Thursday, November 20, 2008
Pekin First Church of the Nazarene

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How to have a personal relationship with Jesus

1. Recognize that God loves you and has a plan for your life.

His love includes you.
"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).

He has new life for you.
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

2. Recognize that sin separates you from God and others.

"Sin" is walking our own way in rebellion against God's will. When we walk away from God, we walk away from life.

Everyone has sinned.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3: 2 3).

Sin brings death.
"For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6: 2 3).

Our own efforts cannot save us.
As sinners we futilely try to find life's true meaning in the wrong ways and places.

"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).

3. Recognize that Jesus Christ died and rose again for our sins.

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

He is the way to new life.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" ( 2 Corinthians 5:17).

He gives inner peace.
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

He gives freedom.
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).

He gives eternal life.
"But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6: 2 3).

4. You must repent and ask God for forgiveness.

Admit and confess your sins to God.
"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy" (Proverbs 2 8:13).

Repentance means:

•  To acknowledge your sins.
•  To be sorry for your sins.
•  To confess your sins.
•  To be willing to forsake your sins.
•  To have your life changed by Christ.

Forgiveness is promised.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

5. Place your trust in Christ and receive Him as your Savior.

Christ is ready.
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in" (Revelation 3: 2 0).

Receive him now.
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:1 2 ).

Pray this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to have life. I know that I have sinned. I need Your forgiveness and pardon. I believe that You died and rose again for my sins. I now accept You as my personal Savior. I will forsake my sinful life. I know that Your grace and power will enable me to live for You. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and for giving me a new life.

For help in living a meaningful life in Christ:

•  Be assured of Christ's forgiveness.
•  Read your Bible and pray daily.
•  Find a concerned pastor and other Christians.
•  Become a vital part of that church.
•  Share your faith with others.

A caring church family is waiting to accept you and help nurture you as a Christian. You can locate a Church of the Nazarene near you through out visitor’s center.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.


Receiving Jesus Christ is as simple as A-B-C

Admit that you have sinned

Believe that Jesus Christ died for you

Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life

If you took these simple steps and received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, congratulations. On the authority of God's Word you are now a member of the family of God. Would you let us know so we may share in the joy of your faith? We will provide you with material and fellowship to help you grow in your new relationship with Jesus Christ.

Admit that you have sinned

The Bible says, in Romans 3:23 that "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...". That includes everybody. It means me, and it means you. None of us is exempt from the curse of our own human nature.

Believe that Jesus Christ died for you

God made a way out. Romans 6:23 says that "...the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord".  Through Jesus Christ's sacrificial death, you and I may be set free from sin's curse.

Jesus Christ is the only way out. No matter how hard we try on our own, we cannot be good enough to satisfy God's holy requirements. Ephesians 2:8 tell us that "...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".

Jesus Christ's sacrifice is for every person! Romans 6:10 declares that "the death he died, he died to sin once for all...". You cannot be so good that you don't need His provision. Nor can you be so bad that His sacrifice is inadequate to meet your need.

Jesus Christ will change your life. In Romans 8:3 the Bible reveals that "...what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit". By replacing our nature with His nature, Jesus Christ enables each of us to do through Him what we can not do on our own.

Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life

Romans 10:9 promises "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved". In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in...".

Jesus is always persistent, but He is never insistent. If you are ready to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, then pray this simple prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,
     I know that I am a sinner. I believe that You died for my sins and arose from the grave. I now turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I receive You as my personal Savior and follow You as my Lord. -- AMEN