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Have you ever wondered where you have come from? Have you ever questioned
why you are here on this earth? Are we all that there is? Is there
life after death? Does my life have a purpose? Does life in general
have a purpose? How do I fit into this?
If you have asked any or all of these questions at some point in your
life, then you are not alone. We believe that everyone asks these
questions in one way, shape, or form, and our hearts simply will not
find rest until the answers are found. It has once been said that
within all of us there is a God-shaped vacuum. That is, the driving
force behind these and similar questions is the innate sense that
there is something more. There is something or Someone bigger than
me and my existence. Christians believe that the answers are to be
found in God's Word written to us, the Bible.
Do you want peace with God? Do you want to come to know Him in an
intimate way? In Billy Graham's Steps
to Peace With God, we come to the heart of the issue...
1. God's Plan- Peace and Life
We were created to know God personally, so that we may give Him all
of our worship. God created you to have a personal relationship with
Him, so that you may experience His peace and life.
The Bible says: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and
only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life" (John 3:16).
2. Our Problem- Separation
Though you were created to be in relationship with God, this does
not come automatically, because by nature you are separated from God
due to your sin. "Sin" literally means, "To miss the mark." In other
words, by our very nature, which is seen in our thoughts, our words,
and our actions, we miss God's mark of perfection and holiness, and
we must pay the penalty for our sins, which is judgment from God.
The Bible says: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God" (Romans 3:23).
3. God's Remedy- The Cross
The story could have ended there. God could have walked away from
us, leaving us separated from Him forever. Throughout the ages, people
have tried to come up with their own remedies to their sinful condition.
They have tried to be religious, to "act good," to "be moral," or
to come up with new philosophical ideas to explain away our inner
sense of emptiness. The truth is that none of these remedies worked,
leaving us far from God. But God Himself
has provided the remedy by His grace and mercy--the cross of Jesus
Christ. "Grace" is defined as unmerited favor. That is, we
have done nothing to deserve God's favor, but He has freely chosen
to love us anyway. He then demonstrated His love by His actions. Jesus
Christ, His one and only Son, died on the cross in order to pay the
penalty for our sins. He took our judgment and bridged the gap between
God and us.
The Bible says: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still
powerless, Christ died for the ungodly...But God demonstrated His
own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died
for us" (Romans 5:6, 8).
4. Our Response- Receive Christ
To receive eternal life and salvation, you must receive Christ by
personal invitation. He is calling you to come to Him. Respond by
opening your heart to Him. That's it!
Sound too easy? That's called grace. He paid the price. He calls us
from darkness to the light of life. We simply accept Him by grace
through faith.
The Bible says: "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)
"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. For it
is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with
your mouth that you confess and are saved" (Romans 10:9,10)
"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).
To receive Christ you need to do four things:
1. ADMIT
your spiritual need. "I am a sinner."
2. REPENT
(turn 180 degrees) from your sin
to God.
3. BELIEVE
that Jesus Christ died on the cross for
you.
4. RECEIVE,
through prayer, Jesus Christ into your heart and life.
If you are ready to take this step (and we pray that you are), then
please pray the following prayer in your heart with sincerity:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner
and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins, and
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. Thank
You for Your grace and love. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer, then we want to welcome you to the
Kingdom of God. You are a Christian, and you are a child of God. What
a humbling privilege to be called the child of the King of the Universe!
It is important for you to take the next
steps now: 1) Begin reading the Bible everyday (we suggest beginning
with the New Testament); and 2) Let a fellow Christian know what has
happened. Contact a local minister or Bible-believing church
and ask them how to get involved. We are always available to talk
with you about anything at any time should you have questions. Please
go to the "Contact
Us" section and give us a call or e-mail us.
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