[Published by Campus
Crusade for Christ]
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Just as there are
physical laws that govern the physical universe, so are there spiritual
laws which govern your relationship with God.
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LAW 1: God
LOVES you and offers a wonderful PLAN for your life.
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 3:16 NIV).
God's Plan
[Christ speaking] "I came that they might have life, and might
have it abundantly" [that it might be full and meaningful] (John
10:10).
Why is it that most
people are not experiencing the abundant life?
Because...
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LAW 2: Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. Therefore, he cannot
know and experience God's love and plan for his life.
Man Is Sinful
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans
3:23).
Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn
self-will, he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with
God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active
rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible
calls sin.
Man Is Separated
"The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God]
(Romans 6:23).
This diagram illustrates
that God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates the two.
The arrows illustrate that man is continually trying to reach God and
the abundant life through his own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy,
or religion - but he inevitably fails.
The third law explains the only way to bridge this gulf...
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LAW 3: Jesus
Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know
and experience God's love and plan for your life.
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..."
(1 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).
This diagram illustrates
that God has bridged the gulf which separates us from Him by sending
His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty
for our sins.
It is not enough just to know these three laws...
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LAW 4: We
must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can
know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
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" (Revelation
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 what 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 our sins is not enough. Nor
is it enough to have an emotional experience. We 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:
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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. The following is a suggested prayer:
"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 it does, I invite
you to pray this prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life,
as He promised.
[Published by Campus
Crusade for Christ]
If you would like
more information or help in understanding God's plan of Salvation, please
feel free to contact First Baptist Church any time.
810-659-6098
fbcflushing@comcast.net