|
The following is Steps To Peace With God from the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association
STEP 1 :
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
| "For 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
| ". . .I have come that they may have life, and that they may
have it more abundantly." John 10:10 b |
| |
Since God planned for us to have peace
and abundant life right now, why are most people not having this
experience?
STEP 2 :
Our Problem: 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, but 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
| "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 |
|
Our Attempts :
Through the ages, individuals have tried in many ways to bridge this
gap - without success.
The Bible says :
| "There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it
leads to death." Proverbs 14:12
| "But your iniquities have separated you from God; and your
sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."
Isaiah 59:2 |
|
 Our good works,
religion, philosophy and morality cannot bridge the gap between a sinful
people and a Holy God.
STEP 3 :
God's Remedy: The Cross:
Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem, He died on the Cross
and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the
gap between God and people.
The Bible says :
| ". . .God is on one side and all the people on the other
side, and Christ Jesus, Himself man, is between them to bring them
together . . ." 1 Timothy 2:5
| "For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the just for the
unjust, that He might bring us to God . . ." 1 Peter 3:18 a
| "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 |
| |
STEP 4 :
Our Response: Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ and receive Him by personal invitation.
The Bible says :
| "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My
voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him,
and he with Me." Revelation 3:20
| "But 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
| ". . .if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you
will be saved." Romans 10:9 |
| |
Is there any good reason
why you cannot receive Jesus Christ right now?
- 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.
- Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your
life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior).
What to pray :
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You
died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come
into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and
Savior.
In Jesus' name, Amen
God's Assurance: His Word
If you prayed this prayer, the Bible says :
| "For ' whoever calls upon 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 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." Ephesians 2:8.9
| "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of
God does not have life. These things I have written to you who
believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you
have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name
of the Son of God." 1 John 5:12, 13 |
|
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 the "new
birth."
If you prayed this prayer and have any questions or would like more
information, please contact Pastor Fred at 529-4920.
|
