Step #1
GOD’S PURPOSE: PEACE AND LIFE
God loves you so much and wants you to experience peace and life-abundant and eternal.
The Bible says…
Romans 5:1(NASB)
[1] Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
John 3:16 (NASB)
[16] 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 10:10 (NASB)
[10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NASB)
[9] but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
Romans 8:6 (NASB)
[6] For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
Why don’t most people have this peace and life, abundant and eternal that God planned for us to have?
Step #2
THE PROBLEM: OUR SEPARATION
God created us all in His own image and likeness to have peace and life, abundant and eternal. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him. He gave us a will and freedom of choice.
However, once reaching the age of accountability by being intellectually and morally developed to know the difference between good and evil; we have all chosen to disobey God and go our own willful and sinful way.
OUR OWN FREE-WILL REBELLION against God and our natures, separates us from God:
Not our natures created by God
Not Adam or Eve’s sin imputed to us at birth
Not our parent’s sin or anyone’s sin imputed to us at any time
Not our jobs
Not our circumstances, but OUR OWN FREE-WILL REBELLION against God and against our God-created natures, separates us from God!!!
The Bible says…
Romans 3:23
(NASB)
[23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23
(NASB)
[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 7:5 (NASB)
[5] For while we were in the flesh, (living according to the flesh) the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
Galatians 5:17 (NASB)
[17] For the flesh sets its desire against (or lusts against) the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Galatians 5:19-21 (NASB)
[19] Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
[20] idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
[21] envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
James 1:13-15 (NASB)
[13] Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
[14] But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
[15] Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Genesis 6:12 (NASB)
[12] God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NASB)
[29] Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.”
We must remember, and never forget; it is only OUR FREE-WILL REBELLION against God and against our God-created nature that separates us from God!!!
OUR ATTEMPTS TO REACH GOD:
People have tried in many ways to bridge the gap between a Holy God and sinful man through GOOD WORKS, RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY, and MORALITY. However, no bridge reaches God except one.
The Bible says…
Proverbs 14:12 (NASB)
[12] There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 16:25 (NASB)
[25] There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Isaiah 59:1-2 (NASB)
[1] Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear.
[2] But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
The devil is not opposed to morality; he is opposed to the Name, Person, and Authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and our faith in Him through the Holy Spirit. We cannot and will not lead a moral life pleasing to God without trusting in Jesus Christ. The devil knows this very well, and will always encourage us to trust and depend on ourselves without Christ. This will surely result in failure, and ultimately lead us to hell.
Step #3
GOD’S BRIDGE: THE CROSS
Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, rose again, and was the propitiation or satisfaction for our sins. In other words, Jesus lived over 2000 years ago. He lived a life of 33 years without sin and as such was known as the UNBLEMISHED or SPOTLESS LAMB. Jesus chose to take all of mankind’s sin upon His body, past, present, and future. Then, He voluntarily went to the cross, suffered and died a horrible death of crucifixion on our behalf, so that His blood would cleanse our sin.
God ACCEPTED and RECOGNIZED Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross as a sufficient sacrifice and penalty that was truly due for our sins, the sins of mankind. Only in this way are we reconciled with our Heavenly Father through the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All sins committed subsequent to our conversion must be confessed and repented of before a Holy God. Jesus made provision to cleanse us of all future sins if we simply confess and repent of them. His mercy and grace are sufficient.
The Bible says…
1 Timothy 2:5 (NASB)
[5]For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Peter 3:18 (NASB)
[18] For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
Romans 5:8 (NASB)
[8] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
What is our response to the love that Jesus displayed by dying on the cross on our behalf?
Step #4
OUR RESPONSE: RECEIVE CHRIST
We must trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation. Only in this way, through God’s Holy Spirit will we ever benefit from the shed blood of Jesus for mankind to cleanse us from all sin.
The Bible says…
Revelation 3:20 (NASB)
[20] ”Behold, I stand at the door (door of our hearts) and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
John 1:12 (NASB)
[12] 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,
Romans 10:9 (NASB)
[9] that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
Galatians 5:24 (NASB)
[24] Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 2:19-21 (NASB)
[19] For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
[20] I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (but not living according to the flesh) I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
[21] I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
Romans 10:13 (NASB)
[13] for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
1 John 5:12,13 (NASB)
[12] He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
[13] These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Psalm 119:138 (NASB)
[138] You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness.
Will you choose Christ?
ACCEPTING JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR IS AS SIMPLE AS THE ABC’S:
A: Admit your need. Say that I am a sinner in need of a Savior.
B: Be willing to and confess and repent of your sins before a Holy God.
C: Choose to believe that Jesus Christ died, was buried, rose again and is the propitiation or satisfaction for your sins.
S: Sincerely, through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to rule, control, and constrain you heart, life and every member of your body from this day forward through His Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB)
[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that (salvation) not of yourselves, it (salvation) is the gift of God;
[9] not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
[10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
If we should sin again subsequent to our initial salvation or born- again experience; we must again sincerely confess and repent of our sins before a Holy God. No, Jesus doesn’t have to be crucified on the cross again and again every time we sin, because He already did that once for all. (See 1 Peter 3:18 and Romans 6:9,10)
God is a gracious God and will give us time to repent of our sins. However, it is not wise to put God to the test.
Revelation 2:21 (NASB)
[21] I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
Hebrews 10:26-29 (NASB)
[26] For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
[27] but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.
[28] Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
[29] How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
2 Peter 2:9,10 (NASB)
[9] then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
[10] and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,
Now, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior; this is just the beginning. Now you must:
Read your Bible every day to learn more about God, Jesus, His Holy Spirit, and His precious and magnificent promises in His Holy Word.
Pray to God every day through Jesus Christ to deepen your intimacy and relationship with God.
Tell others about Christ and His awesome Gospel, the good news, that the Mercy of God will withhold the deserved penalty for sin, the Grace of God will treat the sinner as if he had never sinned, in consideration of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, on condition of faith in Jesus Christ and confession and repentance of sin by the sinner. Tell others about the Great Commission depicted in Matthew 28:18-20, and seek and save the lost.
Demonstrate your new life in Jesus Christ by your love and concern for others as Christ’s representative in this needy world of ours.
Commune with other Christians in a Church where Christ is preached by worshiping, fellowshipping, and serving.