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God has a wonderful plan for
your life now and forever. The central theme of the Bible is God's love for you
and all people. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal
life" (John 3:16).
God's
plan
Jesus said, "I came that they might have life
and might have it abundantly (full and meaningful). This is eternal life: that
they may know You the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John
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| 2. Sin
seperates us from God
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Because of sin we cannot know
God personally or experience His love and plan for our lives. All have sinned
and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Man was created to have a
relationship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go
his own independent way and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will,
characterized by an attitude of active rebellion (lying, stealing, murder,
drunkenness, adultery, fornication etc.) or passive indifference (disinterest;
preoccupation with possessions, career etc.), is evidence of what the Bible
calls sin.
For the result of sin is death
(spiritual separation from God) (Romans 6:23). Heaven and Hell are real
destinations and the ultimate choice is ours. The Good News is there is a
hell...but we don't have to go there!
This above diagram
illustrates that God is Holy and we are sinful. A great gulf separates the two.
The arrows show that man is continually trying to reach God and the abundant
life through his own efforts, such as living a good life, doing good deeds,
following philosophies, religions, cults etc. The next point explains the only
way to bridge this gulf. |
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| 3. Jesus
Christ is the remedy
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Through Jesus Christ alone we
can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. God demonstrated His
love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us
(Romans 5:8).
Jesus Christ rose from the
dead
Jesus Christ died for our sins... He was
buried... He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures... He
appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five
hundred (I Corinthians 15:3-6).
Jesus
Christ is the only way to God
Jesus said, "I am the
way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me"
(John 14:6). Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name
under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts
4:12).
This
diagram illustrates that God has bridged the gulf which separates us from Him
by sending His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place to pay the
penalty for our sins.
It is not enough just to
know the above information. The next point is the most important. |
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| 4. We must
receive Jesus Christ
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We must receive Jesus Christ
by faith (i.e. by trusting or believing) so we can know and experience God's
love and plan for our lives. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the
right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His Name (John
1:12). For by grace you have been saved, through faith and not by yourselves,
it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians
2:8-9).
We experience a new spiritual birth
when we receive Jesus Christ
Jesus said, "I tell
you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water
and the Spirit. Do not be surprised when I say you must be born again. Flesh
gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (John
3:1-8).
We can receive Jesus Christ by
personal invitation
Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at
the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door I will come in
to him" (Revelation 3:20).
Receiving Jesus
Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Jesus to
come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us the kind of people He
wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus is the Son of God and
that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have
an emotional experience. We must receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of
will.
The two circles below represent two kinds
of lives, the self-directed life and the Christ-directed
life:
Which circle best
represents your life? Which circle would you like to have represent your
life?
How you can receive Jesus Christ
right now by prayer and faith
Prayer is talking
with God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is
with the attitude of your heart.
The
following is a suggested prayer
Dear God/Heavenly
Father, I know that I have sinned. I believe You sent Jesus Christ to save me.
I believe Jesus was crucified on the cross, he was buried, raised from the
dead, and He ascended into heaven and sat down at Your right hand. I thank You
Jesus for taking away my sins forever. I believe Jesus Christ is my Lord and
Savior and I am now born again and will have eternal life. Take control of my
life and make me the person You want me to be. Thank You God, for forgiving me
and giving me everlasting life. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen.
Does this prayer express the
desire of your heart?
If it does, pray this prayer
right now. 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). If we
confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us
from all wrong doing (1 John 1:9). Jesus said, "I say to you that likewise
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). |
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| 5. How to
grow as a Christian
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Talk to God in prayer
daily
Matthew 21:22 All things, whatever you ask in
prayer, believing, you will receive. Mark 11:24 Whatever things you ask when
you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have
them.
Attend church
regularly
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting
together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another
-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Psalm 122:1 I was glad when
they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
Read God's Word, the Bible, often
2
Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Obey God always
John 14:21 He who
has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me
will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to
him.
Be a good witness and live for God by
your life and words
John 15:8 By this My Father is
glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My
disciples.
Trust God for every detail of
your life
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon
Him, for He cares for you.
Trust the Holy
Spirit to help you daily
Romans 8:14 For as many as
are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Read Frank's Biography
of how he became at Christian. |
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