HOW CAN I TRULY KNOW christ & be saved?
“By this gospel you are saved… , if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. … that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time…”
– 1 Corinthians 15:2-5
I
god is.
God is Holy, RIGHTEOUS, Just, & Good. He is Love.
He created everything, including you, and He rules and reigns above all.
“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” – Deuteronomy 32:4
“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” – Psalm 86:15
So How Can You Know Him Personally?
II
god’s Purpose.
Much like a good father & a child, God has graciously given you life, breath, and every good thing you have. He commands you to be like Him – living a life of love and goodness, for His glory and for your good.
KEY QUESTION: What is Your Purpose in Life?
God Wants You To Love Him & Love People
“Which is the great commandment…? Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:36-39
God Wants You to Do Good & Be Blessed
“You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may be well with you.” – Deuteronomy 6:18
Have You Lived According To God’s Purpose?
III
your SIN.
instead of loving god and being like him, We have rebelled and sinned against God by doing the wrong we should not do, and by not doing the good that we should do.
We deserve eternal punishment in hell for our lifetime of sins.
KEY QUESTION: In your opinion, are you a good person or a sinner?
According to God’s Standard…
We may think we’re ok, but God knows all of our sin in our actions, thoughts, & words each day. God gives life & conscience to us all. We should be good to reflect His Goodness. We should love Him, but instead we ignore Him and transgress against Him & people by (1) doing the wrong that we should not do (Lying, Cheating, Stealing, Hating, Lusting, Rejecting God, etc.) and (2) not doing the good that we should do, (Loving, Being Faithful, Respecting, Helping, Thanking God, etc.) You are not a good person. You are a sinner.
No One is Good
“There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who seeks for God … together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one …
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:10-12, 23
Everyone Deserves Judgment
“God will render to each person according to his deeds… to those who… do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.” …
“For the wages of sin is death…” – Romans 2:6-8, 6:23
God is just. He will judge us fairly by what we have done. We may try to find a way to pay for our sin through doing good deeds or religion, but our efforts fail because it is impossible for good to erase bad, and in fact, we sin more and more each day. Even the best of man can never help us to escape from the death, & hell that we deserve.
So How Can We Be Saved From the Consequences of Sin & the Righteous Judgment of God?
IV
JESUS’ sacrifice.
Jesus is God. He loves you. Jesus is the perfectly good person that you should have been, and He died to take the punishment for sin that you deserve. He then rose again to prove his payment for your sin was complete.
KEY QUESTION: How can One Man, Jesus, Pay for the Sin of All?
Because Jesus Is God
Jesus speaking… “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.” – John 13:13
Because Jesus Is The Mediator Between God & You
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” – 1 Timothy 2:3-7
Because Jesus Took Your Punishment, Sin, & Death
“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you home safely to God.” – 1 Peter 3:18
Because Jesus Gives You Righteousness & Life
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21
Because Jesus Has Power Over Sin & Death
“Christ died for our sins… He was buried, He was raised… and He appeared… to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred.” – 1 Corinthians 15:3-6
Because Jesus Is The Only Way
“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.'” – John 14:6
Because Jesus Proves God’s Love
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10
We deserve to receive eternal punishment for our sin, but God loves you & humbled Himself to die in your place on the cross, taking your punishment instead. Three days later, He rose from the dead, proving that He is God, proving His authority, and proving that the payment He made for all of your sin is perfect and complete. In Him, you may have salvation from death, judgment, and hell, and may be reconciled with God.
It’s not enough just to know these things…
V
REpent and believe
You Must Turn From Sin & Trust In Jesus To pay for your Sin & Lead Your Life, So You May Be Reconciled To God & Walk In New Life In Him.
KEY QUESTION: How should you respond to Jesus’ love and sacrifice for you?
Repent
– Confess your sins to God in sorrow and humility. Turn from your sin and turn to Him.
“Jesus says, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.'” – Mark 1:15
Believe
– Trust in Jesus that He has paid for your sin so you can be forgiven & reconciled to God
“That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9
Receive
– Accept Jesus and Submit to Him as Your Lord and God
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” – John 1:12-13
If God is Calling You Now… How Will You Respond to Him?
What is Prayer?
Prayer is communicating with God. It isn’t a chant or a religious ritual. Prayer itself doesn’t save you. Instead, it is a way of calling on God, casting your needs on Him. In the very moment that you sense God calling you to turn from sin and trust in Christ, you may call out to Him as your Lord and Savior.
Below is simply an example of a prayer that expresses repentance and saving faith…
“I Want to Turn & Trust Jesus…”
“Lord Jesus… I’m so sorry that I have sinned against You and against others. I want to turn away from my sin and come back to You. Please forgive me Lord, for all my sins. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me, and dying on the cross to cleanse me from all my sin. I want to follow you as my Savior and Lord. Amen.”
Are you ready to repent and trust in Jesus? If so, then you may call out to God in faith, even now, and He will forgive your sin, and help you begin a new life in Him.