Learn About Salvation
Thank you for your interest in Colorado Christian University! As our name states, we are a Christ-centered university. This means that we hold the conviction that life is made meaningful and worthy through a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We believe that this relationship is both now (in this life) and eternal (life in heaven after death).
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.– John 3:16 (NIV)
We believe that every human being has the opportunity to have a personal relationship with God. If you are interested in having your own personal relationship with Jesus Christ, here are some steps to get you started.
1. Recognize your need for a Savior.
First, you must recognize your need for a relationship with God.
In the Bible, God explains moral standards that he has put in place which reflect his goodness, glory, and expectations for humans. God is perfect, so in order to be with Him in heaven, we need to maintain these standards.
However, no one is perfect. According to Scripture, “… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 (NIV).
Typically we think of sin either as some horribly immoral act, perhaps deserving of severe punishment, or as some action that is more like an unwitting mistake — a kind of “oops” moment. In reality, it doesn’t matter how small or large our mistakes are, sin is any action, thought, or word that goes against God’s perfect standard for human behavior.
Sin describes any time when we “miss the mark” and fail to meet the standards that God calls us to. This creates a problem for us because, according to Scripture, "... the wages of sin is death …,” Romans 6:23 (NIV).
Since God is perfect, our sin separates us from God, and the punishment for sin is eternal spiritual death, therefore none of us has earned the right to be with God in heaven.
If you’re willing to admit that you’re a sinner and want to escape the death which sin will yield you’re well on your way to that radical life change. Such a recognition of need is the first step toward obtaining a relationship with God.
2. Ask God to forgive you.
After recognizing that you have fallen short of God’s standards, share those things with Him through prayer, and explain that you know they were wrong. This is called confessing your sins.
When you share that you know your sins were wrong, ask God to forgive you for them and teach you how not to repeat that same sin. While God is just, He is also merciful and promises to forgive us for all of our sins.
There are many examples of people asking God for forgiveness in the Bible. You can read the story of two very different men asking for God’s forgiveness in Luke 18:9-14. You can also read how Jesus taught his followers to pray in Matthew 6:5-15.
The second step toward having your own relationship with God is to ask Him to forgive you for all of the times that you “missed the mark” of His standards of behavior.
3. Accept God's gracious salvation.
Two big realities fuel God’s forgiveness of our sins: love and payment. By love we mean that God loves all of us and desires to save us from our fate. His plan to accomplish that involved sending Jesus Christ, His only Son, to live on earth.
While on earth, Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. He is the only person who has completely and successfully followed God’s standards.
Jesus came to earth to fulfill God’s plan to pay for our sins: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” Romans 5:8 (NIV). Jesus freely gave up His sinless life and took the punishment for our sins upon Himself when He was put to death on a cross. God showed that He had redeemed us and completed His plan when Jesus came back to life, rising from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion.
Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, and His sacrifice paid for our sins. He removed our sin so that we no longer have to be separated from God: "…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 6:23 (NIV).
This is God’s plan and His free gift to us. All we have to do is accept it and allow it to change our hearts. According to Scripture, "If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ‘… everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,’” Romans 10:9-10, 13 (NIV).
The third step toward having your own relationship with God is to believe in the love and sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ, acknowledge that He is the only way to heaven, and accept Him as your Lord and Savior.
Welcome to your new, saved, redeemed, and forgiven life!
As a new Christ follower, a Christian, these things are essential
- Read your Bible daily. This will get you in touch with who God is and what His will is for your new life. If you’re not sure where to read, we suggest starting with the book of John.
- Spend time in prayer. Think of it like a conversation where you share things with God while also listening as He shares things with you. The Bible can help you know how to pray.
- Get involved with a local, Bible-believing church. The Bible calls these communities the “Body of Christ” (see 1 Corinthians 12). By becoming involved in a Christ-centered community, you will be encouraged in your growing relationship with God. You will also have opportunities to serve God and share His love with others.
Questions?
If you have any questions, or would like some advice on how to grow your relationship with God, please do not hesitate to ask anyone who works for Colorado Christian University. We all share this same faith and serve this same Lord. We are here to encourage and serve you.