Commissioned: Timeless Truth: The Gospel Made SimpleSample

We Accept

Jesus has done everything necessary to restore our relationship with God, but the relationship is always a two-way street. We must respond to God’s offer of salvation. But how do we respond? If someone wants to be reconciled to God, what should we tell them to do?

Make a decision. God created us with free will. We can choose to love and serve the Lord, or we can choose not to. Our initial decision to give our lives to God is only the beginning of a journey, but it is an important moment—every journey begins with a first step. When we are ready to take this step, it is good to tell the Lord in a simple prayer of repentance, something like this:

“Father, I thank you for your love me. I have not always chosen to love you and my sins have broken my relationship with you. I am sorry for my sins and especially sorry that they have separated me from you. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you died on the cross for me. I surrender my life to you. Holy Spirit, please direct me into a life of love and obedience. Amen.”

Be baptized and confirmed, if you have not done so. God has given us ways of responding to Him, certain visible signs called sacraments, through which he gives us the grace to live good lives. When Peter preached about salvation in Christ and people asked, “What are we to do,” Peter answered: (1) repent, (2) be baptized, (3) receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our repentance should be accompanied by baptism and confirmation, which is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and equip us.

Receive Jesus in His body and blood. Of all the sacraments, the Eucharist, in which we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ, is the most important sacrament. It is the way of responding to God’s gracious invitation that was most clearly stated by Jesus: “This is my body, this is my blood. Do this in remembrance of me.” It is through this communion with Christ that we receive the strength we need to live as he wants us to live. Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are our initial response to God. They are the way we say, “Yes!” to God’s offer of new life.

Of course, these are only the first steps. Many questions remain. What does the rest of the journey look like? And what if we began the journey with Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist but failed to be faithful in our relationship with God? We’ll answer these questions in our next study.

Stop, think and pray:

Let’s renew the promises that we make Baptism. You may want to get someone to read the questions. If you have holy water, you can sprinkle it on yourself as a reminder of your baptism:

Do you reject Satan?

I do.

And all his works?

I do.

And all his empty promises?

I do.

Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

I do.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?

I do.

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

I do.

God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins. May he also keep us faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever,

Amen.