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Jesus said that we must first undergo a spiritual birth, achieved as follows:
Repent of your sins towards God - cracking your hard 'heart'
Thought - conviction of sins. Agree with God that your actions & thoughts birthed from covetousness, greed, unbelief, & pride are offensive to Him. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) provide a good starting check-list.
Word - confess your sins. Humbly tell God, and the person(s) you have sinned against (where possible), the specific sins you have committed.
Deed - correct your sins (eg. return what you have stolen, stop getting drunk, be content with your pay, break off the illicit relationship, give your excess goods to the needy, burn occult material, etc).
Believe in the Lord Jesus - getting a new 'heart', part 1
Put your trust in the historical fact that God out of His forever enduring love sent His one & only Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, to die on the cross for your sins personally (the 'Lamb of God' who takes away the sins of the world). In so doing you have the forgiveness of your sins!!!
Believe that Jesus rose again from the dead, proving His Divine identity, showing that sin & death have been conquered, and indicating that new life is possible for you.
Tell the risen Jesus, whom God made Lord & judge of all, that you want Him to be your Lord, and that you want to obediently follow Him.
Be baptised in water - getting a new 'heart', part 2
It is a physical event with a spiritual effect, confirming your faith in Jesus.
It is a washing away of sins, a burial of your old way of living, and a rising to new life. Ask a believer to immerse you in water, with the words "In the name of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, I baptise you into the name of the Lord Jesus, into His death, burial, and resurrection."
Receive the Holy Spirit - getting God's motivating presence
This is a promised gift from God, sealing & completing your new birth.
You will know when you receive: you will come forth with spontaneous spiritual speech, praising & glorifying God from deep joy, either in your own language or other tongues. Such speech includes the cries 'Jesus is Lord!' or 'Father!' Don't be surprised if others think you are drunk!
Ask a Spirit filled believer to lay hands on you and pray that God will pour out His Spirit into you (if you are not filled already by this stage!).
A prayer for salvation:
Dear God,
thankyou that you love me;
thankyou that you sent Jesus to die for my sins.
I am so sorry for my sins (name them here);
please forgive me.
I don't want to sin any more.
I believe that Jesus died for me.
I believe that Jesus rose from the dead again.
And Lord Jesus, I want You to be the Lord of my life,
and I want to follow You.
Please help me.
Thankyou Lord God,
in Jesus name I pray,
Amen.
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