Sermon Series: What are the benefits to accepting Christ

When we commit our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, we receive a multitude of promises from God that are deeply rooted in Scripture. These promises encompass every aspect of our spiritual, emotional, and physical lives, providing assurance, hope, and strength as we walk with Him. Here are some of the key promises we receive:

### 1. **Eternal Life**

- **Promise**: Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are granted the gift of eternal life.

- **Scripture**:

- John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

- 1 John 5:11-12: "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."

- **Application**: This promise gives us confidence and hope beyond this life, knowing that our ultimate destiny is secure with God in eternity.

### 2. **Forgiveness of Sins**

- **Promise**: When we come to Christ in faith, all our sins are forgiven, and we are made clean.

- **Scripture**:

- Ephesians 1:7: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace."

- 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

- **Application**: This promise frees us from the guilt and shame of past sins, enabling us to live with a clear conscience and the assurance of God’s grace.

### 3. **Peace with God**

- **Promise**: Through Jesus Christ, we have peace with God, ending the enmity caused by sin.

- **Scripture**:

- Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

- Philippians 4:7: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

- **Application**: This peace transcends our circumstances and guards our hearts and minds, offering us a deep sense of well-being and security in our relationship with God.

### 4. **The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit**

- **Promise**: Believers receive the Holy Spirit, who dwells within them, guiding, comforting, and empowering them.

- **Scripture**:

- John 14:16-17: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

- Romans 8:9: "You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you."

- **Application**: The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives empowers us to live according to God’s will, provides us with spiritual gifts, and assures us of our identity as children of God.

### 5. **Adoption as Children of God**

- **Promise**: Through Christ, we are adopted into God’s family, becoming His children.

- **Scripture**:

- Romans 8:15-16: "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children."

- Galatians 4:4-7: "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."

- **Application**: This adoption into God’s family gives us a new identity and inheritance, as well as the intimate privilege of relating to God as our loving Father.

### 6. **Provision for Our Needs**

- **Promise**: God promises to provide for all our needs as we seek His kingdom.

- **Scripture**:

- Philippians 4:19: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

- Matthew 6:31-33: "So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

- **Application**: Trusting in God’s provision allows us to live free from anxiety, focusing on His kingdom and righteousness, confident that He will meet our material and spiritual needs.

### 7. **Strength and Comfort in Trials**

- **Promise**: God promises to be with us in our trials, providing strength, comfort, and the ability to overcome.

- **Scripture**:

- Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

- **Application**: In the face of difficulties, we can draw on God’s strength and comfort, knowing that His grace is sufficient and that He is working in our lives even through our challenges.

### 8. **Victory Over Sin and Death**

- **Promise**: Through Christ, we have victory over sin and death, and we are empowered to live a holy life.

- **Scripture**:

- Romans 6:14: "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace."

- 1 Corinthians 15:57: "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

- **Application**: This promise assures us that we are no longer slaves to sin and that we can live in the victory that Christ has won for us, pursuing holiness and righteousness in our daily lives.

### 9. **The Promise of Christ’s Return and Our Future Glory**

- **Promise**: Jesus will return to establish His kingdom fully, and we will share in His glory.

- **Scripture**:

- John 14:2-3: "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

- Romans 8:18: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

- **Application**: This promise gives us hope and perspective, motivating us to live faithfully as we await Christ’s return, knowing that our present sufferings are temporary and that our future with Him is glorious.

### 10. **Joy and Abundant Life**

- **Promise**: In Christ, we experience true joy and abundant life.

- **Scripture**:

- John 10:10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

- John 15:11: "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

- **Application**: This promise encourages us to live in the fullness of life that Jesus offers, finding our joy in Him and allowing that joy to overflow into every area of our lives.

**Conclusion**

These promises are a testament to God’s love, faithfulness, and grace toward those who commit their lives to Jesus Christ. As we embrace these promises, we are called to live in a way that reflects our faith, continually trusting in the Lord’s provision, guidance, and ultimate plan for our lives.