|
|
God’s Plan:
God loves you. He created you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Jesus
said,
"I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
It’s a life of meaning and purpose. God wants everyone to have eternal life.
"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)
Man’s Problem:
God created us and has a plan for us but He did not force any of us to love Him.
Then we would be mere robots. The Bible says that we are all sinners.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
God does not want any of us to die and pass into a Christless eternity. Without
Christ, we will end up in a literal place the Bible calls hell.
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but
is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance." (II Peter 3:9)
"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)
Down through the years, man has tried many things in vain to reach God, such as
good works, religion, good morals and philosophy. None of these will get you to
heaven! God’s Word says that you are saved by grace (the unmerited favor of God)
through faith. Salvation is a free gift from God not based on works. Doing lots
of good works or being a good person morally won’t get you to heaven. You must
come on the basis of faith alone. You must be born again. Jesus told Nicodemus
that unless he was born again he would never see the Kingdom of God. Jesus was
telling him that just as he had been born physically, he must be born
spiritually.
God’s Solution:
Jesus said that He is the only means of salvation.
"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)
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
None of us deserved Jesus’ salvation.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he
might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the
Spirit:" (I Peter 3:18)
Man’s Response:
God has provided in Christ the only means of Salvation. Each of us must make the
choice to accept or reject Jesus as our Lord and Savior. To be born again, you
must make the choice to accept or reject Jesus as our Lord and Savior. To be
born again, you must receive God’s gift of eternal life in Christ. It’s more
than just an insurance policy that guarantees you a place in heaven when you
die. It’s a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus. God wants to
come and live in your heart and have daily fellowship with you.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17)
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son
of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
The choice is up to you. You can be born again today. Don’t put it off till
later. Consider what the Bible says.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
The next verse is very important.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans
10:13)
Why not bow your head and pray a simple prayer like the one listed below and
receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior right now.
Dear Lord Jesus,
I admit that I am a sinner. I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that you died
for my sins and that you rose again. I choose to turn from my sins and I ask you
to come into my heart and life. I trust you as my personal Lord and Savior. Help
me to live each day for you. Thank you for saving me.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!"
If you have just prayed this prayer — Jesus has come into your heart and life.
You are a part of the family of God and your name is written in the Lamb’s Book
of Life. God’s Word is the assurance for that. God keeps His Word. According to
I John 5:11, God has given you eternal life.
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life
is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of
God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name
of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may
believe on the name of the Son of God." (I John 5:11-13)
Now that you have made the decision to follow Jesus, remember Luke 9:23.
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
To deepen your walk with the Lord, these things will be helpful:
1. Read and study the Bible daily.
2. Talk to God in prayer every day.
3. Witness of your faith in Jesus to others.
4. Worship, serve and fellowship with other Christians.
If you have just made this decision, please contact us. |