Sunday, April 12, 2009

happy resurrection day!

today is easter--the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! i haven't talked a whole lot about what i believe, so i figured this would be the perfect day.


when i was four years old i asked Jesus into my heart and accepted Him as my Savior from sin. i grew up in a Christian home, went to church every sunday, went to a Christian school, and so on. i knew very well what i was taught to believe so 'faith' didn't come very hard to me.

until i started questioning it.

when i was 12 i started to doubt the truths that had been taught to me. i was so scared that i would lose my salvation and afraid that i didn't say 'the prayer' right the first time. i remember going to bed every night and asking Jesus to save me just in case. (i know better now... a prayer doesn't save you, JESUS saves you!)

then i started wondering what if this isn't the way to heaven?! looking back it was an unsettling time. but as i started asking a LOT of questions, and finding out the facts for myself (and not just because that's what i was taught) things became clear to me. when i turned 13 i remember rededicating my life to Jesus Christ and claiming this simple truth: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Acts 16:31


this is what i believe today:

~ i believe that everything God says in the Bible is true. John 17:17

~ everyone has sinned against God and our sin separates us from God. Romans 3:23

~ God's punishment for our sin is death. Romans 6:23

~ Jesus took our death sentence and died on the cross for my sin. your sin. everyone's sin. past, present, and future. His death covered them ALL! Hebrews 10:11-14, 1 Peter 3:18a

~ Jesus did not stay dead--He resurrected to life again! Acts 2:22-24, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. do you know how important this is?! the fact that Jesus rose to life again validates the truth of the entire gospel and my faith. if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. I Corinthians 15:14-17

~ salvation is a free gift. all i have to do is take it - by believing that Jesus died on the cross for my sin and by trusting Him alone to save me from my sin. Romans 3:23-24, John 3:16

~ i can't do anything on my own to get to heaven, nor can i add anything to my salvation. try as i may, the good things i do (going to church, getting baptized, taking communion) won't earn me salvation. thank goodness.... because i would fail big time! it is ONLY through BELIEVING in JESUS that i can be saved from my sin and go to heaven someday! Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, John 3:36, John 14:6


today i celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead! and i am rejoicing in the fact that i KNOW that i am saved and will spend eternity in heaven with Him! 1 John 5:11-13

are you confident of your salvation today? are you believing in Jesus to save you from your sins? are you totally confused after reading what i believe?! i'd love to hear from you. so if you'd rather not leave a comment, email me. benanderinkern@gmail.com

HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!!!

5 comments:

Mary @ Giving Up On Perfect said...

Amen and Amen! Happy Easter, Erin!

Ace said...

What a great post! You sound a lot like me, except it took me way too many years to "get it". I'm happy to say now that I know His truths!

Happy Easter!

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

What a great post! I love the scripture quotes. I love Jesus!

Jess(ica) said...

I have a hard time internalizing the last 2 points... resting securly in simply believing and getting past trying to "earn" something that is not "earn-able"... I hope I can get past those at some point. =) Good post. Thanks for posting this =)

Ashley @ {Let Go, Laughing} said...

I have to admit, I still question stuff sometimes but I think this a great post. I am still trying to grasp the concept that I don't have to EARN my way in and I just have to believe.

I used to do the same thing with the prayer - feeling like I didn't say it right so I would say it again every week in church when they would do the part about new believers saying the prayer just to be sure.

I can tell my faith is evolving a lot right now but I am still working out all the little things/questions.

[sorry, i have no idea if this comment even makes sense :)]