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Step One
God's Purpose: Peace and Life
God loves you and wants you to
experience peace and life--abundant and eternal.
The Bible says...
"We have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
"For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"I have come that they may have
life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
Why don't most people have this
peace and abundant life that God planned for us to have?
Step
Two
The Problem: Our Separation
God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did
not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him. God
gave us a will and a freedom of choice.
We chose to disobey God and go
our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results
in separation from God.
The Bible says...
"For all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23
Our Attempts to Reach God
People have tried in many ways
to bridge this gap between themselves and God...
The Bible says...
"There is a way that seems
right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12
"But your iniquities have
separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from
you, so that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:2
No bridge reaches God...except
one.
Step Three
God's Bridge: The Cross
Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose from the grave. He paid
the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and
people.
The Bible says...
"For there is one God and one
mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ." 1 Timothy 2:5
"For Christ died for sins once
for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."
1 Peter 3:18
"But God demonstrates his own
love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for
us." Romans 5:8
God has provided the only way.
Each person must make a choice.
Step Four
Our Response: Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by
personal invitation.
The Bible says...
"Here I am! I stand at the door
and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will
come in and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20
"Yet to all who received him,
to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God." John 1:12
"That if you confess with your
mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised
Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
Where are you?
Will you receive Jesus Christ
right now?
Here is how you can receive
Christ:
1.Admit your need (I am a
sinner).
2.Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
3.Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose
from the grave.
4.Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your
life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)
How to Pray:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and
need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want
to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and
life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
God's Assurance: His Word
If you prayed this prayer,
The Bible says...
"Everyone who calls on the name
of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
Did you sincerely ask Jesus
Christ to come into your life? Where is He right now? What has He
given you?
"For it is by grace you have
been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the
gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians
2:8,9
Receiving Christ, we are born
into God's family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit
who indwells every believer. This is called regeneration, or the
"new birth."
This is just the beginning of a
wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship you
should:
1. Read your
Bible everyday to know Christ better.
2. Talk to God in prayer every day.
3. Tell others about Christ.
4. Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a
church where Christ is preached.
5. As Christ's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your
new life by your love and concern for others. |
