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Becoming a Christian
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The Bible teaches that God loves all
men and wants them to have a personal relationship with him.
But man is separated from God and his love. God is on one
side and all the people on the other side. . . . (1 Timothy 2:5)
Why is man separated from God and his love? |
Because
he has sinned against God.
Your sins have cut you off from God. . . . (Isaiah
59:2)
Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious ideal. .
. . (Romans 3:23)
What is sin? Sin, briefly, is living for oneself and not living
for God.
What can we do about this separation? |
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People try to bridge
this separation by doing good. They think that this will make them
acceptable to God. But however much we try, we cannot overcome the
root problem of our own sinfulness.
No one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what the
law commands. For the more we know of God's laws, the clearer it
becomes that we aren't obeying them; his laws serve only to make
us see that we are sinners. . . . (Romans 3:20)
So where does this separation lead? |
This separation
leads only to death and certain judgement.
It is destined that men die only once, and after that comes
judgement. . . . (Hebrews 9:27)
Those who do not wish to know God, and who refuse to accept his
plan to save them ... will be punished in everlasting hell, forever
separated from the face of the Lord ... . . . (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
But, there is a solution. |
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Jesus Christ, unlike
any other man, committed no sin, and therefore did not deserve death.
But he took on himself the death that we deserved so that we could
escape the judgement due to us.
He died for all so that all who live - having received eternal
life from him - might live no longer for themselves, to please themselves,
but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died and rose again.
. . . (2 Corinthians 5:15)
God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Jesus
Christ, himself man, is between them to bring them together, by
giving his life for all mankind. . . . (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
Does this include everyone? |
Yes. But only
those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ can cross this bridge.
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent,
and believe in the gospel. . . . (Mark 1:15)
What does this mean? To repent means to admit to God that you have
been living in rebellion to him and to be willing to turn from your
sins.
To believe means to trust that Jesus Christ, the true Son of God,
died bearing the guilt of your sin.
If you are willing to turn from your sin and to believe that Jesus
Christ died to purchase your forgiveness, you are now ready to become
a Christian.
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Jesus says, "Look! I have been standing
at the door and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling
him and opens the door, I will come in and enjoy fellowship with him
and he with me." . . . (Revelation 3:20)
If you are ready to receive Jesus Christ
into your life, you might wish to use the following prayer, "Lord
Jesus, I admit that I have been living in rebellion to you, and I am
very sorry. I believe that you died so that I might be forgiven for
all my sin. Please forgive me now. Please come into my life by your
Holy Spirit and help me to live in a way that pleases you. Be my Saviour,
my Master and my dearest Friend all the days of my life. Amen."
The Bible says, If we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on
to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. . . . (1 John 1:9)
Therefore, if you have prayed sincerely, you can know that God has forgiven
you. You have his word on it.
As well as receiving forgiveness, your have also received the gift of
eternal life.
I say emphatically that anyone who listens to my message and believes
in God who sent me has eternal life, and will never be damned for his
sins, but has already passed out of death into life. . . . (John 5:24)
If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord you need to become involved
with a Christian church so that you can be with other Christians. Get
yourself a Bible and begin to read it, starting with the New Testament,
this will help you grow in you knowledge of God. Also don't forget to
pray, chat to God like you would chat to a friend.
If you would like prayer for your new life as a newly Born Again Christian
then contact us.
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