|
Just as there are physical laws that govern the physical universe,
so are there spiritual laws which govern your relationship with God.
God LOVES you and offers a wonderful PLAN for your life.
God's Love
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).
God's Plan
[Christ speaking] "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." [that it might be full and meaningful] (John 10:10).
Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life?
Because...
Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God.
Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life.
Man Is Sinful
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
Man Is Separated
"For the wages of sin is death..." [spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23).
This diagram illustrates that God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates the two. The arrows illustrate that man is continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through his own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion - but he inevitably fails.
The third law explains the only way to bridge this gulf...
Jesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin.
Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life.
He Died in Our Place
"But God commendeth (demonstrates) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
He Rose From the Dead
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).
He Is the Only Way to God
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6).
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.
It is not enough just to know these three laws...
We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
We Must Receive Christ
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12)
We Receive Christ Through Faith
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9).
When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:1-8)
We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation
[Christ speaking] "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him..." (Revelation 3:20).
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 our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We 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?
The following explains how you can receive Christ:
- You Can Receive Christ Right Now by Faith Through Prayer
(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 repent of my sins. I am sorry! 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."
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?
If it does, I invite you to pray this prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.
How to Know That Christ Is in Your Life
Did you receive Christ into your life by sincerely praying the suggested prayer (or similiar)? According to His promise in Revelation 3:20, where is Christ right now in relation to you? Christ said that He would come into your life. Would He mislead you? On what authority do you know that God has answered your prayer? (The trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word.)
The Bible Promises Eternal Life
"The witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:11-13).
Thank God often that Christ is in your life and that He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5). You can know on the basis of His promise that Christ lives in you and that you have eternal life from the very moment you invite Him in. He will not deceive you.
An important reminder...
Do Not Depend on Feelings
The promise of God's Word, the Bible - not our feelings - is our authority. The Christian lives by faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word. This train diagram illustrates the relationship among fact (God and His Word), faith (our trust in God and His Word), and feeling (the result of our faith and obedience) (John 14:21).
The train will run with or without a caboose. However, it would be useless to attempt to pull the train by the caboose. In the same way, as Christians we do not depend on feelings or emotions, but we place our faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God and the promises of His Word.
Now That You Have Received Christ
The moment that you received Christ by faith, as an act of the will, many things happened, including the following:
- Christ came into your life (Revelation 3:20; Colossians 1:27)
- Your sins were forgiven (Colossians 1:14)
- You became a child of God (John 1:12)
- You received eternal life (John 5:24)
- You began the great adventure for which God created you (John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Can you think of anything more wonderful that could happen to you than receiving Christ? Would you like to thank God in prayer right now for what He has done for you? By thanking God, you demonstrate your faith.
To enjoy your new life to the fullest...
Suggestions for Christian Growth
Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus Christ. "The righteous man shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11). A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly with every detail of your life, and to practice the following:
Go to God in prayer daily (John 15:7)
Read God's Word daily (Acts 17:11); begin with the Gospel of John.
 Obey God moment by moment (John 14:21).
Witness for Christ by your life and words (Matthew 4:19; John 15:8)
Trust God for every detail of your life (1 Peter 5:7)
Holy Spirit - allow Him to control and empower your daily life and witness (Galatians 5:16-17; Acts 1:8) Earnestly desire to be Spirit-filled.
Fellowship in a Good Church
God's Word instructs us not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25). Several logs burn brightly together; but put one aside on the cold hearth and the fire goes out. So it is with your relationship with other Christians.
If you do not belong to a church, do not wait to be invited. Take the initiative; call New Hope and tell us about your decision. We would be thrilled to share your spiritual journey with you!! Come this week and make plans to attend regularly.
|
