The First Step
God's Purpose: Relationship with you!
God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life in relationship with Him -- forever!
The Bible says ...
"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 (NIV)
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
--Romans 5:1 (NIV)
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
--John 10:10 (NIV)
Why don't most people have this close, loving relationship with God?
The Second Step
The Problem: Sin Separates us from God
God created us in His own image to have a relationship with Him. 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 (NIV)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
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 (NIV)
"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 (NIV)
There is only one way that we can come home to God . . .
The Third Step
God's Bridge: The Cross
Jesus Christ died on the Cross in our place and rose from the grave to prove it. 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 (NIV)
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 (NIV)
God has provided the only way through Jesus. Each person must make a choice.
The Fourth Step
Our Response: We must choose to accept Jesus
We must trust Jesus as Lord and Savior and receive Him by faith.
The Bible says ...
"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 (NIV)
"Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit ." Acts 2:38(NIV)
Do you need to be forgiven so you can start over again with God?
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. Confess your faith by saying, "I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God."
5. Be baptized by immersion in water, following the example that Jesus gave us.