Pride- a bible study

            I am led to do now a bible study on pride- first I will use five examples of pride from the bible. There also is much pride active today, and I have seen it where people act superior to all others in how they behave. It could include cutting into traffic, not letting others merge, cutting in line, going in an express lane with far too many items, an others. As I believe these are the last days this situation is getting worse and will not get better.

The first example in the bible is one of a communal group pride- where the people who at that time all spoke with the same language and all lived in the same area conspired to build a city and a tower up to haven to make a name for themselves, that is to make themselves famous. Even though they did it all in the wrong motivations their story is in the bible read from generation to generation as a warning against their pride.

(Genesis 11:1)  Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.

(Genesis 11:2)  And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.

(Genesis 11:3)  And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.

(Genesis 11:4)  Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."

(Genesis 11:5)  And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.

(Genesis 11:6)  And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.

(Genesis 11:7)  Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech."

(Genesis 11:8)  So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.

(Genesis 11:9)  Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

God put an end to that plan, and also spread out the people all over the world which was His will for mankind.

The next example is David’s census of the people at the end of his reign. A census in and of itself is not sinful, but one of wrongful motives often in fact is sinful ,and  many commentaries say that David was tempted by Satan and did the census on a prideful motivation which stirred the wrath of God:

(1 Chronicles 21:1)  Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

(1 Chronicles 21:2)  So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, "Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number."

(1 Chronicles 21:3)  But Joab said, "May the LORD add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?"

(1 Chronicles 21:4)  But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem.

(1 Chronicles 21:5)  And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword.

(1 Chronicles 21:6)  But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.

(1 Chronicles 21:7)  But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel.

(1 Chronicles 21:8)  And David said to God, "I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly."

(1 Chronicles 21:9)  And the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying,

(1 Chronicles 21:10)  "Go and say to David, 'Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.'"

(1 Chronicles 21:11)  So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Choose what you will:

(1 Chronicles 21:12)  either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me."

(1 Chronicles 21:13)  Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man."

David’s act of pride caused Israel to be very severely punished though commentaries also say there were other factors involved in the severity of the punishment. This passage does give an indication of how God detests pride

The third example of pride was King Uzziah who was a successful king until he succumbed to his pride. The story is in 2 Chronicles 26

(2 Chronicles 26:1)  And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

(2 Chronicles 26:2)  He built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers.

(2 Chronicles 26:3)  Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

(2 Chronicles 26:4)  And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

(2 Chronicles 26:5)  He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

(2 Chronicles 26:6)  He went out and made war against the Philistines and broke through the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod, and he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.

(2 Chronicles 26:7)  God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal and against the Meunites.

(2 Chronicles 26:8)  The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong.

(2 Chronicles 26:9)  Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the Angle, and fortified them.

(2 Chronicles 26:10)  And he built towers in the wilderness and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.

(2 Chronicles 26:11)  Moreover, Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders.

(2 Chronicles 26:12)  The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses of mighty men of valor was 2,600.

(2 Chronicles 26:13)  Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

(2 Chronicles 26:14)  And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.

(2 Chronicles 26:15)  In Jerusalem he made engines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.

(2 Chronicles 26:16)  But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

(2 Chronicles 26:17)  But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the LORD who were men of valor,

(2 Chronicles 26:18)  and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God."

(2 Chronicles 26:19)  Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD, by the altar of incense.

(2 Chronicles 26:20)  And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him.

(2 Chronicles 26:21)  And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.

(2 Chronicles 26:22)  Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz wrote.

(2 Chronicles 26:23)  And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said, "He is a leper." And Jotham his son reigned in his place.

            This story shows even more clearly how God detests pride- the king was struck with leprosy as his pride caused him to usurp the priest’s duty and to sacrifice where he should not have done.

In Daniel chapter 4 is a powerful story of how no less a man than King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was extremely prideful, then God really humbled him and, and then after Nebuchadnezzar was punished and then Nebuchadnezzar repented of his pride he had his kingdom restored and praised God

(Daniel 4:1)  King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you!

(Daniel 4:2)  It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

(Daniel 4:3)  How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

(Daniel 4:4)  I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.

(Daniel 4:5)  I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.

(Daniel 4:6)  So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

(Daniel 4:7)  Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.

(Daniel 4:8)  At last Daniel came in before me--he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods--and I told him the dream, saying,

(Daniel 4:9)  "O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.

(Daniel 4:10)  The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.

(Daniel 4:11)  The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.

(Daniel 4:12)  Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

(Daniel 4:13)  "I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.

(Daniel 4:14)  He proclaimed aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.

(Daniel 4:15)  But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.

(Daniel 4:16)  Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him.

(Daniel 4:17)  The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.'

(Daniel 4:18)  This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

(Daniel 4:19)  Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, "Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

(Daniel 4:20)  The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,

(Daniel 4:21)  whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived--

(Daniel 4:22)  it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.

(Daniel 4:23)  And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,'

(Daniel 4:24)  this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,

(Daniel 4:25)  that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.

(Daniel 4:26)  And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.

(Daniel 4:27)  Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."

(Daniel 4:28)  All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

(Daniel 4:29)  At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,

(Daniel 4:30)  and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?"

(Daniel 4:31)  While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,

(Daniel 4:32)  and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."

(Daniel 4:33)  Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.

(Daniel 4:34)  At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

(Daniel 4:35)  all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"

(Daniel 4:36)  At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.

(Daniel 4:37)  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

My fifth and last example is in the very next chapter was where Nebuchadnezzar’s son Belshazzar saw what all happened to his father yet he too lifted his heart against God and pride and this happened

(Daniel 5:1)  King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.

(Daniel 5:2)  Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.

(Daniel 5:3)  Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.

(Daniel 5:4)  They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

(Daniel 5:5)  Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.

(Daniel 5:6)  Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.

(Daniel 5:7)  The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."

(Daniel 5:8)  Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.

(Daniel 5:9)  Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.

(Daniel 5:10)  The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, "O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.

(Daniel 5:11)  There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father--your father the king--made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,

(Daniel 5:12)  because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation."

(Daniel 5:13)  Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, "You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah.

(Daniel 5:14)  I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.

(Daniel 5:15)  Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter.

(Daniel 5:16)  But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."

(Daniel 5:17)  Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.

(Daniel 5:18)  O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.

(Daniel 5:19)  And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled.

(Daniel 5:20)  But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.

(Daniel 5:21)  He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.

(Daniel 5:22)  And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,

(Daniel 5:23)  but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.

(Daniel 5:24)  "Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.

(Daniel 5:25)  And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.

(Daniel 5:26)  This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;

(Daniel 5:27)  TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting;

(Daniel 5:28)  PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

(Daniel 5:29)  Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

(Daniel 5:30)  That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed.

(Daniel 5:31)  And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

Belshazzar was dealt very harshly as he saw all what happened to his father but it made absolutely no impression on him in any way and he did the same things his father did until this judgment fell unto him. These five stories show well how God opposes pride but I am going to continue with some verses which shows how God feels about pride and the proud

(James 4:6)  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

And this verse also reminds us of the same idea:

(1 Peter 5:5)  Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

(1 Peter 5:6)  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

God really does resist the proud

Here are the words of Jesus on the matter

(Matthew 23:12)  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

(Luke 14:11)  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Exalting oneself is pride indeed and God will humble you. Those who humble themselves will indeed be exalted

Here is another scriptural example of a king Hezekiah being proud then humbling himself again so that no harm comes. Repentance is always a good thing

(2 Chronicles 32:25)  But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.

(2 Chronicles 32:26)  But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

Here is a warning against pride in Isaiah

(Isaiah 2:11)  The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

(Isaiah 2:12)  For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up--and it shall be brought low;

Here is a verse in Ecclesiastes

(Ecclesiastes 7:8)  Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Here is a series of seven proverbs that deal with the topic of pride

Proverbs_8:13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

(Proverbs 16:5)  Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 21:24  "Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.

(Proverbs 26:12)  Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 29:23  One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

These seven all are effective warnings against pride and that it has evil consequences for those who get trapped in it, it will bring him low, and they can be worse than a fool. As such, it is a good thing to do is to repent of pride and be rid of it as soon as possible. I add a prayer to help you do this, so please if you need to pray this with me:

God, as one of your chosen people, holy and dearly loved, help me to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12)O God, please help me to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. (Titus 3:2)Faithful Father, thank you for giving us more grace. You oppose the proud but give grace to the hunble. (James 4:6)Father, like Mary, help my soul to glorify You and my spirit rejoice in You my Savior, for You have been mindful of the humble state of Your servant (Luke 1:46-48)God, through the power of your holy spirit, help me to live in harmony with others, be sympathetic, love as a brother or sister, be compassionate and humble. (1 Peter 3:8)Father, you have told me to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than myself. (Philippians 2:3) Right this moment, I confess all selfish ambition and vain conceit to You. Forgive me for so often considering myself better than others. Help me look not only to my own interests, but also to the interests of others. Please give me an attitude the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:4-5)Father, in your word, You define who is wise and understanding among us: The one who shows it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom (James 3:13)Father, in your word, You define who is wise and understanding among us: The one who shows it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13)Father, thank you for the assurance that humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)Father, help me to clothe myself with humility toward others, because You oppose the proud but give grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5) I will never live a day that I am not in need of your grace, so please help me maintain an attitude that welcomes it. Thank you In the mighty Name if Jesus I pray Amen

The Lord Jesus also loves you and wants a special relationship with you. I would want people to be humble and to ask them into their hearts so He can be their Lord and Savior, for He does love you so, and strongly wants a saving relationship with you. Please do pray this prayer with me for that relationship

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours.