LOVE

The Bible teaches us that God loves each one of us. He truly desires to have a relationship of love and fellowship with us.

“This is love: not that we love God, but that He loved us.” (1 John 4:10)

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Augustine once said,

“You have made us for Yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in You.”

SIN

We are separated from God due to what the Scriptures call sin.

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way.” (Isaiah 53:6)

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Sins are those things we do (or don’t do) which violate God’s standards. Sin is also an attitude. It causes us to reject God’s control over our lives.

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”  (Isaiah 59:2)

DEATH

There is a serious consequence of sin.

“The wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God)…” (Romans 6:23)

Due to the fact that we all come short of God’s perfect standard, we are separated from God right now and doomed to spend eternity separated from Him in a real place called hell.

 “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

JESUS

The good news is that God loved us so much that he provided payment for our sins and a way to re-establish our relationship with Him!

“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)

Jesus was God in flesh, and He lived a perfect life before men (Colossians 2:9-10). He did this that He might demonstrate His deity to us. His death provided the perfect sacrifice (atonement) for our sins.

“For Christ died for sins once and for all… to bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:18).

Think about it… Jesus, through His death on a cross, provides:

-forgiveness of all our sins

-a home in Heaven

-peace with God

FAITH

Coming into a relationship with God doesn’t happen automatically. Each of us needs to trust God for himself.

 “Whoever hears my word and believes… has eternal life… and has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24) Believing, as spoken of in the Bible, is more than merely accepting something as true. Believing is trusting our lives into God’s hands, no longer depending on our works to earn eternal life. 

Faith accepts God’s provision of eternal life as a free gift from God.

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith—and not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

ACTION

What then will you do with Jesus? Will you trust Him with your life, placing your eternal destiny in His hands, or will you reject Him along with His offer of forgiveness?

“Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about His Son.” (1John 5:10)

Time is not on your side.

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:7-8)

Perhaps today is your day of salvation. Why not go to God in faith now and trust Jesus as your Savior?

“…how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed by those who heard Him.” (Hebrews 2:3)

GROWTH

What’s next?

The Lord will begin His work of transforming your life into the image of His dear Son.

“…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

You can now learn to please the one who died for you out of a heart of love; not to gain eternal life but because you love Him.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

A Few things that will help you:

-Read God’s Word, the Bible.

-Tell others what you have done.

-Get involved with a strong, Bible-teaching church. They will help you to know how to please God.