HOW TO KNOW GOD

Are you ready to start over?

By now you may have discovered that all roads may lead to God, but not all roads lead to Heaven. Perhaps you have also noticed that life is not as simple as you once thought. For those who are at this crossroad, the Bible offers a new direction filled with purpose, fulfillment, acceptance and hope. The steps are simple:

1. Realize that you’re a sinner.

No matter how “good” a life we strive to live, we still fall short of God’s standard of holiness. This is because we are all sinners. You must admit your spiritual need: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10
We cannot make excuses or blame others for our actions.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

2. Recognize that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and rose from the dead.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…”
1 Peter 3:18
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Jesus died for your sins and He is alive today, ready to forgive you and give you eternal life!

3. Repent of your sin.

The Bible says to us, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19
The word “repent” means to change your mind and attitude about sin. When you do this, your desire is to turn from sin so that you can turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and cleansing.

4. Receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12
When you make a decision to follow Christ, or become a Christian, it is not merely believing a creed or attending church on Sunday. It is having Jesus Christ, the Son of God Himself take up residence in your life.
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:12-13
If your desire is to start over and begin a relationship with God we encourage you to pray:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the grave. Right now, I turn from my sins and yield my life to You as Lord and Savior. Please forgive me, save me, fill me with the Holy Spirit and give me the gift of eternal life. I put my trust in You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you sincerely prayed that prayer or a prayer similar to this, Jesus Christ has come into your life by the power of His Holy Spirit. He will begin to change you from the inside out! You can walk in the confidence that your sins are forgiven and God will lead you into a new life.

Please allow us to encourage you with some simple steps that will help you grow spiritually:

Read your Bible on a daily basis: God’s Word is powerful!
Talk to God in prayer often: Tell Him your desires, feelings and concerns because He cares for you.
Get involved in regular Christian fellowship: Attend a Bible-teaching church.
Tell your friends and family about your decision to follow Christ.

As you begin your relationship with the Lord, we want to encourage you to be patient. Just as a relationship with a new friend takes time to develop, you also need time to mature and grow in your relationship with Jesus. He loves you very much and has your best interests in mind.