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Steps Towards Peace With God
by Billy Graham
Step 1. God's purpose: Peace and life.
God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life;
abundant and eternal. The Bible teaches that...
"..we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5.1
"For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but
have everlasting life." John 3:16
"...I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more
abundantly." John 10:10b
Since God planned for us to have peace and
the abundant life right now, why are most people
not having this experience?
Step 2. Our Problem Separation:
God created us in His own image to have and
abundant life. He did not make us as robots to
automatically love and obey Him, but gave us a
will and a freedom of choice. We chose to disobey
God and go our own willful way. We still make this
choice today. This results in separation from God.
The Bible Says:
"For all have sinned and fall short of
glory of God." Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the
gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
Our choice results in separation from God.
Man
----------------| |--------------
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People | | God (Holy)
(Sinful) | |
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Our Attempts
Through the ages, individuals have tried in many
ways to bridge this gap...without success..
The Bible Says:
"There is a way that seems right to man,
but in the end it leads to death."
Proverbs 14:12
"But your iniquities have separated you
from God; and your sins have hidden His
face from you, so that He will not hear."
Isaiah 59:2
There is only one remedy for this problem of
separation.
Man
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|Good Works |
People | | God (Holy)
(Sinful) |Religion |
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|Philosophy |
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|Morality |
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Step 3. God's Remedy: The Cross
Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem. He died
on the Cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty
for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people.
The Bible Says:
"...God is on one side and all the people
on the other side, and Christ Jesus ,
Himself man, is between them to bring
them together..." 1 Timothy 2:5
"For Christ also has suffered once for
sines, the just for the unjust, that He
might bring us to God..." 1 peter 3:18a
"But God demonstrates His own love for us
in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
God has provided the only way... we must make
the choice...
|===|
Man | |
----------------|=====| |=====|--------------
| Christ |
People |=====| |=====| God (Holy)
(Sinful) | | | |
| | | |
| | | |
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Step 4. Our Response: Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ and receive Him by personal
invitation. The Bible Says...
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears My voice and opens the
door, I will come in to him and dine with
him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20
"But as many as received Him, to them He
gave the right to become children of God,
even those who believe in His name." John
1:12
"...if you confess with your mouth the
Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you
will be saved." Romans 10:9
Are you here... or here?
|===|
Man | |
----------------|=====| |=====|--------------
| Christ |
People |=====| |=====| God
Sin | | | | Peace
Rebelion | | | | Forgiveness
Separation | | | | Abundant Life
| |===| | Eternal Life
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Is there any good reason why you cannot receive
Jesus Christ right now?
How to receive Christ:
1. Admit your need (I am a sinner)
2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
3. Bellevue that Jesus Christ died for you on
the Cross and rose from the grave.
4. Though prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come
in and control your life through the Holy
Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)
What to Pray: Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your
forgiveness. I bellevue that You died for my sins.
I want to turn from my sins. I want to turn from my
sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and
life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and
Savior.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life
in Christ.
To deepen this relationship you should:
1.Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better.
2.Talk to God in prayer every day.
3.Tell others about Christ.
4.Worship, fellowship and serve with other Christians
in a church where Christ is preached.
5.As Christ's representative in a needy world,
demonstrate your new life by your love and
concern for others.
God bless you as you do.
Billy Graham
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