Jesus Christ; the Way, the Truth, and the (New) Life (John 14:6)
In case you are ready to begin a New Life with God in and through Jesus Christ; here is the simple prayer you need to confess aloud, and believe with your whole heart. If you are not ready, please read the narrative following the prayer first, then consider coming back to the prayer:
To the One, True, Living God in Heaven; I direct my heart and prayer to you in asking for forgiveness, and for New Life with you. I confess that I have sinned against you, and done things in my life that I know you did not approve of. I understand that my sins separated my soul from you. I am sorry for my sins, and ask you to forgive me of all my sin. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God, and that He took my sins upon Himself, and was crucified and died on the Cross to pay the full penalty for my sins. I believe He rose again from the dead, and is alive today. I ask you, Jesus, to come into my heart, and live within me, and be the Lord of my life. I commit my life to you, and ask that you help me grow and become the person God intends me to be. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
As you can see, God has made the Door to Him incredibly simple to find, and even easier to enter. It is people who make it incredibly complicated and difficult. In fact, the ironic, sad truth is that, for many people, it is the most difficult thing for them to do in life; but not because God made it that way, but because they do. They would rather stubbornly struggle on in their misery, or even reject God altogether, rather than yield their pride, and accept the simplicity of a free gift of salvation in Christ, and the promise of eternal life in Heaven.
There are two main stumbling blocks: One; it's too easy. People reason that something as serious and as "holy" as being accepted by God must necessarily be difficult, and should involve a lot of work and suffering. This perception is at the heart of all of the world's false religions and cults, where "works" are required to please God. But it's completely false. The only "work" and "suffering" arises in the other stumbling block: overcoming one's own pride and need for control. People just naturally have a very hard time humbling themselves, letting go of their opinions about "truth", accepting God's "Truth", and giving God control of their lives. I know I did. It is human nature to want to understand everything about something before we accept it; and to also want to have complete control of the process of personal change. Because God is God, and really "there"; pride and control unfortunately cannot enter into the door, and must be left outside. (But certainly not intelligence or reason; as God is both extremely intelligent, and everything about Him is extremely organized, logical, and wholly reasonable; just in a different context than the natural and limited human mind is able to grasp).
Here are the simple steps to salvation and beginning a New Life with God; along with the Bible scriptures that relate to them. I encourage you to not take my word for it, or any man's; get hold of a Bible, and read them for yourself, and see what they mean to you:
It begins with a simple understanding of the gospel: Romans 1:16
That Jesus is God: John 10:30-33
Who became a Man: 1 Timothy 2:5
In order to save mankind from everlasting separation from God: John 14:6, John 3:16-17
That resulted from man's sin (moral imperfection): Isaiah 59:2, Romans 3:23
Jesus satisfied the perfect justice of God: 1 John 2:2
By His once-and-for-all payment for the sins of humanity: Hebrews 10:10-12
Through His substitutionary suffering and death (on our behalf) on the Cross: Hebrews 12:2
His resurrection from the dead: Romans 1:3-4
Assures the salvation of all those who acknowledge their sin before God: 2 Corinthians 7:10
And their hopelessness in saving themselves: Romans 5:6
And who by grace, through faith,: Ephesians 2:8
accept Christ's sacrifice on their behalf: John 3:15
and His free gift of eternal life: Romans 5:18
This is how one is reconciled to God: John 3:3
and born again spiritually: John 3:3, Galatians 2:20, 1 Peter 1:23
This is how one's PERSONAL relationship with the biblical Jesus Christ begins: Colossians 1:27
I told you it was easy. Now; the pride part.....
If you haven't already done so, please return to the prayer at the top of the page, and you can "test" your strength against your own pride, and perhaps better appreciate why peace with God is simultaneously the easiest and the hardest thing to do.
It is my prayer that you overcome that resisting force of pride, the "lump" in your throat, and open your heart and mouth and speak the prayer.