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 whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 "I am come that they might have life, and that they might 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. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God. The Bible says... "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through 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 which seemth right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God; and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:2
No bridge reaches God...except one.
STEP THREE
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 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:18 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 God has provided the only way. Each person must make a choice.
STEP FOUR
Our Response: Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation.
The Bible says...
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John 1:12
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9
Where are you? Will you receive Jesus Christ right now?
Here is how you can 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.)
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 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...
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13
Did you sincerely ask Jesus Christ to come into your life? Where is He right now? What has He given you?
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8, 9
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:
- Read your Bible everyday 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 Christ is preached.
- As Christ's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.