God loves us and has a plan for our lives
Jesus says in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and that they many have it more abundantly."
Why don't most people have peace and abundant life if that's what God planned for us to have?
OUR PROBLEM: SEPARATION
FROM GOD
God created us in His own image to have abundant (meaningful) life. He did not make us robots to automatically love and obey Him, but He gave us a will and freedom of choice. We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This separates us from God.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12
Through the ages, individuals have tried many ways to bridge the gap to God. They’ve tried good works….religion….philosophy….
morality….money…. But, on our own there’s no way we can reach the kind of perfection we need to bridge that gap.
god's bridge
is the cross
The only way to answer this problem is Jesus Christ. He died on the cross and rose from the grave paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 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
our response
God has provided the only way. Each person must make a choice. When we acknowledge our sinfulness, trust Christ’s forgiveness and let Him control our life we receive God’s gift of eternal, abundant life.
“For 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.” John 3:16
“I tell you the truth; whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24
Have you crossed over to God’s side and are you certain of eternal life?
How can I respond?
- Admit your need (I am a sinner).
- Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
- Choose to turn from your sins (repent) and surrender to Jesus as your Lord.
- Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit (Receive Him as Lord and Savior of your life).
What to Pray:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe 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 the Lord and Savior of my life. In Your name, Amen.
God’s Assurance of Eternal Life
If you’ve prayed this prayer and are trusting Christ, then the Bible says that you can be sure you have eternal life.
...for, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
“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)
“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”.
This is our best attempt to communicate what we believe the Bible teaches about how to be adopted into God's family. These specific words are not a magic formula; the choosing in an individual's heart is where the spiritual transaction takes place.