STEPS TO PEACE WITH GOD

Most people have an idea of what they believe it will take to be accepted by God. After all, who likes the idea of leaving this life without being on good terms with him? Thankfully, it''s possible to be certain that you''ve made peace with God, but the way must be chosen during this life. Here are the steps drawn from God''s book, the Bible:

UNDERSTAND GOD''S PURPOSES- PEACE AND ETERNAL LIFE

God loves you and wants you to experience peace and eternal, fulfilling life.

The Bible says:

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

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Why don''t most people have this peace and the fulfilling (abundant) life that God intended for us to have?

ADMIT THE PROBLEM- OUR SIN AND SEPARATION

God did not create us like robots to automatically love and mechanically obey him. God gave us a will and the freedom to choose. The first man and woman chose to disobey God and go their own willful way. And we still make that choice today. This results in separation from God.

The Bible says:

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

For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

People have tried many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God.

The Bible says:

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God. (Isaiah 59:2)

No bridge reaches God . . . except one.

DISCOVER GOD''S BRIDGE- THE CROSS

Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave. Though he was God''s sinless Son, he became a human, took our place, and paid the penalty for our sin, bridging the gap between God and us.

The Bible says:

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)

For Christ . . . once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. (1 Peter 3:18)

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. . The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:8; 6:23)

Christ died for our sins . . . he was buried . . . he rose again the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

God has provided the only way to forgiveness of sin and eternal life. But each person must make a choice.

EMBRACE THE TRUTH- RECEIVE CHRIST

We must trust Jesus Christ as our Savior and receive him by personal choice.

Jesus says:

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

The Bible says:

As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. (John 1:12)

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.

(John 3:36)

Will you receive Jesus Christ right now and trust in him alone for forgiveness and eternal life? The Bible says that''s the only way to find peace with God!

• Admit your need-that you are a sinner in need of God''s forgiveness.
• Be willing to turn from trusting in anything else for eternal life and trust only in Christ.
• Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross, came back to life from the grave, and is your only way to heaven.
• Receive Jesus''s offer to forgive your sins and come into your life as your Savior.

You may want to tell him in words like these:

Dear Jesus, thank you for making it possible for me to find peace with God! I believe that when you died you were paying the penalty for my sins. I now receive you into my life as my Savior, so I can have forgiveness and never-ending life from God! Thank you for the gift of eternal life!