God’s Love is Revealed – JOHN 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life”. God loves you. He wants to make your life full and complete. He not only offers you an abundant life here and now, but an abundant life forever – His very own life.
Man is Sinful – JOHN 3:18-19 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil”. ROMANS 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” God created us with a freedom of choice, not as robots to automatically love and obey Him. But just as Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and go their own willful way, we still make that same choice today. Our choice to sin and live in darkness separates us from God.
Sin Has a Penalty – JOHN 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him”. Our choice to sin results in spiritual death, which means being separated from God forever. The alternative is to believe in God’s Son, receive His pardon for sin and enjoy life everlasting with Him. Through the ages, we have tried to bridge the gap between God and ourselves in many ways, without success. There is only one remedy for our sin and separation from God.
Christ Paid the Penalty – JOHN 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”. You may think you have to lead a “good” life and do good works before God will love you. But the truth is that God loves you even in your sin. Christ, the Lamb of God, died in your place so that you might be restored to a relationship with God.
Salvation is a Free Gift – JOHN 6:28-29 They said therefore to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” EPHESIANS 2:8-9 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Grace means undeserved favor. God in His kindness wants to give you what you can never give yourself. And God’s gift is free. You cannot work for a gift – you can only receive it.
Believe with all your heart that Jesus died for you and accept His death on the cross as the payment for your sins.
Christ is Our Salvation – JOHN 10:9 “I am the door, if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Imagine, if you will, Christ offering you a drink that will quench the thirst of your heart – the thirst you feel in your emotions, intellect, and will. Accept His offer. He is waiting to be invited into your heart and life.
You Must Receive Him – JOHN 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. When you ask Christ to come into your heart and life, you become a child of God. You also have the privilege of talking to Him at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
We must trust Jesus Christ and receive Him by personal invitation. Is there any good reason why you cannot receive Jesus Christ right now? Here is what you must do:
· Admit your need (“I am a sinner”).
· Be willing to turn from your sin (feel sorry for your sin and ask forgiveness).
· Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross.
· Pray and invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life (receive Him as Savior and Lord).
You Have Everlasting Life – JOHN 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” Don’t trust your feelings – they will change. But take God at His Word and believe His promises. Memorize JOHN 3:16 and review it whenever you have doubts. You can say with complete assurance, “I have received Christ. On the authority of God’s Word, I have eternal life”.
