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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 (HCSB)
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His
One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him
will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (HCSB)
"I have come that they may have life and have it in
abundance." John 10:10 (HCSB)
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 fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 (HCSB)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23 (HCSB)
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 that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
Proverbs 14:12 (HCSB)
"But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins
have made Him hide [His] face from you so that He does not listen." Isaiah
59:2 (HCSB)
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
(HCSB)
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." 1 Peter 3:18
"But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ
died for us!" Romans 5:8 (HCSB)
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 to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God,
to those who believe in His name," John 1:12 (HCSB)
"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 (HCSB)
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.
God's Assurance: His Word
The Bible says...
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will 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 you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it
is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 (HCSB)
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 "Born Again."
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 or others.
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