“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (Col. 1:21–22 NIV)

It’s super good news!

It starts with a problem—but it ends with an over-the-top, amazing, almost-too-good-to-be-true solution.

The Problem: Sin

The Bible is very clear about our condition apart from God. It says that “there is none righteous” (Romans 3:10), that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and that because of our sin we are separated—alienated—from Him (Isaiah 59:2). Left to ourselves, we are hopelessly lost.

The Solution: The Gospel (Good News!)

The Bible calls God’s solution “the gospel,” which literally means “good news.” The good news is that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins and to “bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

Our promise verse says it this way:

“He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.”

Now that is why it is rightfully called good news!

You Must Receive God’s Gift Personally

Even though Jesus has done all the work on the cross, each person must personally receive this gift.

The Bible says:

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God—to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)

And again:

“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.” (Rom. 10:9)

Praying “The Sinner’s Prayer”

“The Sinner’s Prayer” is simply a way to express, in words, what is happening in your heart when you turn to God through Jesus Christ. It can go something like this:

“Father, I know that I have broken Your laws and that my sins have separated me from You. I am truly sorry, and I want to turn away from my sinful life and turn to You. Please forgive me. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, rose from the dead, is alive today, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life—to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

I prayed a similar prayer more than 50 years ago, and Jesus has truly changed my life.

And I know—He will change yours, too.