We
Are Separated"The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God]. 4
What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept you?
You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him.
The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now, through Jesus Christ...
God's Love
"God so loved the world that He gave His one and only
Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but
have eternal life." 1
God's Plan
[Christ speaking] "I came that they might have life, and
might have it abundantly" [that it might be full and
meaningful]. 2
We Are Sinful
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
3
We were created to have fellowship with God; but, because of our stubborn self-will, we chose to go our own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
We
Are Separated
"The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from
God]. 4
This diagram illustrates that God is holy and people are sinful. A great gulf separates us. The arrows illustrate that we are continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through our own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion -- but we inevitably fail.
He Died in Our Place
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
5
He Rose From the Dead
"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..."
6
He
Is the Only Way to God
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and
the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.'"
7
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.
We Must Receive Christ
"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, even to those who believe in His
name." 8
We Receive Christ Through Faith
"By grace you have been saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a
result of works, that no one should boast."
9
When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth
We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation
[Christ speaking] "Behold, I stand at the door and
knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I
will come in to him." 10
Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.
These two circles represent two kinds of lives:
Which circle best describes your life?
Which circle would you like to have represent your life?
Prayer is talking to 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:
"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, then you can pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.
(1) John 3:16 (NIV); (2) John 10:10; (3) Romans 3:23; (4) Romans 6:23; (5) Romans 5:8; (6) 1 Corinthians 15:3-6; (7) John 14:6; (8) John 1:12; (9) Ephesians 2:8,9; (10) Revelation 3:20
Adapted from Have You Heard of the Four Spiritual Laws and Would You Like to Know God Personally, by Dr. Bill Bright, co-founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. © Campus Crusade for Christ. All rights reserved.
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