Know God & Know More
STEP 1
GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE: PEACE, LIFE AND A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM:
You were made to have a relationship (fellowship) with God. God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life; a life that is both abundant and eternal.
The Bible says…
- “and this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
- “but if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
- "…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)
The Bible also says…
- "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 10:10b)
Since God made us to know Him and planned for us to have peace and the abundant life right now, why are most not having this experience?
STEP 2
OUR PROBLEM: SEPARATION FROM GOD:
The Bible teaches that God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. Although He could have, He did not make us like robots which would automatically love and obey Him, but instead gave us a free will and the ability to choose. Mankind 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)
- "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 BRIDGE THE GAP:
Through the ages, individuals have tried many man-centered ways to bridge this gap...but they all fall short and fail to bring the peace and life God desires for us...
The Bible says...
- "there is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12)
The Bible also says…
- "but your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)
STEP 3
GOD'S REMEDY: THE CROSS:
Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people. The Bible teaches that He’s the only one who has ever lived a perfect life and therefore, the only one who deserves heaven. On the other hand, we have all fallen short of God’s commands (sinned) and deserve judgment. It was at the cross that
Jesus traded places with us...He took our judgment and gave us His righteousness.
The Bible says...
- “for our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- "...God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, Himself man, is between them to bring them together..." (1 Timothy 2:5)
- "for Christ also has suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God..." (1 Peter 3:18a)
- “but God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
- Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
STEP 4
GOD’S PROVISION: JESUS CHRIST:
The word “believe” in the Bible means “to trust in, cling to, adhere to”…a belief that is nothing more than an intellectual exercise is not what the Bible is speaking of. We must trust Jesus Christ and receive Him by personal invitation.
The Bible says…
- "but as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." (John 1:12)
- "…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
Think about it...is there any good reason why you cannot receive Jesus Christ right now?
HOW TO RECEIVE CHRIST:
- Admit your need (I am a sinner).
- Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
- Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (receive Him as Lord and Savior.)
WHAT TO PRAY:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. Please forgive me. 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.
STEP 5
GOD'S ASSURANCE: HIS WORD:
If you prayed this prayer - The Bible says…
- "for 'whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.'" (Romans 10:13)
- “but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior…” (Titus 3:4–6)
- "he who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of Goddoes not have life. these things I have written to you who believe in thename of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."
Did you sincerely ask Jesus Christ to come into your life? Where is He right now? What has He given you?
When we receive 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."
STEP 6:
GOD’S PLAN: GET STARTED:
This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life with Jesus. To deepen this relationship you need to:
- Read your Bible every day to know Christ better.
- Talk to God in prayer every day.
- Tell others about Christ.
- Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Jesus is preached.
- As Jesus' representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.
- Watch for the next New Believer's Class (offered periodically on Sunday Nights) at Calvary.
We also encourage you to complete the following Bible studies. Should you have any questions, or if you'd like a Calvary pastor to go over the studies with you, please let us know!