What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept you?
You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him.
The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now, through Jesus Christ…
Principle 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.”
God’s Plan
[Christ speaking] “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” [that it might be full and meaningful].
Source
Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life? Because…
Principle 2:
All of us sin and our sin has separated us from God.
We Are Sinful
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
We were created to have fellowship with God; but, because of our stubborn self-will, we chose to go our 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.
We Are Separated
“The wages of sin is death” [spiritual separation from God].
This illustrates that God is holy and people are sinful. A great gulf separates us. The arrows illustrate that we are continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through our own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion — but we inevitably fail.
The third law explains the only way to bridge this gulf…
Principle 3:
Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin. Through Him we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our life.
He Died in Our Place
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
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…” 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.'”
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 principles…
Principle 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.
Source
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.” 8
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.”
When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth
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.” 10
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:
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
Prayer is talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.
And i will conclude with this 2 chron 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."God's wish for our lives is to be in alignment with his word,so that all is promises will come to reality
We are glad you came around Zengencoon, this is just what we needed to hear. Everyone participating in SteemChurch definitely wants a better relationship with God. Seems this is your first post we are coming across, we will keep our eyes on you.
Upvoted & Resteemed
J8.
Am so dumbfounded...am very grateful that it was resteemed because its going to make my obligation of sharing my father's will easier....once again thanks steemchurch
These are some beautiful tips you shared. John 17: 3 tells us that, we need to know God to have everlasting life. Buikding a relationship with God is all important in the time we find ourselves. So many difficult things out there, but God's love is what will help us. Thanks for this Zengen.
You welcome jaff...this is actually an obligation..for all that believe in HIM
The race to knowing your God has will always be personal because the heavenly race is personal. Let us pray in his name and pray to understand and study his words without season. God knows us and he wants us to seek him and he'll shine his light on us personally. He is always faithful
The principles you outlined will help parishioners strengthen their already strong/strained relationship with Jehovah.
Nice one zengen.
Thanks driuds am grateful
Thanks for this timely article. Drawing close to God is the strive of all believers. With the help of the Holy spirit we can.
omonosa
These principles will all help everyone in steechurch to create better relationship with God. Great post
Wow! Nice one @zengencoon we must receive christ as our personal saviour!
Yes very true my friend
Knowing God personally is for our greater good, having a relationship with him strengthens our faith!
The way which we relate with God or draw close to him is different for every body because every body possess a different amount of grace so it cant be said that it follows a particular pattern unless we are talking of the necessary thing we must first do to attract Gods attention toward us.
Dear God I admit and believe you sent your only son to die for my sin for me to be save dear lord in anyway I am been wrong to you please forgive me I love you Lord help me serve you in Jesus name Amen
Bravo julie,this is what the father wants a contrite heart....that we come back to him...lam 3:40 says "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD."
God ways is the perfect way
the encounter with God all powerful, is through his word and our actions, knowing how to behave as children of Him.