The Very Good News

So how can you come into a right relationship with God and be reconciled to Him?

Come listen to the plan of salvation. We'll walk you through it:

* God exists. Ever think about how everybody seems to know this deep down? How most cry out to Him at some point in their lives? It comes naturally. He's made His existence known in many ways - including through the creation He's made, through the conscience He's given us, through His written Word - the Bible, but primarily through His Son - Jesus.

* God made us, so as His handiwork we are accountable to Him.

* Sadly, we've all done things that go against what God, our Creator, wants us to do. This is called sin, and it puts a barrier between us and God. We're at odds with Him BIG TIME!

* Our sin earns us the penalty of death:

1) SPIRITUAL DEATH

This means not being alive spiritually and not having a right relationship with God. We have this problem right from the beginning of our lives because it was passed down to us from Adam (the first man that sinned), through our own parents, and as a result of our own sin.

2) PHYSICAL DEATH

One day each of us will have our bodies laid in the grave when we die (unless the Lord returns in our lifetime and the bodies of those who believe in Him are instantly changed to immortal). Physical death comes because of sin - the first sin by Adam brought death into the world.

3) ETERNAL DEATH

This is separation from God in agony in hell forever.

* There isn't anything we can do about this horrendous debt we owe. There isn't any way we can pay it off, in any way, shape, or form… not even if we could try for a million life-times (though, in truth, we only have this one life to be lived out).

* God, because He so loved the world - and was willing to reveal His power and wrath against sin, as well as the riches of His glory and mercy, came down from heaven to pay the debt FOR us. What a magnificent God!

* God is a Trinity (or tri-unity, a Godhead). The ONE true living God exists in three separate Persons: Father, Son - Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The Bible clearly teaches there is only ONE true and living God, yet it also teaches there is a Person called the Father, a separate Person called Jesus, and a separate Person called the Holy Spirit that are all referred to as God. Thus - the Trinity.

* Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, came to earth and took on humanity (being conceived of the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary, and being born a baby in Bethlehem - while staying fully God), lived a SINLESS LIFE, and then SHED HIS OWN BLOOD FOR US, DYING IN OUR PLACE, PAYING OUR DEBT IN FULL! He could do this because as God He alone was able to atone for our sin and save us.

* God the Father reconciled us to Him by Jesus' finished work on Calvary's cross. Jesus not only died for us, He was also resurrected from the dead (PROOF of His atoning power) and He is this very minute at the right hand of the Father interceding as our Advocate.

* Eternal life begins RIGHT NOW for those who have been given it.

* The simplified Gospel Message could be said like this:

- We owe a HUGE debt (because of our sin).

- We CAN'T pay it.

- God PAID IT FOR US on Calvary's cross.

- We TRUST IN / ON HIS FINISHED WORK.

- SALVATION IS OF THE LORD.

So, how can you enjoy this salvation of God?

If you have a desire to be His and be forgiven of your sin, we believe He is drawing you to Himself and is at work in your heart. This is very exciting!

What we're about to tell you, though, isn't some magic formula that makes any real difference in your life just by saying it. If the things we encourage you to say and do are meaningless to you and aren't coming from a sincere heart crying out to God for mercy - they'll probably remain words alone. But if God is calling you to salvation at this time, to come to know Him and to believe on Him, we know you'll respond as He does His wonderful work in you.

Humbly confess (agree with God), and tell Him (what He already knows)…

- You're a sinner who has sinned against Him and His holy law.

- Your sin has rightly earned you death and eternal separation from Him in hell.

- You want Him to forgive you of your sins, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

- You want the salvation that is found only in the name and Person of Jesus, God's only begotten Son - God Himself.

- You trust Jesus fully paid the penalty for your sins on Calvary's Cross… dying in your place, taking the full brunt of God's wrath for you, making full satisfaction to God for your sin.

- You believe Jesus died and rose again from the dead.

- You confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Ask God to enable you to understand this salvation, to renew your mind (through His Word - the Bible) which will transform your life, to consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God, as He makes you more like Jesus each day, until you see Him face to face in all His splendor and majesty.

Ask these things in Jesus' Name - because of Who He is and what He's done.

© 2007 John and Kim Namestnik    www.givengrace.com

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