The most important question of life...
ARE
YOU
RIGHT
WITH GOD?
Do you struggle with persistent feelings of guilt, anxiety, pain, sorrow,
depression, fear, hopelessness, or emptiness? Each of these feelings is an
indicator that a person is not right with God. Jesus Christ promised that
everyone who believes in him would be filled with peace and joy, plus the gift
of eternal life. If you are concerned that you do not have a genuine
relationship with God, please read on to find out how you can personally
experience the love of Jesus Christ for yourself.
SIX STEPS TO PEACE, JOY, AND ETERNAL LIFE
- STEP 1:
- The first thing you must do is be completely honest with both yourself and
God. You must be willing to admit that you have done wrong and that God will
judge you for your sins. The Bible says that "all have sinned" and
certainly that includes you. (Romans 3:23). Some examples of sin are
lying, stealing, cheating, hating, taking drugs, having sex outside of
marriage, and so on. Though each of these activities is wrong, the real sin
lying at the heart of them all is not being right with God. The Bible says
that every human being will have to stand before Jesus Christ and give an
account. Those who have refused to follow Jesus will be cast alive into the
lake of fire which burns forever and ever (Revelation 20: 10-15).
- STEP 2:
- The next thing you must do is accept that Jesus Christ loved you and died
for your sins so that you wouldn't have to go to the lake of fire. The Bible
says that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans
5:8). Jesus understands our human weaknesses and has made a way for us to
escape the judgement to come. He is willing to give each of us a second chance
to live for him by forgiving our sins and filling us with his own Spirit.
- STEP 3:
- The third thing you must do is repent. This means that you must be sorry
for your sins and must make a firm decision within your heart to believe in
Jesus, to live by his Word, and to do the best you can to keep yourself from
further sin. The Bible says that God "now commands all men everywhere to
repent" (Acts 17:30). Repentance is not optional. It is impossible
to be forgiven and receive eternal life unless you are willing to turn away
from your sins. If you are ready to live apart from sin, then Jesus is ready
to help you.
- STEP 4:
- The next thing you must do is be baptized in water in the name of Jesus
Christ (Acts 2:38). This is the first act of faith every person must
submit to in order to show their desire to be obedient to God. Jesus will
respond to this act of faith by forgiving every sin you have ever committed.
Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark
16:16). If you believe that Jesus died for your sins and have made up you
mind that you want to live God's way, then you ought to be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ as soon as possible.
- STEP 5:
- Peter said that those who repent and are baptized "shall receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). The Holy Spirit is the power
and presence of Jesus Christ coming to live right inside of you to help you
live right and to fill you with life everlasting. The Bible says, "He who
raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through
his Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:11). What a wonderful
promise! Just as Jesus was raised from the dead and is now alive for evermore,
so will it be for you once you have been filled with his Holy Spirit.
- STEP 6:
- The last thing you must do to be right with God is begin attending a local
church that teaches the truths of the Bible. You must also begin reading the
Bible for yourself and spending time each day seeking the Lord to guide you
into his perfect will. Salvation is not a one time occurrence; it is a way of
life. It begins when you repent of your sins, believe in Christ, get baptized
in water, and receive the Holy Spirit. But if you are to remain right with God
after your baptism, you must learn to live your life his way.
Once you have followed these six steps and have entered into your own
personal relationship with God, you may still face many difficult and painful
situations in your life. But with Jesus Christ, no matter how difficult life may
become, you will always have plenty of peace, joy, and hope on the inside...
"Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart,
and you shall find rest for your souls." Matthew 11: 28-29
If you are ready to say goodbye to guilt, anxiety, and emptiness, then make
up your mind right now that you are going to place yourself in the hands of the
only true Savior, Jesus Christ. Come to him repenting and believing, and be
baptized in his glorious name for the forgiveness of every sin, and he will fill
you with his wonderful Holy Spirit.
If you would like someone to help you learn more about the Bible, or if you
would like to be baptized and get involved in a Bible-believing church in your
area, please contact your nearest United Pentecostal Church or e-mail pastormills@newbeginningchurch.com
for help in finding one.
*** Edited from original text written by David A. Huston ***