You have indicated that you would like to know more about how to have a personal relationship with God. That’s great!
The fact is, God loves you and wants to connect with you as His creation. He desires to have a relationship with you and for you to have one with Him.
Steps to Peace with God
Step One
God's Purpose: Peace and Life
God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life--abundant and eternal.
The Bible says...
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10
Why don't most people have this peace and abundant life that God planned for us to have?
Step Two
The Problem: Our Separation
God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did not make us as robots, to automatically love and obey Him. God gave us a will and a freedom of choice. We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. The Bible calls this disobedience sin.
We still make this choice today. This results in man's separation from a relationship with God.
The Bible says...
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
Our Attempts to Reach God
People have tried in many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God...
The Bible says...
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12
"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
No bridge reaches God...except one.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me." John 14:6
Step Three
God's Bridge: The Cross...
God so loved mankind that He chose to pay the penalty for our sin Himself, so that He could offer us a way to re-establish our relationship with Him. Jesus Christ, His Son, came and died on the Cross for our sin and God raised Him from the grave to show us that Jesus was truely the One sent to accomplish His plan. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people.
The Bible says...
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ." 1 Timothy 2:5
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." 1 Peter 3:18
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
God has provided the only way to have a relationship with Him.
However, each person must make a choice to enter into this wonderful relationship.
Step Four
Our Response: Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation in order to have this relationship with God and the promise of eternal life.
The Bible says...
"Yet to all who receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to be called the children of God - children not born of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12-13
Where Are You?
Will you receive Jesus Christ right now and receive God's gift of eternal life?
Here is how you can receive Christ:
Admit your need (I am a sinner).
Be willing to turn from your sins and toward God (repent).
Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who came to save you from your sins and that He died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave so that you can have a relationship with God forever.
As you talk to God, ask Him to forgive your sins, and invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life. (Receive Him as your Lord and Savior.)
How to Pray:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and I want to turn from my way of life and follow Jesus and His way. Right now, I invite Jesus to come into my life and take over. Thank you God for giving me new life. I now trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God's Assurance: His Word
If you prayed this prayer, trusting Jesus alone to save you, God has, indeed, saved you and made you a part of His family.
The Bible says...
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9
If you decided to become a Christian today, please read this note from our pastor:
Hi,
I’m so glad you decided to give your life to Jesus today! I want to be the first to say Welcome to God's family!!
You have just made the most important decision of your life. Because of your faith in Jesus to save you, the Bible says that you now have eternal life and someday when this life comes to an end, you will spend forever with God in Heaven. Jesus made all of this possible when He took your place and died for your sins on the cross, making a relationship with God possible.
Now, as a way to grow closer to Him, let me encourage you to follow up on your commitment.
Get baptized as commanded by Christ.
Baptism is one of the first acts of obedience that a Christian does. It is publicly declaring your faith in the Lord.
Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.
Find someone that loves you and wants the best for you and tell them what has happened to you.
Spend time with God each day.
Remember, Christianity is a relationship with God. Relationships grow as we spend time with each other. This is so true of our time with God. Develop the daily habit of talking to Him (prayer is simply talking to God.) and reading His Word. It does not have to be a long period of time.Ask God to increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible. Choose a modern translation of the Bible, like The New International Version of the Bible. Begin reading the Book of John and write down any questions that pop up, so you can ask your Christian friends or Pastor later.
Seek fellowship with other Christians.
Develop a group of Christian friends to answer your questions and support you. Ask God to lead you to some committed Christians that love the Lord.
Find a local church where you can worship God.
Allow me to invite you to visit Faith Baptist Church. We would be so honored to have you as our guest. Please introduce yourself to me when you come. If you live a long way from Harrah, then find a church close to you that preaches the Bible and loves people. There are plenty of them around.
Finally, if you have accepted Christ, please let me know, I’d love to hear from you so that I can pray for you and answer any questions that you may have.
In Christ,
Brother Dan
