Would You Like to Know God Personally?

What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Must you become a better person so that God will accept you?

You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him.

The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now, through Jesus Christ.

God’s Love

“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).

God’s Plan

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 )

What prevents us from knowing God personally?

People Are Sinful

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

People were created to have fellowship with God; but, because of our stubborn self-will, we chose to go our own independent way and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

People Are Separated

“For the wages of sin is death”. [spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23)

This image illustrates that God is holy and people are sinful. A great gulf separates us. We are continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through our own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion – but we inevitably fail.

The third principle explains the only way to bridge this gulf...

He 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 Rose From The Dead

“Christ died for our sins... He was buried... He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred...” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)

He Is the Only Way to God

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me’.” (John 14:6)

God has bridged the gulf that separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.

The fourth principle explains it’s not enough to just know these truths...

We Must Receive Christ

“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)

We Receive Christ Through Faith

“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)

When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth

(Read John 3:1-8)

We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation

[Christ speaking] “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)

These two circles represent two kinds of lives.

Which circle would you like to have represent your life?

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?

If it does, pray this prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.

Did You Receive Christ Into Your Life?

According to His promise as recorded in Revelation 3:20, where is Christ right now in relation to you? Christ said that He would come into your life and be your Savior and friend so you can know Him personally. Would He mislead you? On what authority do you know that God has answered your prayer? (The trust worthiness of God Himself and His Word.)

The Bible Promises Eternal Life to All Who Receive Christ

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 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 5:11-13)

Thank God often that Christ is in your life and that He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5). You can know on the basis of His promise that Christ lives in you and that you have eternal life from the very moment you invite Him in.

Do Not Depend on Feelings

The promise of God’s Word, the Bible–not our feelings–is our authority. The Christian lives by faith (trust) in the character of God Himself and His Word. This train diagram illustrates the relationship among fact (God and His Word), faith (our trust in God and His Word), and feeling (the result of our faith and obedience) (John 14:21).

The train will run with or without the caboose. However, it would be useless to attempt to pull the train by the caboose. In the same way, we as Christians do not depend on feelings or emotions, but we place our faith (trust) in the character of God and the promises of His Word.

Now That You Have Entered Into a Personal Relationship With Christ

The moment you received Christ by faith, as an act of your will, many things happened, including the following:

• Christ came into your life (Revelation 3:20 and Colossians 1:27)

• Your sins were forgiven (Colossians 1:14)

• You became a child of God (John 1:12)

• You received eternal life (John 5:24)

• You began the great adventure for which God created you (John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Can you think of anything more wonderful that could happen to you than entering into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Would you like to thank God in prayer right now for what He has done for you? By thanking God, you demonstrate your faith.

Suggestions For Christian Growth

Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus Christ. “...The righteous will live by faith” (Galatians 3:11). A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly with every detail of your life, and to practice the following:

• Go to God in prayer daily. (John 15:7)

• Read God’s Word daily. Start with the Gospel of John. (Acts 17:11)

• Obey God moment by moment. (John 14:21)

• Witness for Christ by your life and words. (Matthew 4:19; John 15:8)

• Trust God for every detail of your life. (1 Peter 5:7)

• Holy Spirit–Allow Him to control and empower your daily life and witness. (Galatians 5:16,17; Acts 1:8)

Remember...

Your walk with Christ depends on what you allow Him to do in and through you empowered by the Holy Spirit, not what you do for Him through self effort.

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