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, NKJV).
"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, NKJV).
"I have come that they may have life, and
that they may have it more abundantly" (John
10:10, NKJV).
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, NKJV).
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift
of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord" (Romans 6:23, NKJV).
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, NIV).
"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,
NIV).
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, NIV).
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the
righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to
God" (1 Peter 3:18, NIV).
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in
this: While we were still sinners, Christ died
for us" (Romans 5:8, NIV).
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, NIV).
"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, NIV).
"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, NIV).
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 have just prayed this prayer and asked
Jesus into your heart and life I would so love it
if you would drop me an email (address below) and
let me know - I love to celebrate this glorious
time with others.
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, NIV).
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, NIV).
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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