God desires to have a personal relationship with you. You may know God through His Son, Jesus Christ, who came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven, and because He conquered death you can have eternal life. You can know for sure what will become of you after you die. This is good news for all who believe.
The word Gospel simply means “Good News.” The Gospel is the Good News that, because of what Christ has done, we can be forgiven and can live forever.
But this gift of forgiveness and eternal life cannot be yours unless you willingly accept it. God requires an individual response from you. The following verses from the Bible show God’s part and yours in this process:
God Loves You
“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 wants to bless your life and make it full and complete. He offers you eternal life through his Son, Jesus.
We Are Sinful
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” —Romans 3:23 (NIV)
We all do things that we know are wrong. And that’s why we feel estranged from God—because God is holy and good, and we are not.
Sin Has a Penalty
“For the wages of sin is death.” —Romans 6:23 (NIV)
Just as criminals must pay the penalty for their crimes, sinners must pay the penalty for their sins. The penalty of sin is separation from God for all eternity.
Christ Has Paid Our Penalty!
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8 (NIV)
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, has paid the penalty for all your sins. You may think you have to lead a good life and do good deeds before God will love you. But the Bible says that Christ loved you enough to die for you, even when you were rebelling against Him.
Salvation Is a Free Gift, a Gift of Grace
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Grace means God gives us what we don’t deserve, and mercy means God doesn’t give us what we do deserve. Salvation is God’s gracious gift to you. God is offering you something you could never provide for yourself: forgiveness of sins and eternal life. God’s gift to you is free. You do not have to work for a gift. All you have to do is joyfully receive it, Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you!
Christ Is at Your Heart’s Door
“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 (NIV)
Jesus Christ wants to have a personal relationship with you. Imagine Jesus Christ standing at the door of your heart (the door of your emotions, intellect and will). Invite Him in; He is waiting for you to receive Him into your heart and life.
You Must Receive Him
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” —John 1:12 (NIV)
The Christian life is a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. When you receive Christ into your heart you become a new creation—your old life is gone and a new life has begun. Also, you have the privilege of talking to God in prayer at any time about anything. And best of all, it is a relationship that will last for all eternity.
If you want to become a Christian, pray this prayer:
“Dear God, forgive me for turning my back to you and not believing in you. Forgive me of all my sins. I want to be a Christian. I accept Jesus as my Savior and the Lord of my life. Lord, I want to know you and I want you to be an active part of my life. This I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.”
If you have prayed this prayer, please contact our pastor. The church phone number is 919-303-9200.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the peace of the Holy Spirit bless you in all that you do.