 22: Picture the son, as he came into his father's presence:

  • The son would have been thin and pale, following years of starvation and deprivation.
  • The son would have been filthy, covered with hog manure, dried mud, dust, and sweat.
  • The son's clothing would have been torn, stained, and filthy, after years of living with the hogs and travel over stony, dirt roads.
  • The son would have been barefooted–- slaves and servants did not wear sandals–- and his feet would have been bruised, cut, and bleeding.

Compassion flooded the father's heart. The father could not replace his son's lost years, but he could restore him to his rightful position now and for the future. This verse tells of our Heavenly Father's provision for the needs of His children. The father provided three things to restore the son:

  • "Bring out the best robe and put it on him...." The father took the filthy, torn clothing the son wore as a slave and replaced it with a beautiful robe, worthy of his position as the son of the father.
    • God the Father has a robe for His children to wear (Revelation 19:7-8): After the Rapture and before the Second Coming of Jesus, two events occur for believers (in this order): the Bema Judgment and the Marriage of the Lamb. At the Marriage, Christ's Church–- believers–- will be eternally wed to the Bridegroom Jesus. If you will be a believer bride (a Christian), you must be properly attired for the wedding. Your gown will have two features: (1) It will be washed spotless in Jesus' blood, which was shed through the crucifixion at Calvary. The rags you wear on Earth, soiled with your sins, will be washed spotless by the blood of Jesus. (2) It will be woven of fine linen, through your righteous acts. As you serve God, you are weaving your gown. You will need to prepare yourself for this wedding, to be free of spot, wrinkle, blemish, or unholiness (Ephesians 5:25b-27): (25) ... Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (26) that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, (27) that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
  • "...put a ring on his hand...." Rings were used by kings to seal decrees (for example, Esther 3:12 and 8:8,10) or were given by kings to show favor (for example, Genesis 41:42; and Esther 3:10 and 8:10). The king's ring was the symbol of his authority. He would make documents official by pressing the face of his distinctive ring into molten wax. When the father put the family ring on his son's finger, he was signifying that the son was fully restored to the family and had the full authority of the family.
    • When you are saved–- when you become a child of the King and wear the Father's ring-– you are a member of His family (Romans 8:14-17): (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (15) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." (16) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs–- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
    • As a child of the King, you have His authority (Luke 9:1): Then [Jesus] called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. And (Titus 2:15): Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
    • As a child of the King, you have power (Acts 1:8): [Jesus said] "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
    • As a child of the King, you have all of the gifts necessary to accomplish the work of the Father's family (1 Corinthians 12:4-11): (4) There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (6) And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: (8) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
  • "... and sandals on his feet." Sandals were expensive. Slaves went barefooted, but a rich man's children wore sandals to protect their feet.
    • As a child of the King, your feet need to be protected as you carry the Gospel–- by whatever means–- to those who need to hear it (Romans 10:14-15): (14) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!"

Addition to the text:Allow me to digress from the Gospel of Luke to suggest something something not in Jesus' parable, but taken from other Scriptures.

Scriptures suggest that the father might have given his son other items of clothing not mentioned in Jesus' parable, just as the Heavenly Father gives you other clothing:

I believe the father would have also given his son a tallit (a prayer shawl). A tallit carried the fringes ("tassels" in the following translation) and blue thread commanded by God to be worn by His children (Numbers 15:37-40): (37) Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (38) "Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. (39) And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, (40) and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God." The tassels on the tallit would remind the son that he needed to always keep God's laws and commandments. Knots tied in the tassels served as a visual and tactile reminder of the laws the son should keep. Blue is the color of Messiah. Unknown to Jews, the blue thread in the tassels was a prophecy of the coming Messiah. The tallit would also be drawn over the head to help isolate the son's attention, as he prayed earnestly to God.


  • You should have a spiritual tallit. Jesus simplified the commandments you are to keep (Matthew 22:35-40): (35) Then one of them, a lawyer, asked [Jesus] a question, testing Him, and saying, (36) "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" (37) Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' (40) On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Your Father commands you to love Him with your entire being and to love your neighbor as yourself.
  • Just as the son in the parable would have covered his head with his tallit to eliminate distractions while he prayed, you, too, should pray to God earnestly and without distractions (Matthew 6:5-6): (5) [Jesus said] "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. (6) But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Public prayer is sometimes appropriate, but do not forget to pray secretly, talking only to God, and avoid making a public spectacle for the accolades of man.

The robe, ring, and sandals in this parable were clothing the son would have worn around the home. But, enemies of the family might attack, seeking to steal from and kill the family. The son would, then, be required to take up his sword to defend the family. I believe the father would have provided the son with armor and weapons.

  • You may experience attack from God's enemy (Satan). You need to protect yourself, your physical family (spouse, children, and others), and your spiritual family (your church family) from the enemy's attack. God provides you with the armor and weapons needed to protect yourself in battle with Satan (Ephesians 6:10-20): (10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; (18) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints–- (19) and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, (20) for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
    If the enemy (Satan) attacks, fight him boldly, knowing that you carry the full armor and weapons of God, which cannot be overcome. Take faith in every battle of life, claiming this promise (1 John 4:4b): ... He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Verse 23: Note that the father did not promise a celebration in the future, but he commanded the fatted calf to be prepared immediately. The father had been keeping a fatted calf in readiness, hoping the son would return home any day.

  • There is a "fatted calf" being kept in readiness for you. In the last half of the Tribulation you (if you have accepted God's gift of salvation) will be in Heaven and will participate in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. At this time, you will be eternally married to your Bridegroom Jesus (Revelation 19:9): Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'"

Verse 24: The father forgave all of his son's transgressions, merely when asked to do so. All the father wanted was for the son to return home and to become part of the family again.

  • This verse is Jesus' portrayal of our Heavenly Father as a God of grace, a Father who is always ready to restore a lost son to His family: "... 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" You can never understand and fully appreciate the depth of God's grace and love for you. It is God's gift to you, and all He asks is that you accept it.

CONCLUSION: Because every person is prodigal (lost) and because every person needs to come home to his or her Father, Jesus gave us this beautiful parable.

You may have behaved toward your Heavenly Father, as the son behaved toward his father in this parable:

  • You may have insulted and cursed God.
  • You may have run away from God, and lived with "strangers" (un-Godly people).
  • You may have toiled at work that is not God-honoring.
  • You may have been spiritually starving from lack of receiving God's Word in your life.
  • You may have been mired in the dirt and hog manure of life, through prodigal living–- prohibited sexual activities (fornication, adultery, pornography); drug and alcohol abuse; wasteful of gifts and talents; unclean speech and thoughts; and other sins.
  • You may have been wounded in life, without seeking a loving Father to bind your wounds and soothe your spirit.

No matter what you have done, how prodigal you have been, or how low you have sunken in life, these truths have always been present for you:

  • A loving Father has always been looking down the road you departed from Him, waiting, hoping, and asking, "Will this be the day my child comes home to me?"
  • A loving Father will run to meet you with open arms, welcoming you back into His family and bestowing upon you all of the gifts and privileges to which a child of His is entitled.
  • But, to be welcomed back into God's family, you must make the first step: You must pick yourself up from the dirt and hog manure of life and your spiritual starvation, turn back to the Father's home, and walk toward Him.
  • God does not care how dirty you are when you come home. He will clean you up, clothe and feed you, and prepare you for service in the family as one of His beloved children.

This parable is about each one of us and our Heavenly Father:

  • Every person-- including you-- is prodigal (lost) at some point in life. By yourself, you are unworthy to be in God's presence because you are clothed in filthy rags and smell from the dried sweat, urine, manure, and dirt of sinful, God-dishonoring life.
  • But, God is a God of grace and restoration. He will take any person-– no matter how lost and no matter how filthy–- and take him or her into His family as an honored child.

Miss Charlotte Elliott was visiting friends in London's West End in the early Nineteenth Century, when she met a minister, Cesar Malan. At supper, the minister asked Miss Elliott if she was a Christian. She was offended by his question, replying that she did not wish to discuss the question. Dr. Malan apologized for any offense, but added that he always tried to speak a word for his Master and he hoped the young woman would some day become a worker for Christ. They met again at the home of a mutual friend three weeks later. Miss Elliott told the minister that ever since he had spoken to her she had been trying to find her Savior, and that she now wished him to tell her how to come to Christ. "Just come to Him as you are," Dr. Malan answered. She immediately accepted Jesus as her Savior, and left rejoicing. Shortly afterward, she wrote one of the best known and beloved Christian hymns, a hymn sung as an invitation at many Billy Graham Crusades, "Just As I Am":


Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Are you a member of God's family, or is part of your life prodigal (lost)?

If you are prodigal, your Heavenly Father is ready to accept you, just as you are. You should not worry about the dirt, dung, stains, and wounds of life. Your Father loves you for what you can become now and in the future, not what you were in the past.

Are you seated at the Father's Communion table, eating from the Bread of Life and drinking the wine of the Passover Lamb's sacrifice?

Are you being fed from the Word of God, or are you starving?

Is God searching for you every day, asking, "Will my child come home to Me today?" If so, today is a good day to pick yourself up from the dirt and dung of life, to begin your journey toward the Father. Your Father will come running to meet you with open arms. Your Father will clothe you with the robe, ring, and sandals of His family.

Come home to God today.

Scriptures for the section on the Parable of the Prodigal Son are from the New King James Version (NKJV). Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Dr. Simon Greenleaf, a founder of the Harvard Law School, set out to disprove the Biblical testimony concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was confident that a careful examination of the internal witness of the Gospels would prove that Christianity was nothing more than a myth. After careful study, Dr. Greenleaf concluded that the witnesses were reliable, and that the resurrection happened as written.

Read about Dr. Greenleaf's scholarly examination of the Gospels as well as historical, manuscript, and archaeological evidence that proves to an unbiased person seeking truth that Christianity is based upon historical facts. GO TO Testimony of the Evangelists by Dr. Simon Greenleaf.



Father's Love Letter
The Cry of a Father's Heart from Genesis to Revelation

My Child...
You may not know me, but I know everything about you... Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up... Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways... Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered... Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in My image... Genesis 1:27
In Me you live and move and have your being... Acts 17:28
For you are My offspring... Acts 17:28
I knew you before you were conceived... Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation... Ephesians 1:4-5
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in My book... Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live... Acts 17:26-28
You are fearfully and wonderfully made... Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb... Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born... Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know Me... John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love... 1 John 4:1
And it is my desire to lavish love on you... 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are My child and I am your Father... 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could... Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect Father... Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from My hand... James 1:17
For I am your Provider and I meet all your needs... Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope... Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love... Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore... Psalm 139:1-6
And I rejoice over you with singing... Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good for you... Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession... Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all My heart and all My soul... Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things... Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me... Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in Me and I will give you the desire of your heart... Psalm 37:4
For it is I Who gave you those desires... Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine... Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest Encourager... 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father Who comforts you in all your troubles... 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you... Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to My heart... Isaiah 40:1
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes... Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away the pain you have suffered on this earth... Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my Son, Jesus... John 17:23
For in Jesus, My love for you is revealed... John 17:26
He is the exact representation of My being... Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for You, not against You... Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins... 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that You and I could be reconciled... 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of My love for you... 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love... Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of My Son Jesus, you receive Me... 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from My love again... Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party Heaven has ever seen... Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father... Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is: Will you be My child? ... John 1:12-13

Used by permission: Father Heart Communications
Copyright 1999 www.FathersLoveLetter.com





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