Knowing God
Your relationship with God in Christ is the most important relationship you will have in life: A relationship with God in Christ results in a new life (Ephesians 2:4–5); It brings forgiveness for sins (Colossians 1:14); Believers are given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17); one day in the future, after this worldly body dies, it will be resurrected with a new glorified body in heaven. (John 14:19; Philippians 3:20–21). If you are the friend of the most important person in the world, it pails to your friendship with the one who created the universe. Why is your relationship with God so Important?
The Bible teaches that having a personal relationship with God is essential for a fulfilling life: According to the King James Version of the Bible, Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).
Perhaps you are wondering how you can have a relationship with God: God has made establishing a relationship with Jesus very easy. Jesus purpose for coming to earth was “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10); Salvation is by invitation only. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28); it includes our trust in Him (John 14:1); we then become friends of the Lord (John 15:14–15); If we are will to have a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, He is willing to have a relationship with us.
A relationship with God through Jesus is through faith and with God’s grace. To understand the salvation that comes through Jesus, we must first understand the truths found in the Bible: According to (Romans 3:23), “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. For the wages of sin is death.” Wages is the penalty for sins with is eternal separation from God and everlasting death. Since God’s standard for entering heaven is perfection with no sins, it was necessary for Jesus to come to earth, live a life without sin, and die on the cross, and be resurrected on the third day to pay the penalty of sin which is eternal death in hell according to the Bible. When we confess our sin and place our faith in Jesus, His perfect righteousness is imputed to us, and now God sees the Righteousness of Jesus when He looks upon us.
To have a relationship with God through Jesus, the Bible teaches us: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This verse promises us the unconditional love of God. It also emphasizes Christ died for us when we were still sinners and had not yet repented.
God’s loving grace is based on Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross: “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). No work is necessary by us because the Lord Jesus has already done the work in our stead through His substitutional death on the cross. He died in our place to atone for our sins (John 19:30).
Knowing these truths from the Bible now enables you to call out to the Lord for salvation: Are you ready to turn from your sin and place your faith in Jesus? Accept Him today while there is still time as your Lord and Master. According to the promise of the Bible, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
Right now, at this very moment, you can receive Jesus as your Savior, receive forgiveness for your sins, and inherit eternal life: By your faith and trust in Jesus, you begin an eternal relationship with God. Have you placed your faith in Jesus? Tell God about your faith in a simple prayer. It is not the prayer that saves you; it is your faith, but that faith is expressed by prayer.
Here is a simple prayer you may pray wherever you happen to be: “God, I know that I am a sinner. I know that I deserve the consequences of my sin. But I trust in Jesus Christ to forgive me and be my Savior. I believe that His death and resurrection provided for my forgiveness. I turn from my sins to follow you for the rest of my life. I trust in Jesus and Jesus alone as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord, for saving me and forgiving me! Amen!”
If you have decided for Christ today, click on the link below to learn the next step: ,