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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:
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Admit your need (I am a sinner).
-
Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
-
Believe that Jesus Christ died for you
on the Cross and rose from the grave.
-
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:
-
Read your Bible everyday to know Christ
better.
-
Talk to God in prayer every day.
-
Tell others about Christ.
-
Worship, fellowship, and serve with other
Christians in a church where Christ is preached.
- As Christ's representative in a needy world,
demonstrate your new life by your love and
concern for others.
If you have just prayed to receive Christ,
congratulations and welcome to the family of
God! Please e-mail
us to tell us about your decision so we can
help encourage you in your new relationship
with the Lord. |
