The Bible says, "God loves you."
For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16
God wants you to know His
plan for your life.
I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (a
life full of meaning and purpose). - John 10:10b
From the Bible you see that
God loves you and wants you to enjoy the abundant life.
Why do you suppose people are not experiencing God's love and enjoying
an abundant life?
Second
Because.....
Man is a sinner, and sin has separated him from God. God created
man in His image and gave him an abundant life. He did not make
him as a puppet on a string to love and obey Him automatically but
gave him a will and freedom of choice.
Man chose to disobey God and go his own self-willed sinful way.
Man is still making this choice today. Each one of us has chosen
to disobey God in many ways...
Your iniquities have
separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His
face from you - Isaiah 59:2
The Bible says that there
is not one perfect man.
For there is not
a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. - Ecclesiastes
7:20
For all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:23
Sin is missing the mark of
perfection, a falling short of God's plan for your life, and it
results in spiritual death.
For the wages of
sin is death (separation from God in Hell). - Romans 6:23
Through the ages man has tried
to bridge the gap which separates him from God by doing good works...living
moral lives...devising profound philosophies...even being religious.
But he has always failed.
There is only one remedy for
the problem of sin and separation.
Third
God's remedy for sin is Jesus Christ crucified.
When Jesus died on the cross,
He paid for our sins and bridged the gap that separates us from
God.
For Christ also hath
once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might
bring us to God. - I Peter 3:18a
Neither is there
salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved - Acts 4:12
The Bible says that Jesus
died a humiliating, agonizing death. His death paid the penalty
for all our sins. But He didn't stay dead. He rose again that we
might be right with God. The gap created by our sins has been bridged
by Jesus' death and resurrection.
He died for our
sins
But God commended (proved) His love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8
He rose from the
dead
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from
the dead, thou shalt be saved. - Romans 10:9
Jesus Christ is
the only way to God
Jesus said unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the
life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6
Fourth
You must receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
It is your decision.
Receiving Christ involves
turning over control of your life to Christ.
Who Controls Your Life?
On which side are you?
On which side would you like to be?
Here's
How You Can Personally Receive Christ:
Trust Jesus and receive Him by personal invitation.
But as many as
received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on His name. - John 1:12
For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. - Romans
10:13
Behold I stand
at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the
door I will come in to him. - Revelation 3:20
Jesus is seeking entrance
into your life at this moment. Is there any good reason why you
cannot receive Jesus Christ right now?
It's really very simple,
much like taking...
Four
Steps
Step 1
Face the fact that your sin has separated you from God who loves
you.
Step 2 Be willing to turn away from your sin
and toward God. This is called repentance.
Step 3 Place your trust in (believe) the fact
that Jesus died for you and that He arose in victory over death.
Step 4 Invite Jesus to take control of your life,
forgive your sin and make you right with God.
Trusting Christ is more than
mentally recognizing Him as the Son of God or having an emotional
experience. You must receive Him as your Lord and Savior by Faith.
Below is an excerpt from a famous sermon by Dr. S. M. Lockridge:
The Bible says my King is
a seven-way king....He's the King of the Jews; that's a racial king....He's
the King of Israel; that's a national King....He's the King of Righteousness....He's
the King of the Ages.....He's the King of Heaven....He's the King
of Glory....He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords.
That's my King. Well....I wonder, do you know Him?....
David said, "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament
shows His handiwork. My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure
can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring
into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barrier
can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings. He's enduringly strong....He's
entirely sincere....He's eternally steadfast....He's immortally
graceful....He's imperially powerful....He's impartially merciful.......
Do you know Him?
He's the greatest phenomenon that ever crossed the horizon of this
world. He's God's Son....He's a sinner's Saviour....He's the centerpiece
of civilization....He stands in the solitude of Himself....He's
august....He's unique....He's unparalleled....He's unprecedented....He's
the loftiest idea in literature....He's the highest personality
in philosophy....He's the supreme problem in higher criticism....He's
the fundamental doctrine of true theology....He's the cardinal necessity
for spiritual religion....He's the miracle of the age.... He's the
superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him....He's
the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour...... I wonder
if you know Him today?
He supplies strength for the weak....He's available for the tempted
and the tried....He sympathizes and He saves....He strengthens and
sustains....He guards and He guides....He heals the sick....He cleanses
lepers....He forgives sinners....He discharges debtors....He delivers
captives....He defends the feeble....He blesses the young....He
serves the unfortunate....He regards the aged....He rewards the
diligent....and He beautifies the meek....... I wonder if you know
Him?
Well, my King....is the King....He's the key to knowledge....He's
the wellspring to wisdom....He's the doorway of deliverance....He's
the pathway of peace....He's the roadway of righteousness ....He's
the highway of holiness....He's the gateway of glory....... Do you
know Him?
Well....His office is manifold....His promise is sure....His light
is matchless....His goodness is limitless....His mercy is everlasting....His
love never changes....His word is enough....His grace is sufficient....His
reign is righteous....and His yoke is easy, and his burden is light.
I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable....He's
incomprehensible....He's invincible....He's irresistible.
Well, you can't get Him out of your mind....You can't get Him off
of your hand....You can't out live Him, and you can't live without
Him....The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they
couldn't stop Him....Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him....The
witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree....Herod couldn't
kill Him....Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold
Him. Yea!!!, that's my King, that's my King.
Father..."Thine is the Kingdom....and the Power....and the Glory....Forever"....and
ever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long is that? And ever...and
ever...and when you get through with all the forevers, then....
AMEN!....AMEN!
Reading the text doesn't do it justice. I recommend downloading
the audio which you can do through the link below.
Download this in MP3.
