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:
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.
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:
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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