“God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16, ESV
There is nothing as life-changing and wonderful as a personal relationship with God. Some of the blessings of knowing and following God are peace, love, joy and a deep sense of purpose in life. If you haven’t known God personally, here are principles that will help guide you into a relationship with our Creator. Please click a principle to read more.
God loves you and created you to know God personally.
The most well-known verse in the Bible says, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV). You see, this life is not the end of us. This life is preparation for eternity. We have the freedom to decide where we want to spend eternity: with God or apart from God. God thinks you’re so valuable that he wants to spend eternity with you! The Bible says, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3, NIV). God planned the universe and orchestrated history, including the details of our lives, so that we could become our Creator’s friends. So, what prevents us from knowing God personally?
But human beings are separated from God because of our sin.
The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NIV). Visualize God in heaven and humans on earth, with a great gulf separating the two. Humans are continually trying to reach God and establish a personal relationship with our Creator through our own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion—but we inevitably fail. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death [separation from God]” (Romans 6:23, NIV). The third principle explains the way to bridge this separation.
Jesus Christ is God’s provision for human sin. Through Him we can know God personally and experience God’s love.
Jesus died in our place. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV). He rose from the dead. “Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time . . . ” (1 Corinthians 15:3–6, NLT). He is the 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, NASB). Visualize now that God has bridged the gulf that separates us from God by sending His Son, Christ, to die on the Cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins. Yet it’s not enough just to know these truths . . .
We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
We must receive Christ. “As many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name” (John 1:12, NASB). We receive Christ through faith. “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, NIV). When we receive Christ, we experience a new birth. The Bible tells of how a man named Nicodemus experienced a new birth through Christ. Jesus told him: “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, you must be born again” (John 3:5–7, NLT). Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and make us what God wants us to be. We receive Jesus by faith, as an act of our free will.
You can receive Christ as Lord right now through prayer, believing in faith He died for our sins and God raised Him from death to new life.
Prayer is just talking with God. Our Creator knows your heart, so don’t worry about getting your words right. Here is a suggested prayer to guide you:
Lord Jesus,
I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the Cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.
The moment you receive Christ—as an act of faith and free will—many things happen, including: Christ comes into your life (Colossians 1:27). Your sins are forgiven (Colossians 1:14). You become a child of God (John 1:12). You receive eternal life (John 5:24). You begin the great adventure for which God created you (John 10:10).
Here are tips for growing in your new relationship with God.
Go to God in prayer daily (Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2). Read God’s Word daily (Acts 17:11). Start with the gospel of John. Obey God by following God’s direction (John 14:21). Witness for Christ by your life and words (Matt. 4:19, Gal. 5:22-23). Trust God for every detail of your life (1 Peter 5:7). Hand over control to the Holy Spirit. Allow the Spirit of God to empower
your daily life and witness (Galatians 5:16–17, Acts 1:8).
And finally . . . find a good church where Christ is honored and his Word is preached, and get involved there. First Baptist Church of Pawtucket welcomes you!
Adapted from “What Does it Mean to Follow Christ” by Rick Warren @ rickwarren.org
