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Following Jesus
Resources
Following Jesus
God created us
God created us and He wants to have a relationship with us.
"So God created mankind in his own image..."
Genesis 1:27
"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
Man sinned against God
However, we sinned against God and our sins separate us from Him.
"Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."
Isaiah 59:1-2
Man try to reach God by good works
Most of us are aware of this distance between us and God; we know that there's something missing that ought to be there. We try to reach God by doing good, doing charity work, living a good life, or even going to church.
However, our efforts will never bring us back to God. That is because we are saved by grace through faith, not through our works.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
Sin leads to physical and spiritual death
We know it's hard to hear, but the sins we have committed must be punished. Sin not only separates us from God, it leads to physical and spiritual death. This is why reaching God through trying our best simply won't work.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
Romans 3:23
"Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins."
Ecclesiastes 7:20
The Good News!
The good news is that God has provided a way for us to reach Him. This is something we could never do for ourselves.
God built a bridge for us to reach Him by sending Jesus Christ die on the cross for our sins, taking of death for you and I.
Jesus, though blameless, died on the cross for us. This is why we say, "God loves you"... He really does.
"He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God."
Romans 4:25 (NLT)
"Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit."
1 Peter 3:18 (NLT)
Ask Him to be the leader of our lives
But to be reconciled to God, it is not enough to know that Jesus died on the cross.
We have to make a decision - will we choose to cross over by confessing that we have sinned, asking God for forgiveness and asking God to be the Savior and leader of our lives.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:9
"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are."
Romans 3:22 (NLT)
Cross the bridge into New Life!
When we cross over, our relationship with God is restored! We will experience eternal life with God in heaven.
"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."
John 5:24
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand."
John 10:28
Pray this simple prayer to invite Jesus into your heart
Dear Jesus,
THANK YOU for dying on the cross for me.
I am SORRY for sinning against You. I now turn away from my sins.
PLEASE forgive me of my sins and be my Lord and Savior of my life.
Amen!