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God loves you ...
Know that God loves you very much and proved it by sending Jesus to die in your place.
"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
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." --I Peter 2:24
Jesus was willing to pay the price of death for your sin, that you might be saved.
Sin separates ...
By our very nature we are sinful and have been separated from God.
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." --Romans 3:23
"As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one.'" --Romans 3:10
We were created by God in order to have a personal relationship with Him, but sin and selfish pride prevents it.
If it is up to us to reach God and please Him we are doomed and lost forever. There is nothing we can do or achive to receive God's forgiveness and eternal life.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." --Ephesians 2:8-9
God has made a way ...
The assurance of eternal life is made possible by Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sin.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." --Romans 6:23
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him!" --Romans 5:8-9
Though His payment for sin is for all, its application to your life is not automatic.
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." --Acts 4:12
What you should do ...
When someone offers you a gift, it must be received if it is to be yours.
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." --John 1:12
God offers you the gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. To experience that life, you must personally receive Him into your life, thus being in a relationship with Him.
"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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." --Romans 10:9-10
"They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household.'" --Acts 16:31
God tells us we must make a U-turn. Turn away from sin and turn to God. This is called repentance.
"Repent, then, and turn to God, that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord," --Acts 3:19
"Unless you repent, you too will all perish" --Luke 13:3
To receive Jesus Christ into your life is more than an intellectual assent to the historical truth about God or looking for a bailout in time of crisis. To believe in Jesus Christ is to surrender to and depend on Jesus Christ for your entire life.
Do you want a relationship with Jesus Christ?
Pray, acknowledging and confessing your sin and invite Jesus Christ into your life.
Suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, I come to you acknowledging my sinfulness and that I have been separated from you, a holy God. I do not deserve eternal life, but I ask you to forgive me and to place your Spirit within me. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave in order that I might enter into eternal life. Lord Jesus, come into my life, forgive me of my sins and take control of my life by the power of your Holy Spirit. I repent of all my sins and now place my trust in you alone for my salvation.
Now what?
Now that your new life in Christ has begun, it is very important to nurture this life. Here are a few suggestions:
—Spend 15 minutes each day reading the Bible.
—Spend time each day in prayer.
—Find a church that believes in God's Word.
—Tell others of the forgiveness you have in Jesus Christ.
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