Your story may have gone differently than you planned. No matter what’s happened, what you’ve done, or how you’ve lived, God loves you and wants a friendship. He wants to meet your greatest need and help you thrive in life. God wants you to join His story.
- GOD’S STORY IS ONE OF LOVE AND REDEMPTION, HE LOVES ALL PEOPLE
The message that most clearly shows this redemptive love is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Paul says this message is of “first importance.” He desires to reach out to those who are poor, oppressed, widowed, or orphaned and to heal the brokenhearted. As God reveals his nature through the stories of the Bible, the following teachings emerge as the central core truth.
(1 John 3:16, 4:16, 1 Corinthians 15:3,Psalm 68:5-6)
- ABOUT THE BIBLE-–GOD’S STORY The Bible is God’s Word and story to all people. Human authors wrote it under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the source of truth and contains every answer to man’s problems. (2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Psalms 119:105, 160: Psalms 12:6, Proverbs 30:5)
- ABOUT GOD the FATHER
God exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son, JESUS CHRIST. (John 10:30, 14:26, Philippians 2:5-7, Romans 8:22-25; Ephesians 1:13-14) - ABOUT GOD the HOLY SPIRIT
He gives the Christian the power to live and understand spiritual truth and guidance. (John 16:8-11, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 6:11, I John 4:13; Galatians 5:16-26, Romans 12:4-8) - ABOUT God the SON JESUS CHRIST
God became a man when Jesus entered the world as a baby; he lived a sinless life, served others, performed many miracles, and then died a criminal’s death on the cross. He arose from the dead on the third day after his death, showing his victory over sin and death. Jesus appeared to his disciples, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God, serving as our mediator. The disciples witnessed this so they could share what they witnessed with their own eyes, to allow us to know death has no hold on us; we can ascend into heaven just as He did.
Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. He was separated from God in our place so we can be reunited with God. Jesus conquered death when He rose from the grave. We can, too.
Jesus wants to become your best friend and help you take your place in His story. When you ask Jesus to forgive your sin, He enters your life and gives you a new life and that lasts forever. Your story will never be the same! (Matthew 1:18-23, Luke 1:35, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-16, 14:10-30; 29-34, Mark 10:45, Hebrews 4:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Romans 1:3-4, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Timothy 6:14-15, Titus 2:13)
HOW TO BECOME PART OF GOD’S STORY
Talk to God–that is called PRAYING! Your story will always be different after you do.
1. Admit you are HUMAN–GOD UNDERSTANDS. Maybe you’ve lived to please yourself, leaving you unhappy. God says living to please yourself instead of Him is sin, and sin keeps us from friendship with Him. The Bible, God’s Word, tells us we all have sinned. God found a way to remove us from our sins- to provide a path to Him. You are God’s creation, and He loves you. We have tremendous potential for good; however, ALL of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates us from God until the relationship is restored through a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
God values us; He has created us as unique individuals and desires a relationship with us, and we can enjoy this relationship with God by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. (Genesis 1:27, Psalms 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6; 59:1-2 Romans 3:23, John 3:16, I John 2:25, 5:11-13, Romans 6:23, I Corinthians 2:7-9, Revelation 20:15, 2 Corinthians 4:15)
- SALVATION
Salvation is a gift of God to humanity. We can never make up for our sins by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin’s penalty. We are saved when we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that eternal salvation. We have everlasting life and are “SAVED” from the sin penalty called “Hell.” - Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. Therefore, we actively seek to both be and tell the good news – abundant, accessible, and eternal life through Christ – and humbly serve those who are lost, thirsty, broken, disenfranchised, marginalized, and in need of a new life and a new heart.
- The death of Christ on the cross is the only sufficient payment for our sins. All have sinned, and all can be saved. This salvation is available for anyone who trusts Christ as their Savior.
(Romans 3:23, 5:1; 6:23; 10:9-10, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12; 3:16; 10:29; 14:6, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10-14, I Peter 1:3-5, John 3:16)
SALVATION DOES NOT MAKE YOU PERFECT