Knowing God

Perhaps curiosity prompted you to come to this section of the web site, or you may have responded to a yearning for a personal relationship with God. Others may have come to this site feeling tired, lonely, discouraged or defeated, and you need some answers in life. Whatever motivated you, I assure you this is the most important information you'll ever read. This is called "the gospel" which simply means "good news." Better than that, this is "great, awesome, fantastic, thrilling news" . . . the best news I have ever heard. This is the story of God's love gift available for every person willing to receive it. With a sincere heart, I encourage you to read through the steps and ask God to make it clear how He wants you to respond. 

• Does God Exist?
• Who is God?
• Was Jesus God
• Born a Christian or Born Again Christian?
• How to Know If You Are Born Again
• Operation Andrew

1. Recognize your need before God.
You may have lived a good, moral life, but the Bible says, ". . . all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Rom. 3:23 (NIV). None of us have lived a perfect life, and the first step is to acknowledge our need for a Savior before God. The Bible tells us that the result of sin is eternal death. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. 6:23 (NIV). Some people say, "I want God to give me what I deserve." If we received what we deserve, we will be separated from God for all eternity. Instead, God wants to give us what we don't deserve which is eternal life and forgiveness of all our sins.

2. Thank God for His love shown in Christ's death on the cross for your sins.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8 (NIV). No matter what you have done or how far you've wandered from God, God's love for you is enormous, and He showed this love when Christ died on the cross. "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." John 3:16 (NIV).

3. Ask Christ to forgive your sins.
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, . . . He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, NIV). You may ask, "Do I need to get things straightened out in my life before I come to God?" No. God's plan is that we come to Him as we are. God does not want you to turn over a new leaf . . . He wants to give you a new life. "What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!" 2 Cor. 5:17 (NLT). He promises new life and forgiveness for all our sins.

4. Believe in the risen Christ as your Savior and Lord and invite Him into your life by faith.
"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan-this rebirth comes from God." John 1:12-13 (NLT). "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved." Rom. 10:9-10 (NLT).

With a sincere heart, I invite you to pray this prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I acknowledge I am a sinner, and this has created separation between you and me. Since you died for my sins, I ask you to forgive all my sins, and I invite you into my life as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for giving me the gift of eternal life, and saving me from my sins. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer from your heart, Jesus Christ has come into your heart and your sins have been forgiven. The Bible promises, "He has taken our sins away from us as far as the east is from west. The LORD has mercy on those who respect him, as a father has mercy on his children." Psalm 103:12-13 (NCV). Eternal life is now yours. "This is what God told us: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." 1 John 5:11 (NCV).

Welcome to God's family. If you made this decision, I would like to hear from you and send you a Bible and materials that will help you grow in your new life.

I am looking forward to hearing from you, and may God richly bless you in your new walk with Him.