What it means to be a Christian
Courtesy of Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association
http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp
Step 1: God's Purpose: Peace and Life
God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life—abundant
and eternal.
The Bible says ...
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
—Romans 5:1 (NIV)
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life." —John 3:16 (NIV)
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may
have it more abundantly." —John 10:10 (NIV)
Why don't most people have this peace and abundant life that
God planned for us to have?
Step 2: The Problem: Our Separation
God created us in His own image to have an abundant life.
He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey
Him. God gave us a will and a freedom of choice.
We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still
make this choice today. This results in separation from God
The Bible says ...
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
—Romans 3:23 (NIV)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." —Romans
6:23 (NIV)
Our Attempts to Reach God
People have tried in many ways to bridge this gap between
themselves and God ...
The Bible says ...
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the
end it leads to death." —Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)
"But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not
hear." —Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)
No bridge reaches God ... except one.
Step 3: God's Bridge: The Cross
Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose from the grave. He
paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God
and people.
The Bible says ...
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and
men, the man Jesus Christ." —1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous
for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." —1 Peter
3:18 (NIV)
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While
we were still sinners, Christ died for us." —Romans
5:8 (NIV)
God has provided the only way. Each person must make a choice.
Step 4: Our Response: Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive
Him by personal invitation.
The Bible says ...
"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 (NIV)
"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 (NIV)
"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." —Romans 10:9 (NIV)
Where are you?
Will you receive Jesus Christ right now?
Here is how you can receive Christ:
1. Admit your need (I am a sinner).
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.)
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