Knowing God

KNOWING GOD PERSONALLY

 " Used by permission from Every Student.com."

• I will wait for some other day?
• I am waiting for lightning to strike or when I face a huge problem?
• I still want to enjoy ... sex, drugs, alcohol and doing my own thing?
• I still want more material possessions and self on the throne?
• I don't want to devote myself to unselfish religious deeds?
• I do not want to give up the life I have now?
• I want to wait until I become a better person so that God will accept me?

NONE OF THESE SATISFY
God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him. This will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now...

Principle One:

God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.

God created you. Not only that, he loves you so much that he wants you to know him now and spend eternity with him. Jesus said in John 3:16, "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." 

Jesus came so that each of us could know and understand God in a personal way. Jesus alone can bring meaning and purpose to life.

Key Question: What keeps us from knowing God?

Principle Two:

All of us sin, and our sin has separated us from God.

We sense that separation, that distance from God because of our sin. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 53:6 that "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way..."  Deep down, our attitude may be one of active rebellion or passive indifference toward God and his ways, but its all evidence of what the Bible calls sin. The result of sin in our lives is death -- spiritual separation from God.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

Although we may try to get close to God through our own effort, we inevitably fail. This picture shows the significant gap that exists between God and us illustrates how we might try to reach God through our own efforts. We may try to do good things in life, or earn God's acceptance through a good life or a moral philosophy. But our good efforts are insufficient to cover up our sin.

Key Question: How can we bridge this gulf?

Principle Three:

Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin.

Through Him, we can know and experience God's love and plan for our life.

We deserve to pay for our own sin. The problem is the payment is death. So that we would not have to die separated from God, out of his love for us, Jesus Christ died in our place. 

On the cross, Jesus took all of our sins on himself and completely, fully paid for it.

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." 1 Peter 3:18.

And in Titus 3:5 "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy..." Because of Jesus' death on the cross, our sin doesn't have to separate us from God any longer.

Gospel message in a nutshell John 3:16, "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.”

When Jesus rose from the grave, he proved beyond doubt that he can rightfully promise eternal life, that he is the Son of God and the only means by which we can know God.

And in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,"
That is why Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Instead of trying harder to reach God, he tells us how we can begin a relationship with him right now.

In John 7:37-38, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

It was Jesus' love for us that caused him to endure the cross. And he now invites us to come to him, that we might begin a personal relationship with God.

Just knowing what Jesus has done for us and what he is offering us is not enough. To have a relationship with God, we need to welcome him into our life...

Important Life Question:
Have You Welcomed Jesus into Your Life?

Principle Four:

We must individually accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

The Bible says in John 1:12, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." 

We accept Jesus by faith. In Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

Accepting Jesus means believing that Jesus is the Son of God, who he claimed to be and then inviting him to guide and direct our lives as in John 3:1-8.

Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

And here is Jesus' invitation in Revelation 3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

Important Life Question:
How will you respond to God's invitation?

Consider these two circles below:

Self-Directed Life - Self is on the throne.


Christ-Directed Life - Jesus is on the throne.

Key Questions:

Which circle best represents your life?

Which circle would you like to have represent your life?

Begin a relationship with Jesus...

You can receive Christ right now. Remember that Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

IMPORTANT LIFE QUESTION:

Would you like to respond to His invitation?

Here's how... How to Receive Jesus as Your Lord and Savior.

The most important relationship in your life is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you would like to receive Him as your Lord and Savior, and enter into the most significant relationship you have ever known, please pray the prayer below.

The precise words you use to commit yourself to God are not important. He knows the intentions of your heart. If you are unsure of what to pray, this might help you put it into words.

Father,
You Loved the world so much that you gave Your only begotten Son to die for our sins so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Your Word says we are saved by grace through faith as a gift You. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation.

I believe and confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is Your Son, the Savior of the world. I believe He died on the cross for me and bore all of my sins, paying the price for them.

I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead and that He is alive today.

I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins, and I ask You to forgive me. By faith, I receive Jesus Christ now as my Lord and Savior. I believe that I am saved and will spend eternity with You! Thank You, Father I am so grateful! In Jesus name, Amen.

If you sincerely asked Jesus into your life just now, then He has come into your life as He promised. You have begun a personal relationship with God. 

NEXT STEPS FOR NEW CHRISTIANS SLIDESHOW HERE.

Congratulations, if you have prayed this prayer, please let us know about your experience and we will glad to answer any questions you have here.

Recommend our free Study Guides designed for you in your Christian walk here.

I just asked Jesus into my life what next? Helpful step by step information here.

Share your story with us here.

I may want to ask Jesus into my life, but I have a questions I would like answered first here.

Want to know more about the Salvation Prayer here.

KNOWING GOD PERSONALLY ILLUSTRATED BY PICTURES HERE

KNOWING GOD PERSONALLY ILLUSTRATED BY PICTURES - PDF - HERE.

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