Finding Peace With God
Did you know that God wants you to have an abundant and eternal life filled with peace and love. Unfortunately most people don't. So how do we know that this is what God wants for us? It is written in the Bible:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
That's right, God loves us all so much that he sent his one and only son to sacrifice himself for us. It is also written in the Bible:
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1
and
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
So why don't all of us have the above? Because of our separation from God.
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. I heard one person use the analogy, "Which would you rather have, a spouse that was given to you, that would stay with you with no choice in the matter, or a spouse who chose you, loved you, and really wanted a relationship with you." Well God gave us a will and freedom to chose, with the hope it would be the later.
We choose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. The result of this action is separation from God.
The Bible says:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
When we sin we separate ourselves from God. God being who he is can not be in the presence of sin, and when we sin it is against God.
Our Attempts To Reach God
Through the ages people have tried different ways to bridge the gap between God and themselves. Humans have tried good Works, religion, morality, philosophy, etc.
But it is written:
"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
There is no bridge across the gap that separates us from God except one...
God's Bridge: The Cross
God has provided the only way for us to bridge the gap that separates us from him. His Son Jesus!
Christ Jesus died on the Cross and rose from the grave. He paid the price for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people.
The Bible says:
"For Christ dies for sins once and for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." 1 Peter 3:18
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5
But each person must make a choice......
Our Response: Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and receive Him by personal invitation. This is our choice, not his, for he already loves us.
The Bible states:
"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 receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John1:12
"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
So where are you?
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Here?
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or Here?
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People |
God |
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Sin Rebellion Separation |
Peace Forgiveness Abundant life Eternal Life |
Will you receive Jesus Christ right now, or continue to be separated from God and the life he has planned for you?
There may be some of you that say, "Well I need to straighten things up in my life. I need to get right with God first." Brothers and sisters there is no reason to wait. Christ will meet you wherever you are in your life. God's love is so great that there is nothing in your life that he will not forgive, and there is no way you can make your life right without him.
So how do you receive Christ?
Your prayer does not need to be complicated. If you are not sure how to pray use the prayer written below.
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 the above 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
If you did not pray to receive Christ into your life I urge you to do it now and receive the free gift that God offers each and everyone.
The Bible Says...
"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:12-13
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".
What Now?
Brothers and sisters this is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship you should:
Read your Bible every day to know Christ better.
Talk to God in prayer every day.
Tell others about Christ.
Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.
As Christ's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.
If you want further help in the decision you have made you can email me any time or contact a local Bible teaching church. If you have not made a decision for Christ at this time I implore you to think about it earnestly. Please contact me with any questions you may have and I will do my best to answer them, or put you in touch with someone who can.
I would also like to hear your personal testimony of what Christ has done for you. Write anytime.
May the peace of Christ be with each and everyone of you. May each person who visits this page leave with a new intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ - Dirty Foot