Am I Able to Know God Personally?
How do I begin a relationship with God? Devote myself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept me?
The truth is that none of those things will work.
But the good news is that God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him.
God loves you and offers an incredible plan for your life.
GOD'S LOVE
“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.”
-John 3:16
GOD'S PLAN
"Jesus said, 'I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly'" — that is, that life might be full of meaning, peace and contentment.
-John 10:10
So what is the reason I am not experiencing a life like this?
Our sin has separated us from God. All of us sin, therefore all are separated.
OUR SIN
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
-Romans 3:23
We were created to have fellowship with God, but because of our stubborn self-will, we chose to go our own way, and our fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is what the Bible calls sin.
All of us were created to have relationship with God, but because we are a self-centered people, we choose to go our own way. When we do, our fellowship with God is broken. This selfish choice whether it is an active rebellion against God or passive indifference toward Him, is called sin in the Bible. To put it another way our sin is offensive to our Creator.
OUR SEPARATION
“The wages of sin is death.”
-Romans 6:23
The penalty for sin is death. Death is spiritual separation from God.
God is holy, just and righteous. People are sinful creating an chasm that separates us. No matter how good we are, how much we know intellectually, or even how religious we become, we inevitably fail.
So what hope do we have?
Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin.
Through Him we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
JESUS DIED IN OUR PLACE
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
-Romans 5:8
JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD
“Christ died for our sins ... He was buried ... He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures ... He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred.”
-1 Corinthians 15:3-6
JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’”
-John 14:6
God has created the only bridge to restore what separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.
So what do I do to know and experience God’s love and plan for my life?
Each person must individually believe and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
WE MUST BELIEVE AND RECEIVE CHRIST
“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to 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 the gift 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. We no longer walk in darkness, but begin walking in the Light of Christ.
WE RECEIVE CHRIST BY PERSONAL INVITATION
"Jesus says,'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.'”
-Revelation 3:20
Are you ready to believe and receive Jesus Christ?
If you would like to talk more about this with our ministry staff, please contact our church office today to set up a time to do so.