Would You Like To Know God Personally?
What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept you?
You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him and that He has made a way.
The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a love relationship with the God created you , right now, through Jesus Christ...
Principle 1: God loves you and created you to know Him personally
God's Love
"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 3:15
God's Plan
"And this is the way to have eternal life - by knowing You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One you sent to earth." John 17:3
What prevents us from knowing God personally?
Principle 2: All of us sin and our sin has separated us from God so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love.
We Are Sinful
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
We were created to have fellowship with God; but, because of our stubborn self-will, we chose to go our own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive
indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
We Are Separated
"The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God] Romans 6:23
You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him and that He has made a way.
The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a love relationship with the God created you , right now, through Jesus Christ...
Principle 1: God loves you and created you to know Him personally
God's Love
"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 3:15
God's Plan
"And this is the way to have eternal life - by knowing You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One you sent to earth." John 17:3
What prevents us from knowing God personally?
Principle 2: All of us sin and our sin has separated us from God so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love.
We Are Sinful
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
We were created to have fellowship with God; but, because of our stubborn self-will, we chose to go our own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive
indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
We Are Separated
"The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God] Romans 6:23
The third principle explains the only way to bridge this gulf...
Principle 3: Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience His love.
He Died in Our Place
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
He Rose From the Dead
"Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures...He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred..." I Corinthians 15:3-6
He Is the Only Way to God
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6
He Died in Our Place
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
He Rose From the Dead
"Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures...He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred..." I Corinthians 15:3-6
He Is the Only Way to God
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6
It is not enough just to know these three principles...
Principle 4: We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know God's personally and experience His love.
We Must Receive Christ
"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
We Receive Christ Through Faith
"By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9
When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth (Read John 3:1-8)
We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation
[Christ speaking] "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him." Revelations 3:20
Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us the kind of people He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.
We Must Receive Christ
"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
We Receive Christ Through Faith
"By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9
When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth (Read John 3:1-8)
We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation
[Christ speaking] "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him." Revelations 3:20
Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us the kind of people He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.
These two circles represent two kinds of lives:
Which circle best describes your life?
Which circle would you like to have represent your life?
The following explains how you can receive Christ: You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Prayer is talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.
You Can Receive Christ Right Now By Faith Through Prayer - Prayer is talking with God from your heart:
"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, then you can pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.
The Bible promises a relationship with God, forgiveness and eternal life to all who receive Christ
Which circle would you like to have represent your life?
The following explains how you can receive Christ: You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Prayer is talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.
You Can Receive Christ Right Now By Faith Through Prayer - Prayer is talking with God from your heart:
"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, then you can pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.
The Bible promises a relationship with God, forgiveness and eternal life to all who receive Christ
Yes, I just asked Jesus into my life
Learn more about developing and growing in this new relationship with God. The adventure of this love relationship with the Creator of the Universe and following Jesus has just begun!
Learn more about developing and growing in this new relationship with God. The adventure of this love relationship with the Creator of the Universe and following Jesus has just begun!
I did not ask Jesus into my life but I have questions about what I have read, or watched on this website.
If you are interested in discussing your questions or if you have asked Jesus into your life - please let us know. You can contact Carol Douglass or Sandeep Thomas.
If you are interested in discussing your questions or if you have asked Jesus into your life - please let us know. You can contact Carol Douglass or Sandeep Thomas.
Adapted from Have You Heard of the Four Spiritual Laws and Would You Like to Know God Personally, by Dr. Bill Bright, co-founder of Campus
Crusade for Christ. © Campus Crusade for Christ. All rights reserved.
Crusade for Christ. © Campus Crusade for Christ. All rights reserved.