“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
The biggest prison in the world is the Prison of SIN.
Satan, “the prince of the power of the air,” is the warden, and the only way of escape is through
Christ, our Lord.
And even for us who have been freed from this prison Ephesians 2 reminds us of how we once lived lived in this prison operating under the devil’s domain.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,
expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,
16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:1-22 NIV).
The only way out is by way of the
THE ROMANS ROAD (JESUS).
Romans 5:8
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 10:9
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
We must acknowledge that we are sinners (we have all missed the mark), in need of a Savior (Jesus), and while in the process of turning away from sin ask him to forgive us (repent) and accept him into our hearts as our Lord and Savior.
You can pray the following prayer out loud to Jesus.
Say Lord Jesus, I am a sinner, and I acknowledge that I can be saved by accepting you into my heart. I ask you to forgive me for all of my sins. Please come into my heart and live. I receive you as my personal Lord and Savior and as Master of my life. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. These things I ask in your name. Amen.
If you have truly asked Christ to come into your heart, you can be assured that you are saved and on your way to heaven. But there is so much more!
If as a believer you have sinned you can be assured that if (being truly sorry) we ask Jesus to forgive us, truly repenting, turning away from it, God will forgive you.
Heavenly Father, we thank you, and praise you, for you gave your dearly loved Son for the sin of the world so we could be forgiven and live with you and you with us forever.
The Christian Broadcasting Network, a separate organization (unconnected with us), offers special info to help you better understand what accepting Jesus into your heart means.
Please visit https://www1.cbn.com/a-new-day