1. God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you.

“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)

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

What prevents us from knowing God personally?

2. Sin has separated you from God.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).

Man was created to have fellowship with God, but that fellowship was broken by disobedience, pride and self-will, or an attitude of rebellion. This is what the Bible calls sin.

“The wages of sin is death” [spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23).

“…them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ …Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord…”  (2 Thessalonians 1:8,9)

God is holy and man is sinful. All of our efforts to earn favor with God through good deeds, philosophy, or religion are futile. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” (Isaiah 64:6)

3. Through Jesus Christ alone, you can be reconciled to God, have a personal relationship with Him and experience His love.

He Died in Our Place: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

He Rose From the Dead: “…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures …he was buried, …he rose again the third day according to the scriptures… he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren… “  (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

He is the Only Way to God: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).

Only Jesus can stand in the gap that separates you from God. He was sent by God to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.

But it is not enough just to know these truths…

4. You must personally receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord

“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)

“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 involves a new birth: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self and sin (repentance): “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21)

Receiving Christ involves Godly sorrow over sin: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”  (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Receiving Christ involves trusting Christ to come into our lives, forgive us of our sins and make us what He wants us to be: “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “ (1 John 1:9)

“For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. “ (Psalm 38:18)

Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience.  You must have godly sorrow over your sin and receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of your will. Jesus becomes your Lord and you become a born again child of God when you remove your self from the throne of your life and allow Christ through His Word, the Bible to be your final Authority.

You can speak to God in prayer and let Him know you understand and believe these things. God knows your heart and is not as concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.

If you truly receive Christ as your Saviour and Lord, it will transform your life and make you a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). But this decision is also an eternal one. Every man, woman and child has an  eternal soul that continues on after our time on this earth has ended. Receiving Christ secures for you an eternal place in the presence of God (Heaven). But those who reject the free gift He offers are “cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Hell). (Matthew 25:41, 1 John 5:11-13)

If you have questions or are uncertain where you stand with God, we would love to hear from you.

john@johnclawton.org