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: Accept what Jesus has done for You
We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by obeying the gospel.
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
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38
By being born of water and spirit, we are born into God's family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. This is called regeneration, or the "new birth."
This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Jesus Christ. To deepen this relationship you should:
1. Read your Bible everyday to know Jesus better.
2. Talk to Him in prayer every day.
3. Tell others about Jesus.
4. Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where the truth of God's Word is preached.
5. As God's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.
