1.
God's love. The Bible reveals that God loves you
very much. "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 said, "I
have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
2.
Man's separation from God. God is holy, perfect,
and pure. Humans are sinful and imperfect. We are separated from
God; thus, we cannot know Him without His intervention. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God" (Romans 3:23). In this state we would be separated from Him
forever, in spiritual darkness, in a place or state of existence the Bible calls
hell.
3.
God's solution. God is perfect justice.
He cannot violate His own attributes, one of which is perfect justice.
But He is also perfect love, and He longs to bless us and fellowship with us.
Did God have a dilemma? No, because His perfect wisdom combined with His
perfect love to provide a perfect solution. He would send His Son Jesus
Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. "God
demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ
died for us" (Romans 5:8). "Christ died for our sins according
to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according
to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After
that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time"
(1 Corinthians 15:3-6). Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
4.
Our decision! It is not enough to just know the above,
we must individually receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord before we can
experience the blessings and benefits of what He did for us, including forgiveness
and eternal life. "To all who
received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God" (John 1:12). "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).
5. Jesus is speaking to you today. He 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).
You can receive Him right now by a simple but sincere prayer. He is mainly interested in your heart. Here is a suggested prayer:
"Dear Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross for my sins, and that you rose from the grave. I ask you to forgive my sins, and I ask you into my heart to be my Lord and Savior. Take control of my life and help me to be what you want me to be. By faith, I now thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Amen."
See Appendix 4 for further information and what to do now.