| Knowing God |
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God
does not make it hard to know Him. He desires a personal relationship
with each one of us. We don't mean, of course, that you can
really know God – no one can truly know and comprehend
Him – but that you can know of Him and know that God is real
and cares about you.
By "knowing" God you can discover this relationship.
It includes the inspired Word, a personal Savior and a loving
Spirit.
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THE ONE |
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Society teaches us that we should assume
responsibility for our own actions. Basically, that's true
— we should be held responsible. The problem is that
most of us don't know how God desires that we live.
While we can and should be held accountable God doesn't make us earn salvation. As you get
to know God you'll find out He's more about mercy and forgiveness
than condemnation.
Long ago we turned away from God. Despite our turning away God still
loves us and
all along had a plan to return us
to Him.
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It's a choice
God
created us and gave us free will. He knew we'd use that choice
to make some bad decisions, but He also knew our love for Him
is worthless unless it is a free choice. Man's original decision
resulted in our fallen nature. We chose to disobey God and as
a result sin and death entered the world. Fortunately there
is a way out: God's
salvation plan.
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Let's break it down to some simple components.
- There is a defect in all of us. We are prone to sin-doing what
we want (self-centeredness). Even when we want to do the
right thing we often fail. We don't have the power to live
right, apart from God.
- God created us. He gave us the choice between good and evil,
between perfect fellowship with Him and going our own way.
- By ourselves we are incapable of achieving perfect fellowship
with our Creator.
- Jesus is the bridge. He showed us what God is like
and what it means to be truly human. Because He is divine and perfect (sinless) he
is able to be the way of truth and eternal life.
- We get the free gift of redemption by believing in
God's salvation plan. All you have to do is believe
Jesus is the Christ,
the eternal Lamb of God who lived and died for the love
of all of us. Believe that and (important) choose to
love and
obey
His commandments
to love God with all your heart and soul and to love others
in the same way Jesus loves.
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It's
a beautiful plan, simple and elegant. It's awesome in its magnitude.
It was mentioned in the Old Testament and the New. It does place
a decision in your path. Once you have this knowledge you are
faced with a choice. It is much like the original choice Adam
and Eve faced. Are you willing to accept the free gift of salvation?
If you do you will be born again and eternal life will be your
reward. If you don't then eternity will result in separation
from God.
It's personal
God
wants everyone to be saved. It comes down to one person at a
time. It's an individual choice. No one can make it for you.
We can (and do) want it for you and the whole reason for this
web site is to bring this message to others. Think about it.
Open your heart and pray about it. Make a choice. If you are
ready you can pray something like this:
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"Lord
Jesus, I need You. Thank You for revealing the perfect love
of the Father. 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."
If
you prayed that and were sincere then you have received Jesus
Christ personally into your life. You are no longer alone and
you've been reborn in Spirit. Ahead of you is a new life, full
of challenge…and triumph. In order to live this life to
the fullest you will need to grow in spiritual maturity.
It's a Relationship
What
it all boils down to is not religion, per se. It's a relationship.
You and God, forged through Jesus Christ and his death on the
cross and resurrection from the grave to bring us eternal life.
Each day has real meaning as you follow Christ. You are knowing
God through the Son. He leads us and He is returning on the
Day that God, the Father, has determined. Jesus is coming back
for us and to judge the world and all people.
We urge you to discover the truth and make your choice. We are
in this together. Choose God and know this new relationship.
It is something wonderful and personal.
The goal is to share this Good News with others. You can't keep
it if you don't give it away. How you go about doing that,however,
is really important. The best way to share you faith is by living
it.
Be sure to find out about your special Helper.
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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for
the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All
rights reserved.
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The Case for
Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence
for Jesus
by Lee Strobel
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