Jesus Loves You

Have you ever wondered - what's this life all about?  Even with the marvels of modern technology and medicine, the most lengthy life rarely reaches above 100 years.  If this life is all there is - what's the point?  Are we just counting down the days to our death, waiting for the axe to fall, dreading the end more and more each passing day?  Trying to live for all the gusto we can, while we're able...

Have you ever wondered - why it seems to be so much bad news on T. V.?  Why don't we all get along and be friends?  After all, we have to share the same earth with each other.  Wouldn't it be a perfect place to live if we all followed a simple rule, like "love others as you love yourself," or "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."?  Wow - what a concept!

Have you ever wondered - why so many well-respected people claim to believe that there is life after death?  Not just life, but eternal life in a wonderful place called heaven.  Could it be that they've experienced something in their life, felt a real spiritual presence that you have not?  And why is it that they seem to enjoy life more, despite all of the hardships?

Have you ever wondered - how our world keeps on spinning, and generations keep on going, and living things always seem to reproduce their like kind, and the earth continues to replenish itself in an orderly, clockwise fashion?  Have you ever studied the marvels of the human body?  Do you really think something as complex as a human circulatory system could evolve from a couple of germs in a muddy pond?  Could it be that there is an intelligence behind all of this? 

After all, when things are left to chance - chaos reigns, not order.  If all of this world was an accident, why are we discovering so many intricate and efficient designs embedded in nature, even down to the smallest atom particle?

I'll let you in on a little secret.  Actually, it's not a secret because those people who have found this wonderful presence in their lives have been trying to share this good news with the whole world for the last 2,000 or so years.  Those people who seem to enjoy life a little more, who seem to be a peace about death, who seem to have a power and understanding beyond human ability...those people are called Christians.  And they're called that because they believe there is a God behind all of this world's operations they believe that a man called Jesus of Nazareth was really God's Son; they believe that Jesus lived a perfect life (history tells us that much), and when he died on a cross at the hands of the Roman government in 33 A.D., he took the place of everyone who would ever break a rule or lie or steal or murder...sin is the all-inclusive term.

In believing that much, they have ask this God of creation to forgive them for sinning (breaking God's rules for living), and they have confessed with their mouth that they believe all of this to be true.

An amazing thing happened when they did this.  The presence of God Himself, in the form of the Holy Spirit, came into their body and transformed (born again) their lives forever.  You do believe God can do that?  You think you're way too bad - think again.  One of the greatest preachers of the Bible, Paul, spent the first part of his life killing Christians - and God changed him.

God can change you too.  Why?  Because God loves you.  He always has and always will.  No matter how bad you have been, no matter how many times you've cursed God in the face, no matter how many times you have willingly sinned...if you follow these simple steps - you too will experience this life-changing event.

You owe to yourself to at least try it - God is always waiting.

STEP 1. Realize that you are in need of God's forgiveness - like everyone who has ever came to God before you or after you, for the Bible says...

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,     Romans 3:23 NIV

STEP 2. Kneel down, and ask God to forgive you for all of your sins - and name all that you can remember to Him - be truly sorry for what your life has been.

"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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:16-17 NIV

STEP 3. While kneeling, confess to God that you truly believe that Jesus was His Son, and that by dying on the cross, Jesus paid the price for all the bad things you've ever done - that He died in your place, and then three days later, God raised Jesus from the dead, for the Bible says...

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 NIV

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9 NIV

STEP 4. Open your heart and let the Holy Spirit enter - invite Jesus to live in your heart - allow yourself to become transformed or born again by the inflow of the great love of God into your newly cleansed life.  Just remain in God's presence for awhile.

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."  John 3:3 NIV

STEP 5.  Step forward in faith!  Begin living your new life free from weight of past mistakes and sins, and free from dread and worry over death - read the Bible, join with other Christians to learn from and support one another, find a a place to worship God, be obedient in all that God commands.  You are a new creature now - sin has lost its hold - and you have a place in heaven to dwell forever within this love you feel now.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  John 14:1-3 NIV

Having trouble praying on your own?  Click on the link below.

THE SINNER'S PRAYER

We want to rejoice with you in your new-found life.  Please e-mail or call the pastor.  You may also call if you have additional questions about your salvation.

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