|
|
|
|
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.
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.
| |
|
|
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.
| |
