Steps
to Peace with God
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Step
1
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
(NIV)
"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 (NIV)
"I have
come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
--John 10:10 (NIV)
Why don't most
people have this peace and abundant life that God planned for us
to have?
Step
2
The Problem: Our Separation |
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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. We still make this choice
today. This results in separation from God.
The Bible says
...
"For all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." --Romans 3:23
(NIV)
"For the
wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord." --Romans 6:23 (NIV)
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 (NIV)
"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
(NIV)
No bridge reaches
God ... except one.
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Step
3
God's Bridge: The Cross |
Jesus Christ
died on the Cross and rose from the grave. 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 (NIV)
"For Christ
died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to
bring you to God." --1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
"But God
demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us." --Romans 5:8 (NIV)
God has provided
the only way. Each person must make a choice.
Step
4
Our Response:
Receive
Christ |
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We must trust
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation.
The Bible says
...
"Here I
am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
--Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
"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 (NIV)
"That 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."
--Romans 10:9 (NIV)
Where are you?
Will you receive
Jesus Christ right now?
Here is how
you can receive Christ:
1. Admit your
need (I am a sinner).
2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose
from the grave.
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your
life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)
Step
5
Prayer |
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If you wish to make peace with God and to accept Jesus Christ as
your personal savior please recite the following prayer:
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 life. I want to trust and follow You
as Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God's Assurance: His Word
If you prayed
this prayer,
The Bible says
...
"Everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." --Romans
10:13 (NIV)
Did you sincerely
ask Jesus Christ to come into your life? Where is He right now?
What has He given you?
"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 (NIV)
Receiving Christ,
we are born into God's family through the supernatural work of the
Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. This is called regeneration,
or the "new birth."
This is just
the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this
relationship you should:
1. Read your
Bible everyday to know Christ better.
2. Talk to God in prayer every day.
3. Tell others about Christ.
4. Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church
where Christ is preached.
5. As Christ's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your
new life by your love and concern for others.
If you have
just made a commitment to Christ, please let us know. Pastor
Steve would like to contact you.
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