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Step 1 - God's Love and His plan

God created us in His own image to be His friend and to experience a full life assured of his love, abundant and eternal.

Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10b)

"...we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)

Since God planned for us to have peace and abundant life right now, why are most people not having this experience?

Step 2 - Our Problem: Separation from God

God created us in His own image to have abundant (meaningful) life. He did not make us robots to automatically love and obey him, but he gave us a will and a freedom of choice.

We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

"...your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)

On our own, there's no way we can attain the perfection needed to bridge the gap to God. Through the ages, individuals have tried many ways...without success.

Good works won't do it...or religion...or money...or morality...or philosophy...

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12)

Step 3 - God's Remedy: The Cross

Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people.

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God..." (I Peter 3:18)

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ." (I Timothy 2:5)

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Step 4 - Our Response

Believing means trust and commitment - acknowledging our sinfulness, trusting Christ's forgiveness and letting Him control our life. Eternal, abundant life is a gift for us to receive.

"For 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." (John 3:16)

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)

Is there any reason why you shouldn't cross over to God's side and be certain of eternal life?

How to receive Christ:

1. Admit your need (I am a sinner and need you to forgive me).

2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).

3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.

4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit (Receive Him as Lord and Savior of your life).

What to pray:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as the Lord and Savior of my life.
In Your name. Amen.

God's assurance of eternal life
If you've prayed this prayer and are trusting Christ, then the Bible says that you can be sure you have eternal life.

"...for, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:12-13)

Receiving Christ, we are born into God's family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer...this is called regeneration or the "new birth."

What next?

This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ.

To deepen this relationship you should:

1. Read your Bible everyday to know Christ better.

2. Talk to God in prayer every day.

3. Tell others about your new faith in Christ.

4. Be baptized into a local church where the Bible is preached. This is your first step of obedience to Christ, and shows others what God has done in your life.

5. Worship, fellowship and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.

6. As Christ's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.