(References contained on this page are from the Bible and should be read in context wherever possible.)
God's Love
"God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes inHim shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV).
God's Plan
[Christ speaking] "I came that they might have life, and might have itabundantly" [that it might be full and meaningful] (John 10:10).
Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life?
Because...
2. Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life.
Man Is Sinful
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, hechose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will,characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
Man Is Separated
"The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23).
| HOLY GOD |
| SINFUL MAN |
This diagram illustrates that God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates thetwo. The arrows illustrate that a man is continually trying to reach God and the abundantlife through his own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion - but he inevitably fails.
The third law explains the only way to bridge this gulf...
3. Jesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin. Through Him you can knowand experience God's love and plan for your life.
He Died in Our Place
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christdied for us" (Romans 5:8).
He Rose From the Dead
"Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day, accordingto the Scriptures...He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared tomore than five hundred..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).
He Is the Only Way to God
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to theFather, but through Me'" (John 14:6).
| GOD |
| JESUS |
| MAN |
This diagram illustrates that God has bridged the gulf which separates us from Him bysending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for oursins.
It is not enough just to know these three laws...
4. We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can knowand experience God's love and plan for our lives.
We Must Receive Christ
"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, evento those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).
We Receive Christ Through Faith
"By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is thegift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9).
When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth
(Read John 3:1-8)
We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation
[Christ speaking] "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voiceand opens the door, I will come in to him" (Revelation 3:20).
Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ tocome into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just toagree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross foryour sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive JesusChrist by faith, as an act of the will.
These two circles represent two kinds of lives:
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Which circle best describes your life?
Which circle would you like to have represent your life?
The following explains how you can receive Christ:
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer:
(Prayer is talking to God)
God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude ofyour heart. The following is a suggested prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open thedoor of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins andgiving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of personYou want me to be."
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If it does, I invite you to praythis prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.
Did you pray this prayer?
I still have questions