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How to Know Jesus

You invest in yourself daily ... education, relationships, career. But have you ever considered investing in the spiritual aspect of your life? The following four principles will help you succeed spiritually through knowing God personally.

Law 1

Principle ONE: God Loves You and offers a wonderful plan for your life.

GOD OFFERS LOVE
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

GOD OFFERS LIFE
[Jesus speaking] "I have come in order that you might have life-life in all its fullness" (John 10:10, GNB).

What prevents us from knowing God personally?

Law 2

Principle Two: Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's Love and plan for His Love.

"Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious ideal" (Romans 3:23).

We were all created to have fellowship with God; but, because of our own stubborn self-will, we chose to go our own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

PEOPLE ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD
"The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). God is holy (entirely free of moral evil and absolutely perfect in motive and behavior) and people are sinful (not living up to God's perfect standard). Thus, a vast distance separates the two. The figures climbing the ladders in the diagram to the right illustrate that people are continually trying to reach God through philosophy and religion or by depending on their own efforts, such as leading a "good, moral life", but they can never reach God.

Searching

The third principle explains the only way to bridge this gap

Law 3

Principle THREE: Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's Love and plan for your life.

HE DIED IN OUR PLACE
"God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8).

HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD
"Christ died for our sins just as the Scriptures said he would, and He was buried, and three days afterwards He arose from the grave just as the prophets foretold. He was seen by Peter and later by the rest of the 'Twelve.' After that He was seen by more than five hundred" (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD
"Jesus told him, 'I am the Way-yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me'" (John 14:6).

Bridged the Gap

The diagram to the left illustrates that God has bridged the great distance which separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.

It is not enough just to know these three principles...

Law 4

Principle FOUR: We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's Love and plan for our lives.

WE MUST RECEIVE CHRIST
"But to all who received him, He gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust Him to save them'" (John 1:12).

WE RECEIVE CHRIST THROUGH FAITH
"For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one con boost about it" (Ephesians 2:8,9 GNB).

WHEN WE RECEIVE CHRIST, WE EXPERIENCE A SPIRITUAL BIRTH
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:1-8)

WE RECEIVE CHRIST BY PERSONAL INVITATION
[Christ speaking] "Look! I have been standing at the door and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance), trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.

These two circles represent two kinds of lives:

Self-Directed Life

Christ-Directed Life

Self is on the throne
Christ is in the life and on the throne

Christ is outside the life
Self is yielding to Christ

Areas of life directed by self, often resulting in discord and frustration
Areas of life directed by Christ, resulting in peace, balance and fulfillment

Which circle best represents your life? Which circle would you like to have represent your life?

The Following Explains How You Can Receive Christ:

You Can Receive Christ Right Now by Faith Through Prayer (Prayer is talking with God.) God knows your heart and is not as concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer: "Dear Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive all my sins and give me eternal life. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be." Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If it does, pray this prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life, as He promised. Through His power you will begin to experience the lasting peace, balance and fulfillment that only He can provide.

Adopted from Would You Like to Know God Personally? by Bill Bright © 1999, Priority Associates. All rights reserved.

If you prayed the prayer you should seek fellowship with those of similar beliefs. Find a Spirit-filled church and join them. Grow with other believers that are also trusting in God's grace for forgiveness and love.

Call 407-644-5444 or e-mail Pastor Scott or Pastor Molly for support and help with any question you may have.

Revised: January 19, 2010