At one time or another
in our lives we wish that we could start over. We would like to wipe out
all the
wrong things we've done and said, and begin again. But, unfortunately,
we can't erase the past. However,
God has a wonderful solution for a new life, no matter what our past has
been.
The central theme of the New Testament
in the Bible is God's Love for you as an individual. This
Love was revealed through Jesus Christ coming to the world, living among
people like you and me, and
His dying on the cross then rising from the dead. Through Christ's death
God offers you forgiveness for
your sins, and through His resurrection the promise of everlasting life.
Christ died and rose again for the
whole world, but the only way for you to establish a personal relationship
with Him is to accept God's
offer of forgiveness and everlasting life.
God can give you a new start! The following
Bible verses show you how. Read each verse and
believes what it says, for it is the word of God.
GOD'S LOVE IS REVEALED
"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life."
John 3:16
God Loves you and all mankind. He wants to bless
your life and make it full and complete. He offers not
only an abundant life here and now, but a life which is eternal, like
His very own life.
MANKIND IS SINFUL
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:23
The saying, "We are just human; nobody is perfect," is Biblically
sound. When we acknowledge this
truth, we can see our separation from God, for He is holy.
SIN HAS A PENALTY
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23
To continue in sin will result in spiritual death, which is separation
from God forever. The alternative is to
personally receive God's free gift, which is pardon for sin and the provision
of life everlasting.
CHRIST PAID THE PENALTY
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
You may think you must lead a "good" life and do charitable
acts before God will love you. This is not
so. God loves you even in your sin. He sent Christ to die in your place
and to pay the penalty for your sin
so that you can be reconciled to Him.
SALVATION CANNOT BE EARNED
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of
works, lest anyone should boast."
Ephesians 2:8,9
You may think that you are a Christian because you are a faithful member
of a church or have always
tried to be a good person. But you could never do enough to deserve God's
gift. Grace means undeserved
favor. God graciously offers you what you could never do for yourself.
His gift is free--you do not, and
cannot, work for a gift. All you need to do is receive it. Believe with
all your heart that Jesus died for you
to provide deliverance from your sins.
WE MUST RECEIVE CHRIST
"As many as received Him [Jesus Christ], to them He gave the right
to become children of God, even to
those who believe in His name."
John1:12
When you receive Jesus---when you accept what He has done for you--you
become a child of God.
Picture Jesus standing at the door of your life. He is waiting to be received
into your life.
RECEIVE CHRIST NOW
You can invite Jesus Christ into your life right now by praying to God
a prayer like this: "Dear God, I
know that I am a sinner and that I need Your forgiveness. I believe that
Jesus died in my place to pay
the penalty for my sin and that He rose from the dead. I now invite Jesus
to come into my life as my
Savior. Thank You for making me Your child. Help me learn to please You
in every part of my life."
PROMISES FROM THE WORD OF GOD
"Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Romans 10:13
- If you just now received Jesus Christ by calling upon His name in prayer,
the following took place:
- Your sins were forgiven (Colossions 1:14)
- You became a child of God (John 1:12)
- You were made heir to all of God's blessings (Romans
8:16,17)
- You now posses everlasting life ( I John 5:12,13)
You became a Christian the moment that you
received Christ. Don't trust your feelings, for they will
change. But take God at His word and believe His promises. Review the
Bible verses you've just read
whenever doubts arise. You should be able to say with assurance, "I
have received Jesus Christ, and on the authority of God's Word, I have
eternal life."
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