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If you
would like to know more about God, you are at the right place!
First of all, are you aware that God
loves you, created you, wants a relationship with you on this earth, to
ultimately spend eternity in heaven with you? Yet to do this, God wants us to
first get right with Him by doing just one thing, and that one thing is to ask
Him into our hearts. Why? Because He created us and He loves us. God holds the
great gift of eternal life and He offers it to us freely. Because we live in a
fallen world, a world full of uncertainty and disappointments, we often fail
to recognize that God is always waiting for us to look to Him for guidance and
for support. Often, the fast pace of life, the distractions and confusion of
this world, and or the guilt over the mistakes in our lives drive us away from
a merciful, gracious, and loving God.
Sadly enough, most of us know very little about God and His great
love for us.
For most of us, the little we actually do
know about God, we have only heard from others, others that may not
truly know God themselves. How often do we hear leaders and or the
media refer to God in disrespectful ways?
How often do people act like they know
God, but do not? Look at what the Holy Bible says about some who claim to know
God, but do not,
"They
claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him..." Titus 1:16
Instead of the
world looking to God for answers, we continue to stumble our way through the
life
Governments are in disarray as they seek
answers to today's problems with mere temporary solutions instead of relying
on the power of God. And the church is often in its own world asleep, or
dealing with its own challenges. We look to this world for solutions that can
only be answered by God.
Most people are
in despair and or dealing with apathy.
As the world changes daily, we are left
with more questions than ever before. How often do we feel powerless like
there is no hope? Yet in all of this chaos, there is one thing that never
changes, the one who has all the answers to this world's problems- it is God
and His written Holy Word, the Holy Bible.
So, how much do
you really know about God?
Is the God you know an unapproachable and
or condemning God? Is the God you know a stranger
or your friend? Do you know God as
loving, full of mercy and full of grace? Are you filled with lasting inner
peace and understanding, or do you walk around with many questions? Maybe you
are carrying the weight of your guilt over mistakes you have made in the past?
Maybe you feel God has wronged you somehow. Or maybe you are simply too tired
to even think about God.
We have questions
that simply cannot be answered with the things of this world, yet we
stubbornly continue to seek answers from where there are none.
Have you ever wondered why there is so
much pain and suffering in our world, or why there is little hope? Have you
ever asked yourself, what is my purpose in life? If I was to die today, where
would I go? Does anyone really care? The answer to these questions are all in
the Bible. There is a hope, there is a promise and there is an answer. And the
answer is found in Jesus Christ.
What do we know
about God, about the one who wrote the Holy Bible?
In the Holy Bible, in the book of John
1:1-4, God says,
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him
all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him
was life, and that life was the light of men.”
Guess who God was speaking about?
Going further....
To go on further with this reading, it is
helpful to know a few things about God and ourselves. Now this may be
difficult to read, but are you aware that everyone is born with a sin nature,
and God does not like any sin? Are you aware that according to the Bible, we
have all sinned and all fall short of God's glory? God’s Word calls us to be
perfect, and yet no one in this world is perfect. Do you know that our sins
actually keep us away from a Holy and Righteous God and also from experiencing
God's full blessings? Blessings that He so freely wants to give us. Because
our sins separate us from God, we often think He is not really there and does
not really listen to us or love us. Have you ever felt like that?
There is both
"Bad News" and "Good News" in the Bible. But before we can value the "Good
News" in the Bible, we must first understand the consequence of the "Bad News"
This may again be difficult to hear, but
the Bible states that the punishment of any sin is eternal Hell. Without God's
forgiveness of our sins there is only separation, condemnation, judgment,
wrath and Hell. This is the "Bad News", but rest assured there is also the
"Good News" to come.
The "Bad News",
is that without God's forgiveness there is no Heaven.
Whether a small sin like a lie, or a
larger sin like murder, all sin is viewed and punishable the same way by God.
On Judgment day all sin is punishable with eternal life in Hell. What could
possibly be worse than that?
"But
because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up
wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment
will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has
done". Romans 2:5-6
Now that you have heard
the "Bad News, here is the best news of all, getting right with God is about
grace and grace alone! And grace is about getting something we do not deserve!
You may be
thinking, I am a good person, I have not killed anyone. You may not of killed
anyone, but the Bible states that if you have ever lied you are in trouble
like a murderer. How many of us are really 100% good like God calls us to be?
We often think of ourselves as certainly
doing more good things than bad. Yet the challenge we find when we read the
Bible is that God calls us to be perfect, and who is? How many people do you
know that are perfect? Even as good as some are, who has ever obeyed all of
the 10 commandments, at all times? Look what Jesus said to this rich young
ruler.
"As Jesus
started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him.
"Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do
you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No-one is good-- except God alone. You
know the commandments: `Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal,
do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"
Mark 10:17
And those were just 6 out 10
commandments.
We have all
sinned.
How often do we place other things before
God? That's the first commandment! How often do we use God's name in vain? How
often do we exaggerate things just a little to make a point? How often have we
withheld the entire truth from a certain matter? How often have we taken
something that truly does not belong to us? How often do we become our own
judge? How about being jealous of something your friend has or has done? The
list goes on and on.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has
no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8-9
The Holy Bible
tells us no one can earn or buy their way into heaven by doing good things.
Did you know the Holy Bible clearly
states that good "moral" people will not get into heaven? The Bible clearly
says that you cannot earn your way into heaven by doing good, or by keeping
score of the good things you have done. You simply cannot buy Heaven.
"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.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which
God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10
Do you know that simply going to
church or a Christian school will not make you right with God, will not save
you from Hell? Now that you have heard the bad news, here is the best news of
all. Getting right with God is about the grace, grace that comes through
faith!
Ready for the
solution to our sin problem?
The "Good News" is that there is a
permanent God given solution to our sin problem, and that solution is Jesus!
You see, Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins on the cross. The actual
payment that God required from us was paid for us, by Jesus.
The Bible says that God will forgive
those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Personal Lord
and Savior. This simple task along with asking God to forgive us of our sins,
keeps us from God's wrath, the wrath that we rightfully deserve for our sins.
God showed His mercy and love in giving us His one and only son as a sacrifice
for us! The Bible tells us that there is only one God and only one way to God.
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me." John 14:6.
That means Jesus is the
only way to get right with God. Through Jesus, God forgives 100% of our past,
present and even our future sins, making us right with Him. All of this is
possible by placing our faith and trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
In John 3:16, the Bible speaks about
Jesus Christ as our only Lord and Savior and the only true effective way to
get right with God.
"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.”
What God can love us so
much, and care for us so much that He would send His own son to be sacrificed
in our place. What God demonstrates His Holy and Righteous mighty power by
loving us with His never ending love, mercy, and grace? God says, come as you
are and I will take your burdens and wash you clean forever!
Do you want to be
saved? God will meet you where you are. He is faithful.
By asking God to forgive your sins and by
placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (instead
of the things of this world), you can be cleansed from your past, present, and
future sins and receive eternal life (instead of hell). Yes, you can be made
right with God and forgiven by just believing in the gift that God gave us.
The gift of Jesus is the gift of grace, provided through the atoning sacrifice
of His son Jesus Christ, on the cross. If you would like God's solution to
your sin problem, if you want the mystery of God which is Jesus, if you want
purpose and peace then you can receive Jesus right now (right where you are)
by simply praying this life changing prayer below:
"Dear God, I turn away
from my sins and ask you to forgive me. I confess with my mouth and believe in
my heart that Jesus is your Son. I believe that He died and rose from the dead
as the final atoning sacrifice for my sins, that I may have eternal life
through Him. Jesus, I ask you into my life as my Lord and Savior forever. In
Jesus name, Amen!"
"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
If you have prayed this life changing
prayer and believe in your heart, that Jesus Christ died and rose from the
cross for your sins, you are saved! Yes, you are born again and a new
creation! The old is gone, the new is forever!
"Therefore,
if
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17.
Congratulations! Many things
happen immediately when you are saved. You are a new creation when you place
your faith and trust in Jesus Christ (instead of this world).
Congratulations!!! Many wonderful things begin to happen when you give your
live to Jesus. To name a few:
1) You are washed clean of sin and
made righteous with God forever, giving you the assurance of your salvation!
2) The Holy Spirit dwells in your
heart forever giving you direction and discernment in life.
3) You are given access to a Holy
and Righteous God, through prayer, through Jesus.
Again, If you have just given your heart
to Jesus, congratulations! Amen! Please email us and let us know at
testimony@c28.com
After receiving
Jesus into your heart, check this out below.
You can begin by thanking God and
praising Him for His love for you and for saving you right now. Because you
are now saved, you need to learn more about this God who just saved you, who
loves you more than anyone else can, and who will never leave you nor forsake
you.
"The LORD
himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor
forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" Deuteronomy 31:8
The work God has now begun in
your life will never stop even if you mess up a million times. Jesus allows
you to ask for forgiveness and approach God's throne of grace.
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good
work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"
Philippians 1:6
Please also know that being a born again
believer does not make you perfect, that is why God gives us Jesus. Believers
are people saved by the atoning work of the cross which is a great miracle,
but understand that believers are also a work in progress. Believers are
always under construction and also under grace!
Being saved from
our sins is not a license to sin.
The same Holy Spirit that sealed your
soul when you gave your live to Jesus and now dwells in your heart for
eternity to bless you is the very same Holy Spirit that grieves when we sin.
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the
day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30
God saved you
because He has great plans for you!
God wants you to seek Him so He can show
himself to you. To show you the wonderful plans He has for your new life.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will
call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek
me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,"
declares the LORD, "..." Jeremiah 29:11-14
The Holy Bible is
written by God!
God's word is written by God.
"All
Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3:16
The Holy Bible has 2
parts. The Old Testament and the New Testament. The Bible contains 66 books
and was written by 42 authors inspired by God Himself. The best book to read
first in the New Testament is the book of "John" in the Bible. The book of
"John" is the gospel story of Jesus. When you read
God's word you learn about your God, because the words in the Holy Bible are
the inspired words of God himself.
"For the
word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it
penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the
thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
Find a real good
Bible teaching church.
Ask God in prayer right now to lead you
and direct you to attend a good Bible teaching church as you begin your
relationship with Jesus (maybe it is the one you are already in?) Finding a
good bible teaching church that will feed you spiritually is not easy. Not all
churches actually preach the gospel and teach from the Holy Bible like they
should, therefore leaving you spiritually hungry. If you do not understand
things while at your church, or if Jesus Christ is not preached at every
service, you are most likely at the wrong church. Go and find a church where
Jesus Christ is preached every week! A good national nondenominational church
system catering especially for new believers is called Calvary Chapel
http://www.calvarychapel.com/
They have multiple Calvary churches in just about every town. But please know
that all Calvary Chapels are not all the same. Check out a few churches before
you decide. Pray and ask God to help you chose correctly.
You can check
everything you are taught against scripture from the Holy Bible.
God wants you to have life and to have it
to the full! This requires learning God's word correctly
"Therefore
Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who
ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to
them. "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in
and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
Make sure everything you
are taught is accurate and comes from the Holy Bible alone.
"...for
they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures
every day to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11
The Holy Bible is complete
and not lacking. We cannot ad anything to it or take away from it.
"I warn everyone who hears the words of the
prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him
the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this
book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life
and in the holy city, which are described in this book." Revelation 22:18-19
Join a weekly
Bible study.
Learning about God once a week at church
is great but will not be enough to fill you each week. Check to see if your
church has a weekly Bible study and sign up. If they do not, consider joining
an excellent weekly nondenominational Bible study called "Bible Study
Fellowship International"
http://www.bsfinternational.org
A weekly Bible study will be essential in
your new growth as a new believer. At BSF International they will also be able
to direct you to a good bible teaching church if you do not already have one.
Learning God's word and purpose for your life will be extremely beneficial and
will help you yield great fruit in your life. Finding a real good church and a
good weekly Bible study will bless you beyond your dreams.
Once you give
your life to Jesus, the enemy can attack you and begin to discourage you.
Do not be discouraged if things go crazy
when you accept Jesus Christ into your heart, and some people even get upset
with you."Blessed
are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of
evil against you because of me. Matthew 5:11
When you first give your life to Christ, Satan who is the king of lies will
try to distract you and move you away from God when trials come your way.
"No
temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful;
he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are
tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1
Corinthians 10:13
There are
countless benefits to being a new believer.
Born again believers are filled and
marked with God's Holy Spirit forever.
"And you
also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the
promised Holy Spirit," Ephesians 1:13
The Holy Spirit's will be with
you wherever you are, forever.
"And I will ask
the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever-- the Spirit of truth. The
world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you
know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17
The Holy Spirit will teach you and guide you in the way of the Lord. Jesus
said
"All this
I have spoken while still with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom
the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you
of everything I have said to you." John 14:25-26
Reading God's word daily and being in
prayer daily are highly rewarding and will bless your life on earth greatly.
"The LORD
will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and
will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a
spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11
The assurance of
your salvation is found in the Holy Bible.
Assurance of Salvation.
"... God
has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has
life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life... 1 John 5:11-12
Assurance of Answered Prayer.
"...Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will
receive, and your joy will be complete... John 16:24
Assurance of Victory, over Temptation
"...No
temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful;
he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are
tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it... 1
Corinthians 10:13
Assurance of Forgiveness
...If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness... 1 John 1:9
God will never leave you.
... Never
will I leave you; never will I forsake you... Hebrews 13:5
God created you and has great plans for
you.
...For I know the plans I have for you, declares the
lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future... Jeremiah 29:11
An easy way to
remember how to pray is by remembering and using the acronym
A.C.T.S.
Adoration
of God
Confession
of sins
Thankful
for His blessings
Supplication-prayers for
others and yourself
Why we share the
gospel, the "Good News" of Jesus!
We share the "Good News" because the Holy
Bible tells us to in the "The Great Commission"
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am
with you
always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus wants us to share His grace with
everyone and gave us sense of urgency for those that do not know the Lord
"Do you
not say, `Four months more and then the harvest? I tell you, open your eyes
and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." John 4:35
Why share the gospel? Because if we do
not share the gospel who will?
"How,
then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they
believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without
someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it
is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" But not
all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has
believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and
the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:14-17
We are saved by grace to do good works,
so we can help others.
"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. For we are God's
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10
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