Finding Eternal Life
Life's Too Short To Miss The Real Thing!
Have you been searching for life
at it's best...tried just about everything, but you can't seem to find what is missing in your life that makes you feel content and complete?
The following is the key
to finding what you have searched for all of your life...but, it's up to you. Please read on.
What you are about to read is not about religion, or church denominations, or even church...it's about LIFE itself. The facts are found in the BIBLE and, it is written to you personally from God, so take it personally.
The first thing you need to realize is that you were created by a God that wants a personal, loving relationship with you. He wants you to be fully alive with His life. That's why He created us in His image. "Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
Genesis, Chap. 1, verses 26, 27
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
Genesis, Chap. 2, verse 7
God created us
with the nature that He has, which means that we are made up of three essential parts. We are spirit beings, who have a soul and live in a body. The fact that we are spiritual in nature means that we are going to live forever. The question isn't IF we're going to exist forever, but WHERE!
Our SOUL
gives us the ability to think (intellect), feel (emotion), and choose (will).
Our BODY
, with it's many senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch), gives us the ability to relate to the world in which our creator placed us.
Most importantly,
our SPIRIT
gives us the capacity to know and relate to God, who is spirit. This part of us involves such things as conscience and intuition.
We were created with everything we need to live complete for eternity with God and be an expression and reflection of who He is. Human beings were created very complex but complete. God never makes mistakes.
So, why aren't people experiencing this life and living in a way that expresses the life we were created with?
The answer is simple...SIN
. I know that this word brings all sorts of images to mind, and everyone has their own interpretation of what sin is, but let me explain what the Bible says that sin is. "All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him (Jesus Christ) the iniquity (Sin) of us all."
Isaiah, Chap. 53, verse 6
SIN is simply GOING OUR OWN WAY
instead of God's way in life. There are two ways to live our lives, our way or God's way. Our way separates us from the life that comes from God, not only in this life but for eternity. Sin is a mind-set that says to God, "I don't need you, in order to be me. I can live my life without you." But, the Bible says,"There is a way that seems right to a man, but it's end is the way of death."
Proverbs, Chap. 16, verse 25
"And you He made alive, who were
dead in trespasses and sins
, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others"
Ephesians, Chap. 2, verses 1-3
Sin separates us from the life of God
. The Bible calls this separated condition death. Basically, everyone in the world is guilty of sin. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." And we all reap the tragic results. "...the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans, Chap. 3, verse 23 and Chap. 6, verse 23
This is bad news for us
, but I want you to notice the second half of
Isaiah 53:6 and Romans 6:23
. It says that God has laid upon Him (Jesus Christ) the sin of us all and that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.
That's the GOOD NEWS!
The word GOSPEL actually means Good News in the original language that the Bible was written in.
We are all guilty of going our own way to some degree, trying to find life on our own, but the penalty for this trespass has been paid by Jesus Christ through His death (for us) on the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:21
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."
Colossians, Chap. 2, verses 13-14
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians Chap. 2, verses 4-7
The issue of our sin has been taken care of
by God, Himself. He, through the death of His own Son, Jesus, has made it possible for us to be forgiven and restored to the life that He created man with originally. What more could we ask for?
In fact, He goes one step further, He actually sends forth the Spirit of Jesus into our hearts to empower us to live our remaining days here for Him and makes us His children, literally, making us joint-heirs to all that He has created in Jesus Christ!
Galatians 4:6,7
Your belief and personal acceptance
of what I've just shared with you from the Bible is the KEY to your experiencing the reality of it. There is no other way or no other place to find it. Jesus, Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
John Chap. 14, verse 6
If there is any other way to come to God than through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, then what was the cross about? Noone else could pay our sin-debt completely for eternity but Him.
You may be thinking, "Yeah, but I have to get my life in order first. I need to clean up my act. Then, I can start going to church and let God turn my life around. Surely, God could not accept me the way I am."
That's like a man who has cancer telling telling someone who can cure him, "I'll let you treat me, but let me get well first." He'll die trying! So will you, if you wait until you improve your life before you come to Jesus Christ.
Listen,
God loves you just where you are
. So much so, that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the payment of your sins. "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, Chap. 3, verse 16
God loved us even though we were sinners. "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans, Chap. 5, verses 6-8
You'll notice, that in many of these scriptures that point out our sin, and it's result (death), that God offers us a new, eternal, abundant LIFE in Jesus Christ. When we trust Him, we become complete again...Spirit, Soul and Body. Eternal, abundant life is found in the person of Jesus Christ. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
John, Chap. 10, verse 10
There is one way to this life that God offers
. If there was any other way, Jesus' death on the cross would have been unnecessary and He is the biggest liar and impostor who ever lived. Do you believe the scriptures you've read? Are you willing to personally receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and life? If so, you can receive Him right where you are, right now, by simply making this commitment of your life to Him through the following prayer:
Lord, God, I confess to you that I am a sinner, by nature and by choice. I have gone my own way in life instead of your way, but I repent (make the choice to change my way of thinking and direction in life).
I believe what Your Word, the Bible, says about it, and I personally accept the truth that Jesus, Your Son, died for my trespasses and sins on the cross. His shed blood and death are my only hope to know You and have eternal life and a relationship with You.
I take personal responsibility for my life, my mistakes, my sin, and I commit my spirit, soul and body to You. I ask You to send forth the Spirit of your Son into my heart, right now. Please, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and empower me to live the rest of my life for You, as you change me from the inside-out. Protect my mind from deception and error, and guide me into Your perfect truth. By Your grace, from this day forward, I will go Your way in life. Thank You for the saving power of Jesus' Name, and life, and His sacrifice for my salvation. I pray in His name, Amen.
Congratulations!
The decision and commitment you just made, and the prayer you just prayed, is your KEY to eternal, abundant life. It is not the end, but just the beginning of an eternal growth process...a journey. You'll make mistakes in judgement and conduct, but God will never forsake you.
Heb. 13:5
Just keep trusting Him and spending time in His Word (the Bible) every day. It's a relationship where you don't have to constantly walk on eggshells. You can live each day of your life confidently, knowing that God has become your perfect Daddy, and that He loves you perfectly. He has taken up residence in your spirit to live out His life in and through you. When you gave Him your heart, He gave His heart to you. You'll never be on your own again.
1 Corinthians 6:17
Whether you realize it or not, you were just born again. God worked a miracle in your spiritual life that He is going to complete by the power of His Spirit in you, because you placed your life in His hands.
Philippians 1:6
The next step
is to tell someone about it. One great way to do this is through baptism. It is a public testimony of your miracle new birth. Also, just tell others about your new life and how God loves you unconditionally as your heavenly Daddy...just brag on Him!
Find a church
that practices baptism in water which pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, follow Christ in scriptural baptism, and let the world know that you have been born again. Then, as the Lord leads, join a church that preaches and teaches the Bible, uncompromisingly, and begin your new journey in the abundant life of Jesus Christ. Seek out new Christian friends. You'll find that they will be more than friends, they'll be brothers and sisters who will genuinely care for your welfare and spiritual growth.
Let me know of your decision by giving me a call or mailing me a card. God bless you on your new journey! All scripture references are from the New King James version.
Some other Bible references for you:
John 1:1-18; 3:1-8; 5:24-26; Romans 8:9-17; 31-39; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 2:4-16; 4:17-24; 5:1-2, 8-10; 1 Timothy 4:11-16; 6:6-12; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 3:1-3; 5:11-13
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