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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.
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