When we talk about becoming a member of Selma Baptist Church, we are really talking
about becoming a Christian. As you read through this page, you can find out how to do that.
You can also find on this page answers to the following questions:

What happens to me when I die?

Is there life after death?

Does my life have a purpose?

How does a person get in to heaven?

We answer these questions by using an acrostic formed by the letters in the word REACH.

The R stands for Realize God's Plan.

We must realize God’s plan. The first book of the Bible is Genesis. The first three
chapters tell the story of how God created the perfect people for a perfect world.

There was abundance, joy, peace, happiness, and connection with God.

Genesis 1:31 says “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.”

The world wasn’t always the way it is now with hurt, disappointment, broken hearts, and death.

Realize that God’s perfect plan included peace between God and man.

I know it sounds like a great plan, but there is a problem.

The E reminds us that
Everyone is a sinner.

Adam and Eve were the first people on the earth and we are all their descendants.

Even though they lived in a perfect world, they chose to rebel against God and they
became sinners. Because they were sinners, we are sinners as their offspring.

Romans 5:19 “ ...by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.”

 All people fit into this category.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Think about it this way. Do we have to teach a child how to do wrong?

Man’s problem is sin, and there is a penalty for it.

Romans 6:23 “ For the wages of sin is death.”

 Just as God was not pleased with Adam and Eve when they sinned, He is not pleased with
us either. He must punish sin. The wages for sin is death. Death is separation from God.

Man is separated from God and that is a problem.

The A reminds us that God has the
Answer to man’s problem.

Our problem has a solution. This solution is not a program, but a person.
That person is Jesus, God's Son.

God has taken the initiative to solve our problem of sin.

John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 “ But God demonstrated His love toward in that
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ”

Jesus absorbed the penalty for our sin and He offers forgiveness.

Ephesians 1:7 “ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

It is an offer or a gift that cannot be earned.

Thing about a gift. You can’t buy it, or earn it. You must accept it.

Now, think of this answer like a cure. Jesus is the cure for our problem of sin.

ILLUSTRATION: Imagine a cure for cancer being developed.
All you would have to do is take it and you would be healed.
You would still have the responsibility of taking the cure.

In the same way, Jesus is the answer (cure) but we still have a responsibility.

That brings us to the C
which means Come to Jesus.

There is an invitation to come to Jesus. But like any invitation, there must be a response.

Think of it as if you received an invitation to a meal.
To enjoy the meal, you must respond to the invitation and come to the meal.

Jesus described coming to Him like coming to partake of a meal.

In John 4:10, Jesus called himself “Living Water” that we must drink.

In John 6:35, He is called the “Bread of Life” that we must receive.

Just like you receive drink and food into your life, you must receive Him into your life as well.

John 1:12 “ But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God...”

There are two key components to coming to Jesus:

1. Trusting - John 3:16 “ ..that whoever believes..." Sometimes we call that faith.

2. Turning - Acts 3:19a “ Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”

Repentance simply means to turn around.

Think of repentance like a U-Turn - You turn from your sin to the Savior.

You see, a change of life is the only measurable proof of salvation.

After you come to Jesus, it gets really exciting!

The H reminds you of the
Hope of Heaven you now have.

Heaven is promised to us when we come to Jesus and that gives us hope for now and eternity.

NOW

James 2:23 says that once Abraham placed his faith in God, he “became the friend of God.”

We, too, now have a friend who has promised to stick with us.

He’s there for the good times and the bad, and trust me,
there will still be some bad times, even if you are a Christian.

We can also live on this earth without fear of death and the grave.
The Bible tells us that Jesus has conquered death.

1 Cor. 15:3-4 “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was
buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Jesus promises us heaven after this life.

ETERNITY

John 14:2-3 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so,
I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am,
there you may be also.”

 It brings so much peace and rest in this life to know that the next one is secured.

You can have this hope of heaven, too.

From what you have been reading, you can see that God has already ‘reached’
toward you. Is there any good reason why you wouldn’t want to REACH toward
Him in faith and repentance and allow Jesus to become the Lord of your life?

All you have to do is pray a simple prayer and mean it in your heart. The prayer
by itself won't save you; it is calling out to God with an honest heart that He hears.

Dear Lord, I know that I'm a sinner and that I cannot save myself.
But I also know that Jesus died for my sins and rose from the grave.
I turn from my sins and invite Jesus to be the Lord of my life.
Thank you for saving me! Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, please contact us and let us know! We want to
pray for you and rejoice with you, and we also want to help you as you
begin your new journey as a Christian. Click here for our contact page.