Knowing God

God’s Desire is to know you and have you know Him. 

The Bible says:

"For this is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3, 4).

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life." (John 3:16).

God wants us to know Him personally now and forever. But we have a problem.

Our Problem:

Broken Relationship

God created us to enjoy life and a friendship with Him. He did not force us to love and obey Him, but gave us a will and freedom of choice.

The first man and woman chose to disobey God and to go their own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in our relationship with God being broken.

The Bible says:

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

"But the trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God." (Isaiah 59:2).

Throughout history, individuals have tried many ways to make themselves acceptable to God...without success.

But God has provided a way...  

God’s Solution:

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the only solution to this problem. The Bible says the final result of our disobedience is the penalty of death (Romans 6:23). By dying on the cross, Jesus took our punishment on Himself and made the way for our relationship with God to be restored.

The Bible says:

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 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)

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin’" (John 1:29).

God has provided the way. Will you accept it?

Our Response:

Receive Christ

We must place our trust in Jesus by accepting the payment for our sins that Jesus paid for us on the cross. If we give our lives to Him, then we can have a right relationship with God.

The Bible says:

"Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you." (Revelation 3:20).

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’" (John 14:6).

"But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them" (John 1:12).

Would you like to take this step today?

Beginning with Christ

Is there any good reason why you do not want to invite Jesus Christ into your life right now?

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture" (John 10:9).

Steps to a new relationship with God:

1. Admit your condition. (I disobeyed God and broke my relationship with Him. This is called "sin.")

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.)

The Bible says:

"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." (Romans 10:9)

Example of what to pray (make it your prayer):

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 life. I trust You as Savior and follow You as Lord.

Thank you, Lord, for saving me. Amen.

God’s Assurance

His Word

If you prayed this prayer, The Bible says:

"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).

Did you sincerely ask Jesus Christ to come into your life? If so, He has promised to do so. What has He given you?

The Bible says:

"So whoever has God’s Son has life; whoever does not have his Son, does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life." (1 John 5:12, 13).

Walking with God

This is the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this walk with Christ:

_ Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better.

_ Talk to God in prayer every day.

_ Be guided by the Holy Spirit.

_ Tell others about Christ.

_ Share your new life by your love and concern for others.

_ Find another Christian or two with whom you can pray and share regularly your successes and failures.

_ Worship and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.

God bless you as you do.

God created people in His own image to love Him and have fellowship with Him. Jesus claimed He was the only way to God. He was either a lunatic, a liar, or who He said He was, the Lord God. Jesus claimed many other things about Himself:

I am the living water (John 4:10—14).

I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

I am the bread of life (John 6:35).

I am the light of the world (John 8:12).

I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).

I am the Son of God (Matthew 27:43).

I am the gate (John 10:9).

I am the vine (John 15:5).

Who do you say that He is?

______________________________________________

ISI, Inc., P.O. Box C Colorado Springs, CO 80901
Tel.: (719) 576-2700 Fax: (719) 576-5363 E-mail: team@isionline.org
 
Sharing Christ’s Love with International Students ©1995, International Students, Inc.

Original material taken from "Knowing God" by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Scripture references taken from:

The Holy Bible, New International Version, © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. The Message, Eugene Peterson,  ©1993 Eugene Peterson. The Living Bible, ©1971, Tyndale House Publishers. The New American Standard Bible, ©1977, The Lockman Foundation.