YOU MUST FIRST UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD'S STANDARD IS.
WHAT IS GOD'S STANDARD?
To be holy.
“Be holy, because I am holy.”- I Peter 1:16b
To be perfect.
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
- Matthew 5:48
WHAT IS GOD'S PLAN?
God created us to:
Love Him.
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”- Matthew 22:37
Glorify (honor) Him.
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory
and honor and power, for you created all their being.”- Revelation 4:11
Enjoy Him forever.
“Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the
full.” - John 10:10b
WHY IS IT WE CANNOT LIVE UP TO GOD’S
STANDARD OF HOLINESS AND PERFECTION?
Man is sinful and separated from God.
WHAT IS SIN?
Sin means missing the mark, falling short of God’s standard.
It is not only doing wrong and failing to do what God wants
(lying, gossip, losing our temper, lustful thoughts, etc.); it is
also an attitude of ignoring or rejecting God.
“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my
mother conceived me.”- Psalm 51: 5
WHO HAS SINNED?
“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
- Romans 3:23
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF SIN?
Separation from God.
“But you iniquities [sins] have separated you from your God…”
- Isaiah 59:2a
Death.
"For the wages of sin is death."- Romans 6:23
Judgment.
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face
judgment…” -Hebrews 9:27
Man continually tries to reach God through his own efforts (being good, religious activities, philosophy, etc.) but, while these can be good things, they fall short of God’s standard.
“…all our righteous acts [good works] are like filthy rags.”
-Isaiah 64:6b
There is only one way to bridge the gap between God and man.
JESUS.
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
He is God.
“Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”- John 10:30
He is Man.
“…the Word (Jesus) was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”-John 1:1,14a
WHAT DID JESUS DO?
He died as our substitute.
“…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”-Romans 5:8
He rose from the dead.
“…Christ died for our sins…he was buried…he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and…he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred…”
- I Corinthians 15:3-6
He is the only way to God.
“…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”- John 14:6
JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT
A SPORT AND YOU CAN TALK THE GAME,
DOESN’T MAKE YOU A MEMBER OF A TEAM.
THE SAME IS TRUE IN BECOMING A CHRISTIAN.
IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST KNOWING ABOUT
JESUS CHRIST; IT REQUIRES A TOTAL
COMMITMENT BY FAITH IN HIM.
FAITH IS NOT:
Just knowing the facts.
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shudder.”- James 2:19
Just an emotional experience.
Raising your hand or repeating a prayer is not enough.
FAITH IS:
Repenting. (Turning to God from sin.)
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no
regret…”-II Corinthians 7:10a
Receiving Jesus Christ. (Trusting in Christ alone for salvation.)
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God...”- John 1:12
Let’s replay God’s Plan:
REALIZE God is holy and perfect; we are sinners and cannot save ourselves.
RECOGNIZE who Jesus is and what He's done as our substitute.
REPENT by turning to God from sin.
RECEIVE Jesus Christ by faith as Savior and Lord.
RESPOND to Jesus Christ in a life of obedience.
Jesus said, “…If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily to follow me.”- Luke 9:23
If this makes sense and you are ready to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, express to God your need for Him. If you aren’t sure what to say, you can use the model below as a guideline.
“Lord Jesus, I know that I need you. I understand that I am a sinner and that because of my sin, I am separated from you. Jesus, I know that I can’t save myself. I need your mercy. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Please forgive me of my sins. I put my faith in you as Savior and Lord. Take control of my life, and help me to follow you in obedience.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“…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 10:9,13
Jesus said, “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 