What did we teach your Camper?

What does it mean to "accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior"?

The Creator of the universe has revealed Himself to humanity as the one true God. He revealed Himself generally through His creation, but specifically through His words spoken through His prophets written down and contained in what we have today - the Bible. (Isaiah 46:9, Romans 1:20, 2 Peter 1:21)

God is perfect, holy, and He made the first man and woman that way, but they disobeyed God (sinned) and as a result, brought condemnation to all people who would come after them. Now, we are separated from God and under judgment that will lead us to permanent, eternal separation from God and all His goodness. (Romans 3:9-19, 5:12)

But because of God's great love for us, He sent his Son, Jesus, into the world. Jesus lived the perfect life we couldn't live, He died the death we deserved to die, He conquered the enemy we couldn't defeat. (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

Through Jesus' sacrifice, the way has been made open for sinful people to be reconciled to God. The only requirement is faith. When we put our faith (trust) in Jesus by acknowledging that we are separated from God and do not want to remain in that condition, and subsequently turn to Him (repentance) in faith - then we will be saved. (Acts 20:21, Ephesians 2:8-9)

Once we have trusted (or accepted) Jesus, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing that we will live with Him forever not based upon the good works we have done or will do but based upon the righteousness (perfection) of Jesus on our behalf. (2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:13-14)