Doorway to God
Did you know that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life? He created you to know Him and to have a personal relationship with Him. Imagine - a personal relationship with the Creator Himself! "And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth" (John 17:3).
But, there's a problem. People are sinful. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23). In our stubbornness we rebel against God, choosing to follow our own independent path. This attitude of self-will leads us away from God and breaks our fellowship with Him. Rebellion or even indifference to God is called sin. Sin separates us from God and this spiritual separation from Him leads to death. "For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a). But it doesn’t end there! There’s Good News! God, in His mercy and love has a plan! “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23b).
The Son, Jesus Christ, is the antidote for our sin. Christ alone is the door through which we can come to have a personal relationship with God the Father. Christ took our sins upon Him and died on the cross in our place to save us from eternal separation from God. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He who knew no sin became sin for us. This removed our burden of sin and allows us to enter into intimate fellowship with Him when we follow His way. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord is the only way to know God personally and experience His love and plan for our lives. "Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’" (John 14:6).
Is it enough to simply know these truths? No, in order to receive this free gift of salvation and enter into a personal relationship with God, we must individually place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Receiving Christ involves admitting we are sinners, turning from our sin (repenting) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive us and to change us into what He wants us to be. It is by repenting of our sins and believing in Christ that we can know God personally and experience His lavish love. "For 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 is patiently waiting for our response to His invitation. Won’t you accept it? “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).
But, there's a problem. People are sinful. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23). In our stubbornness we rebel against God, choosing to follow our own independent path. This attitude of self-will leads us away from God and breaks our fellowship with Him. Rebellion or even indifference to God is called sin. Sin separates us from God and this spiritual separation from Him leads to death. "For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a). But it doesn’t end there! There’s Good News! God, in His mercy and love has a plan! “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23b).
The Son, Jesus Christ, is the antidote for our sin. Christ alone is the door through which we can come to have a personal relationship with God the Father. Christ took our sins upon Him and died on the cross in our place to save us from eternal separation from God. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He who knew no sin became sin for us. This removed our burden of sin and allows us to enter into intimate fellowship with Him when we follow His way. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord is the only way to know God personally and experience His love and plan for our lives. "Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’" (John 14:6).
Is it enough to simply know these truths? No, in order to receive this free gift of salvation and enter into a personal relationship with God, we must individually place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Receiving Christ involves admitting we are sinners, turning from our sin (repenting) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive us and to change us into what He wants us to be. It is by repenting of our sins and believing in Christ that we can know God personally and experience His lavish love. "For 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 is patiently waiting for our response to His invitation. Won’t you accept it? “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).
Secure in Hope,
