Part 1- Understanding Salvation:
 
Why do I need to be saved?
 
Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment. Hebrews 9:27

Those who do not know God will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
 
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
 
Christ died once and for all to bring you to God. 1 Peter 3:18
 
To all who received him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God." John 1:12

Jesus says, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door I will go in and eat with him and he with me. Revelation 3:20
 
Jesus paid the penalty for our sin but it is you and I who must individually decide if we will open our hearts door and accept him as Lord and Savior.
 
Did you know that God's love is not enough to save you? Many people seem to believe that because God is a God of love he could never send them to hell. They believe that God's love means they can live however they want to live and still go to heaven when they die.
 
God's love is so great that he was willing to send his only son Jesus to die on the cross to pay the full penalty for our sins so that you and I could be free.
 
But we are still guilty before God and condemned to hell until we admit that we are sinners and in need of His forgiveness.
 
The word declares that we are all lost and without hope unless we receive the blood that Jesus shed on the cross as atonement for our sin.  
 
When God looks at us he does not see good people or bad people. He see's people who have been covered by the blood of Jesus and totally forgiven of their sins or he see's those who have rejected his only son.
 
Saved or lost. Condemned or forgiven the choice is ours. God doesn't send people to hell. We send ourselves there when we choose to reject God's perfect plan of salvation.

He, "God" is not willing that any should perrish but that all should all come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
 
It is God's hope that you will spend all of eternity in heaven with Him.
 
This is the most important decision of your life. Would you ask Jesus to step inside your heart today? To become your personal savior? I pray that you will.

God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:11,12
 
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Part 2- What should you do once you have become a Christian?
 
Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38
 
Go therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Mathew 28:19
 
He that believth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16
 
Water baptism should follow salvation. If you recently received Jesus as your Lord and savior please ask your pastor to baptize you in water signifying that the old man has died and you are now a new creature in Christ Jesus.

Part 3- The power of the Spirit.
 
Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? Acts 19:2 (We should all ponder this question.)
 
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15-18

He that believes and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
 
There is a great work that lies before us. A work that we are incapable of doing in our own strength. Jesus knew this and told his disciples to wait in Jersalem until they were indued with power. When the Holy Spirit fell some people thought they were drunk Acts 2:15. They were mocked and made fun of but when Peter stood up and preached under the power of the Holy Ghost 3,000 souls were saved.
 
The Holy Spirit is still an unwelcomed guest in many religious settings. People are more afraid of the Holy Spirit than they are of sin or the devil himself. But Jesus knew that we needed the power of the Holy Spirit to reach a lost world.
 
I have personally witnessed the power of God in healings and deliverances.
 
For John truly baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days from now. Acts 1:5
 
But you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you. And you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Acts 1:8
 
Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2: 38
 
For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (it wasn't limited to our fore- fathers) Acts 2: 39
 
Personally I am not afraid of the baptism of the Holy Spirit or even of speaking in tongues. I am afraid of trying to live the Christian life without it. God never gives us evil gifts. He knew what we needed and I stand with my arms open wide saying Lord it was your idea, your perfect plan and who am I to question you? Pour your spirit out on me today Lord. I need your love, your strength and your power for I live in a dark world that does not know you. I need the power of the Holy Spirit to be poured out on my life so I can live a victorious Christian life and so I can preach the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively. Amen! 
 
Have you been afraid of the Holy Spirit?  I believe it is one of the greatest tools Satan uses to hinder the church. If we have no power we have no effectiveness.