Just as there are physical laws that govern the physical universe,
so are there spiritual laws
which govern your relationship with God.
1. God LOVES you and offers a wonderful PLAN
for your life.
God's Love "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's Plan [Christ speaking] "I
came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly"
[that it might be full and meaningful] (John 10:10).
Why is it that most people
are not experiencing the abundant life?
Because...
2. Man is SINFUL
and SEPARATED from God. Therefore, he cannot know
and experience
God's love and plan for his life.
Man Is Sinful "All have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God" (Romans
3:23).
Man was created to have
fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he
chose to go his own
independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This
self-will, characterized by an attitude of active
rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible
calls sin.
Man Is Separated "The wages of sin is death"
[spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23).
HOLY GOD
SINFUL MAN
This diagram illustrates that
God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates the two. The
arrows
illustrate that a man is continually trying to reach God and
the abundant life through his own efforts,
such as a good life, philosophy, or religion - but he inevitably
fails.
The third law explains the
only way to bridge this gulf...
3. Jesus Christ is God's ONLY
provision for man's sin. Through Him you can
know and experience God's love and plan for your life.
He Died in Our Place "God demonstrates His own love toward
us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"
(Romans 5:8).
He Rose From the Dead "Christ died for our sins...He was
buried...He was raised on the third day, according to the
Scriptures...
He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared
to more than five hundred..."
(1 Corinthians 15:3-6).
He Is the Only Way to God "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way,
and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father,
but through Me'" (John 14:6).
GOD
JESUS
MAN
This diagram illustrates
that God has bridged the gulf 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 laws...
4. 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 "As many as received Him, to them He
gave the right to become children of God, even to those who
believe in His name" (John
1:12). We Receive Christ Through Faith "By grace you have been saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as
a
result of works, that no one should boast"
(Ephesians 2:8,9). When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth (Read John 3:1-8)
We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation [Christ speaking] "Behold,
I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens
the door,
I will come in to him"
(Revelation 3:20).
Receiving Christ involves turning to God
from self (repentance) and 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 that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not
enough. Nor is it enough to have an
emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act
of the will.
These two circles represent two kinds
of lives:
SELF
1. The Self-directed
life
Self is on the throne.
Interests are directed by self, resulting in
discord and frustration. Christ is outside the
person's life.
SELF
2. The Christ-directed
life
Christ is on the throne.
Self is yielding to Christ. Interests are
directed by Christ, resulting in harmony
with God's plan.
Which circle best describes
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:
God knows your heart and
is not so concerned with your words as He is with the
attitude
of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross
for my sins. I open the door of my
life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for
forgiving my sins and giving me
eternal life. 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, I invite you to pray this prayer right
now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.
If you prayed this prayer and would like
Pastor Steve or Pastor Greg to visit with you,
please call us at (307) 358-3724.
First Baptist
Church 221 S. 4th
Street Douglas, WY
82633
307.358.3724 email: office@fbcdouglas.org