So here is how you receive God's forever forgiveness:

• You first recognize honestly that you have not lived according to God's design for your life. An honesty in this is not about how you think things should be, it is about acknowledging that He is God and He is the One who determines how we should live our lives and we have gone off on our own path, which has taken us away from God.
   
• Then you confess to Him that you are a sinner and need His mercy.
   
• And you repent of your sin. This is an affirmative statement of intent in your heart to stop walking on a path different from God's design for your life. You cannot undo what you have done, but you can resolve to never again repeat the waywardness that took you away from God in the first place.
   
• Having resolved in your heart, you now acknowledge aloud to the universe (for the evil spirits will hear your proclamation) that you accept Jesus as the Lord of your life from this moment forward, that you believe God sent Jesus to be the One who was punished for your sin, that you believe the cross is where Jesus purchased your salvation with His own blood, and that His resurrection from the dead is the evidence of your resurrection from a life of sin into a life of mercy and grace in God's direction for your life.
   
• Having proclaimed this faith to the universe, you also proclaim it to men by finding a group (or church) of believers where you proclaim this faith aloud and demonstrate it in baptism which is the physical expression of your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus -- and is in fact the act of your own death to your life of sin, burial of that life in the reservoir of water, and resurrection from that dead life into a new life of following Jesus. In demonstrating your faith, God will put into your heart the Holy Spirit who will guide you into all truth.
   
• Now having proclaimed your faith and receiving God's forgiveness of your sin and redemption for your life, choose a body of believers where you can learn more about the way to live according to God's design and where you can worship God in spirit and in truth.
   
• Obtain a modern version of the Bible (such as the New International Version or the Holman Christian Standard Version) and begin to read and study it, each day asking God for His wisdom to understand His word and His purpose for your life. A suggested reading plan is included in the column on the right side of this page.

Now some people like to argue about the precise moment when you are "saved". Ignore them, for the fact that they argue about such things proves they have a problem in their own heart. God knows when you changed your heart, and He is the only one that matters for He knows everything and He will never make a mistake!

Keys Things to Remember in Your New Faith
Now that you have accepted Jesus as the Lord of your life, here are some key points to remember as you move forward into the life that the Lord will unfold for you:

1. Do Not Judge Others
   Everyone has sin in their lives and only God is able to rightly judge us. Remember God has redeemed you from your sin, so judging others when you have been forgiven for the same or similar sins is hypocrisy. The relevant scriptures for this are Matthew 7:2 and, because you have been forgiven of your great debt, Matthew 18:21-35.
    
2. Be Charitable
   One of the reasons we have so much difficulty in our financial life is because we have not done as God intended with our finances. Financial freedom is based on God's principles of managing our blessings. In fact, because people did not give their tithe (10% of their income) to God, they are under a curse for "stealing from God" (Malachi 3:7-12) and in this matter, God actually says to test Him and He will prove Himself to you! We are not to test God (as stated in the Law in Deuteronomy 6:16 and by Jesus Himself in Luke 4:12), except in this ONE matter. Be sure your charitable actions are from a cheerful heart, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
    
3. Resist Temptation and Resist Evil
   God has told us that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. Thus we resist the devil, forcing him to flee, and we draw near to God for God will then draw near to us so that we can purify our hearts (James 4:7-8).
    
4. Study the Word of God to Become Knowledgeable
   God wants us to understand His will and purpose for our lives. Study the Bible honestly and ask God to give you understanding (2 Timothy 2:11-15). The Holy Spirit which God has put into your heart when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior will guide you into all truth (John 16:13). A suggested reading plan is provided for you in the column on the right side of this page.
    
5. Avoid Excesses, Addictions, and Abominations
   Everyone is to have control over themselves (1 Corinthians 9:27 and Galatians 5:22-24), live in soberness (1 Timothy 3:3), and live in fidelity (Exodus 20:14).
    
6. Love Your Neighbor and Your Enemies
   Even when resisting evil, it is necessary to love. We can stand against evil without hating, without wanting retribution. Instead of hate, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31) and we are to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

Now of course there are MANY MANY more things to know about living a Christian life. So begin. The recommended reading plan provided in the column on the right of this page will help you quickly become knowledgeable, and the Holy Spirit which God has put into your heart when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior will guide you into all truth (John 16:13).

Suggested Reading Plan