Do You Know Jesus Christ?
Who do you think Jesus Christ is? You may have heard we celebrate His birth at Christmas. You may think He was just a really great teacher in ancient times. What you think, more importantly, what you do, about Jesus is extraordinarily important.
The Bible is God’s love story to us, not a rigid rule book. Genesis 1:27 tells us that God created us in His image. Everything was good until sin entered the picture and we rebelled against God and tried to do things our own way.
God loves us so much that He didn’t want to leave us with out hope so He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins and bring us into a relationship with Him. Through Him, we have the promise of eternal life and experience a life of full!
God desires to have a restored relationship with us and to save us. Romans 3:23-26 tells us that we cannot do that on our own. All we need to do is believe and confess (Romans 10:9) that God raised Jesus from the dead. Instead of living in rebellion to God, we now have restored relationship with Him.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCEPT JESUS AS LORD OF YOUR LIFE?
Here is how…
- Face the problem: sin separates us from God: The Bible says we are sinners…“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 But God is love…“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 And God is also just…“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
- We cannot save ourselves: Because God is Holy, He cannot allow sin to enter into Heaven. We cannot do enough good works to earn our way into heaven. The Bible says…“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12 How then can a sinful person enter Heaven where God allows no sin?
- We are saved by grace: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not of works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9″ But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
- Respond: “If you declare 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
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCEPT JESUS AS LORD OF YOUR LIFE, YOU CAN PRAY THE FOLLOWING PRAYER:
Lord, I admit I am a sinner. I need and want Your forgiveness. I accept Your death as the penalty for my sin, and recognize that Your mercy and grace is a gift You offer to me because of Your great love, not based on anything I have done. Cleanse me and make me Your child. By faith I receive You into my heart as the Son of God and as Savior and Lord of my life. From now on, help me live for You, with You in control.
In Your precious name, Amen
WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Just like a new baby needs to be cared for and nurtured in order to grow physically, a child of God needs to be nurtured in order to grow spiritually. Here’s how you can begin growing in Christ:
- Make it public: Tell a pastor or trusted friend who will help you grow and find your gifts of service.
- Be baptized: Baptism is a step of obedience that identifies as a Christ-follower. “So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Acts 10:48
- Join a local church: We are not meant to live isolated lives. You have a family just waiting to encourage you in a local church congregation. “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1
- Pray and read your Bible daily: God communicates with you through His Word and prayer. “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9
- Find a godly mentor: A mentor helps disciple (or teach) you the ways of God and how to live a holy life. “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.” Titus 2:3