GOD LOVES YOU
”For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
- How have you experienced God’s love for you?
- How is His love shown to us from these verses?
- When did you first know of God’s love for you in the person of Christ?
- How have you experienced God’s love for you through the person of Christ?
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
- How have you experienced God’s love for you?
- How is His love shown to us from these verses?
- When did you first know of God’s love for you in the person of Christ?
- How have you experienced God’s love for you through the person of Christ?
GOD'S GIFT TO YOU
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
“For 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, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- How do we get the gift that God has for us?
- What does faith mean to you?
- What is our part in God’s gift to us?
“For 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, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- How do we get the gift that God has for us?
- What does faith mean to you?
- What is our part in God’s gift to us?
How To Receive God’s Gift of Eternal Life
A - Admit that you are a sinner.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
“The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23a).
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:8-9).
- How would you describe sin to another person?
- What are the consequences of sin?
- How have you recognized that you are a sinner?
- How has sin affected your life?
- What is God’s promise to us as we confess our sins?
“The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23a).
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:8-9).
- How would you describe sin to another person?
- What are the consequences of sin?
- How have you recognized that you are a sinner?
- How has sin affected your life?
- What is God’s promise to us as we confess our sins?
B - Believe in Jesus.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…” (Acts. 16:31).
“They put Him (Christ) to death by crucifying Him, but God raised Him to life three days later…He is the One all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name” (Acts 10:39, 40a, 43).
- What must we do we do to be saved?
- How would you describe “belief”?
“They put Him (Christ) to death by crucifying Him, but God raised Him to life three days later…He is the One all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name” (Acts 10:39, 40a, 43).
- What must we do we do to be saved?
- How would you describe “belief”?
C - Confess Jesus is Lord.
“For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved” (Rom. 10:9-10).
A Prayer To Receive God’s Gift of Christ and Eternal Life
Would you like to affirm (or reaffirm) your faith in God right now by admitting you are a sinner, expressing belief in His Son and His death and resurrection for you, and by confessing Jesus Christ is Lord?
You can do this through this suggested prayer…
“Lord God, I admit that I am a sinner and deserve death. With your help I turn away from my sin and believe in my heart that Your Son died and rose again for me. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. Lord Jesus, by faith I ask You to come into my heart. Live in me through Your Holy Spirit and make me into the person You created me to be. Lead me into the special plan You have for my life. Thank You for loving me and giving Your life for me. Thank You for forgiving me of all my sins. Thank You for making me into a new person. Thank You for giving me Your amazing gift of salvation and eternal life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen."
- How does it feel to know you now have eternal life?
You can do this through this suggested prayer…
“Lord God, I admit that I am a sinner and deserve death. With your help I turn away from my sin and believe in my heart that Your Son died and rose again for me. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. Lord Jesus, by faith I ask You to come into my heart. Live in me through Your Holy Spirit and make me into the person You created me to be. Lead me into the special plan You have for my life. Thank You for loving me and giving Your life for me. Thank You for forgiving me of all my sins. Thank You for making me into a new person. Thank You for giving me Your amazing gift of salvation and eternal life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen."
- How does it feel to know you now have eternal life?
What’s Next?
1. Be baptized in water as a public declaration of your faith in Christ.
“And many of the Corinthians hearing (the gospel) believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).
“Jesus came and told His disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20).
“And many of the Corinthians hearing (the gospel) believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).
“Jesus came and told His disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20).
2. Know with certainty that…
- How do you know that your sins have been forgiven and that you are a new creation and that you have eternal life?
- How does it feel to know your sins are forgiven and forgotten by God?
- All your sins have been forgiven and forgotten.
- You are a new creation in Christ.
- You have eternal life.
- How do you know that your sins have been forgiven and that you are a new creation and that you have eternal life?
- How does it feel to know your sins are forgiven and forgotten by God?
3. Spiritual Warfare
After Jesus was baptized and started His public ministry He went into the wilderness for 40 days and the evil one, the devil, tempted Him (Matt 4:1-11).
What is "spiritual warfare"?
The enemy of your soul is looking to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Know that as you make a decision for Christ, a first time decision for salvation, a recommitment, a decision to be baptized, or any step of faith – the enemy of your soul is going to try and destroy your relationship with God. This is can be described as spiritual warfare – an unseen battle in the spiritual realm.
What do we do? We do not need to fear!
We use the 3 R’s - Realize, Resist, Rejoice
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).”
Realize – Realize you are under a spiritual attack. Submit to God and claim Christ’s victory over the evil one
Resist – Call out to Jesus in prayer and/or quoting Scripture like Jesus did in the wilderness
Rejoice – Thank God for your victory in Christ. Believe in faith that God is fighting for you and rest in that security.
Stop and thank God for His gift of salvation.
If you made a new decision today for Christ read the book of John this week.
If you have been a Christian for a while – stop and reflect.
- Who helped you come to Christ?
- What was the decision like to follow Jesus?
- How would you express your feelings to God for his salvation after being a Christian for a while?
If you have been a Christian for a while – stop and reflect.
- Who helped you come to Christ?
- What was the decision like to follow Jesus?
- How would you express your feelings to God for his salvation after being a Christian for a while?
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