God’s Love and His Plan of Salvation
At the core of this message is the beautiful and powerful truth of God’s relentless love for humanity. This love is expressed most vividly in John 3:16, a single verse that encapsulates the entire Gospel:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16
Dear Friend,
Home is on the other side of the Cross—and it’s at the foot of the Cross that we find the way there.
The message of the Cross—Jesus’ death and resurrection—is not just a historical event. It is the very power of God that brings salvation to those who believe. The Cross is not the end of the story; it is the beginning of a new life, a restored relationship with God, and the open invitation to come home.
I invite you to explore with me God’s heart for you and His plan of salvation for all mankind. This is more than doctrine or religion—it’s an invitation into His love, into the life and story of His Son, Jesus Christ.
As the Apostle Paul wrote:
“For the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 1:18
The Cross was never meant to be the end—it is the beginning.
On the other side of the Cross, we find life, hope, forgiveness, and the open arms of a loving Father.
This is where the journey begin—at the Cross
The Beautiful Story of Salvation
Home is on the other side of the Cross, where humanity—you and I—come home, reconciled and restored. It’s the place where we are at peace with God and find true rest. Home is where God wants us; it’s where we belong, where we are deeply loved. Here, we discover our purpose, contentment, and lasting peace—a place where we are wanted and cherished.
Home is where God is, and it is where He wants us: with Him!
This is why God created us—not out of need, but out of love. He made us to bless us, to walk with us, and to share eternal fellowship with us. We were created for Him, to be with Him now and forever—not to be separated and condemned.
At the Cross, the greatest price was paid for mankind, and the greatest victory was won by Jesus. Why? Because of His great love for the people He created for Himself—you and me.
Man rebelled against God, and sin entered the world. Humanity turned away from our Creator. Our hearts became hard like stone, and we were separated from God. Because of sin, humanity fell under divine judgment. God’s holy and righteous wrath is the just response to sin—His retributive justice toward those whose actions deserve eternal condemnation.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
“And were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (Ephesians 2:3)
But God did not abandon us. He so loved the world that He gave His Son, desiring to reconcile humanity to Himself through Jesus Christ. In His great love and righteousness, God gave His Son to pay the price on our behalf and to save us.
At the Cross, Jesus cried out in love and mercy:
“I will take your sins away.”
This is God’s forgiveness and complete removal of sins through the atoning sacrifice of Christ—not a mere covering, but a full cleansing and forgetting of our sins. And then He says:
“I will give you a new heart”—a spiritual renewal, a transformed heart that follows and obeys Him.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“He is not here, but has risen.” (Luke 24:6)
Now, Jesus says, “Whoever comes to Me, I give the right to become a child of God.” And God says, “I redeem you through My Son, Jesus Christ. Believe in Him, be redeemed, for I love you.”
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
The Bible clearly teaches: if you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, God, and Messiah, and confess it with your mouth, you will be saved.
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
You can invite Him into your life by praying:
“Jesus, I surrender my life to You. I give my life to You. Please reconcile me to God.”
At that moment, He receives you, forgives you, and gives you a new heart—removing your old heart of sin.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” (Ezekiel 36:26)
So, my friend, the decision is yours. I implore you—surrender your life to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you and make you a child of God.
God has done this because of His great love for mankind. There is no other salvation—neither for Jew nor Gentile. The only mediator between man and God is Jesus, and only Jesus.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
The Battle Now Is for You
The battle now is for you to realize that God loves you, yet you are separated from Him and under His judgment. This separation is not only because of your sins and rebellion but also because of who you are—born with a sinful nature. This is not of your own doing; it is the condition of mankind. However, living in obedience to that sinful nature—who you are—makes you guilty of sinning.
There are two factors:
1. Who you are (your sinful nature)
2. What you have done and are doing (your actions)
Before the Cross, your sinful nature left you powerless to stand right before God and made you subject to His wrath, and separated from Him. But on the other side of the Cross, through Jesus, you are justified, given a new nature and identity, and reconciled with God.
Before the Cross, your desires were your god. Now, on the other side of the Cross, Jesus is your God—and this transformation happens only through being born again. This is the work of Jesus; your role is to respond.
Born Again
Jesus told Nicodemus, a religious man, that being born again is essential. Nicodemus did not realize that it was his nature—not his knowledge or lifestyle—that separated him from God. Jesus said:
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6)
“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)
Being born of water means coming into the world with an earthly nature and desires. Being born of the Spirit means receiving God’s nature and godly desires.
Not the Result of Education
Salvation is not the result of education or discussion, but a revelation from God. I pray that you will listen to your heart as God calls you to respond to His love for you.
You must believe and respond. Jesus clearly teaches that faith in Him is the only way to salvation. Believing in Jesus brings eternal life and rescue from judgment.
Believe in Jesus
To believe in Jesus means trusting who He is—the Son of God, Savior, God Himself, and Lord—and what He accomplished through His death and resurrection. This faith leads to repentance, forgiveness, new life, a transformed way of living, and eternal salvation.
Choose
The choice is yours. God is reaching out to you with open arms, inviting you to leave behind your old life of sin and receive a new life filled with His love, grace, peace, and purpose.
How to Be Saved and Become a Child of God
Conviction: The Holy Spirit reveals to us our sinfulness and separation from God due to sin. This conviction is not about condemnation, but about revealing the truth about one’s spiritual state. The Holy Spirit highlights the reality of God’s judgment, which further emphasizes the need for salvation.
The Holy Spirit also reveals the righteousness of Christ and the possibility of being made righteous through faith in Him.
Salvation Guide:
1. God Loves You and Has a Plan for Your Life
Key Verse:
John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Explanation:
God loves every person and wants us to live forever with Him. He showed this love by sending Jesus to save us.
2. The Problem: You are a sinner
Key Verse:
Romans 3:23 — “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Explanation:
Sin separates us from God. No one is perfect, and because of sin, we cannot have a close relationship with God on our own.
3. The Consequence of Sin Is Death
Key Verse:
Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Explanation:
Sin leads to spiritual death and eternal separation from God. But God offers a free gift—eternal life through Jesus.
4. Jesus Christ Died for Our Sins and Rose Again
Key Verses:
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — “Christ died for our sins… he was buried, and he was raised on the third day.”
Romans 5:8 — “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Explanation:
Jesus took the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross and rose again to defeat death. Because of Him, we can be forgiven and have new life.
5. You Must Believe in Jesus
a. Jesus Himself says:
- John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 6:47
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.” - John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”
b. Belief leads to being saved:
- Acts 16:31
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” - Romans 10:9
“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.” - Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
c. Belief is trusting Jesus personally:
- John 1:12
“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” - 1 John 5:1
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.”
Key Verses:
John 3:16 — “Whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 10:9 — “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Explanation:
Salvation comes by faith — trusting Jesus as your Savior and Lord, believing He died and rose again for you.
6. Repentance: Turn Away from Sin
Key Verse:
Acts 3:19 — “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.”
Explanation:
Repentance means changing your attitude toward Jesus—believing in Him and trusting Him for your salvation. It involves acknowledging your sins and making a deliberate decision to turn away from them, choosing instead to live for God.
7. Surrender Your Life to Jesus
Key Verse:
Luke 9:23 — “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Explanation:
Following Jesus means giving Him control of your life every day—your thoughts, actions, and future.
8. Ask Jesus Into Your Heart and surrender your life to Him
Key Verse:
Revelation 3:20 — “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.”
Explanation:
When you open your life to Him and surrender yourself to Jesus, so he can be your Lord, He will come in and transform you from the inside out.
9. Prayer of Salvation
If you desire to be forgiven and saved, pray this prayer:
Lord Jesus,
I believe You are the Son of God. I know I am a sinner and ask for Your forgiveness. Thank You for dying on the cross for me and my sins, and for rising again. I turn away from my sins, from not believing in You, and from not making You Lord of my life. I surrender my life to You. Please come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. Help me to live for You every day. Amen.
What To Do Next?
- Tell someone about your decision. Sharing your new faith encourages you and others.
- Read your Bible daily. Start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) to know Jesus better.
- Pray every day. Talk to God honestly and often.
- Join a church or fellowship. Being part of a community of believers helps you grow.
- Baptism. It’s an important step of obedience and public declaration of your faith (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:19).
Encouragement
Remember, salvation is a gift from God by grace through faith—not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). God loves you and has started a good work in you (Philippians 1:6). Walk with Him daily, and you will grow in His love and purpose for your life.
© 2025 Life & Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Written by Evangelist Nico Saaiman | Not to be reproduced without permission.
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