Freedom Baptist Church
Friday, December 13, 2024
Passionate People with a Purpose

Steps to Peace with God

 
Steps To Peace With God
How Can I Know Christ and Make Him Known?
 
 1. God’s Purpose For You: Peace and Life:
          God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life, abundant and eternal.  Notice 3 important truths:
A. The Provider “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” —Romans 5:1
B. The Provision “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.
C. The Possibility “I have 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 abundant life that God planned for us to have?
  
2. Our Problem: 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.
A. The Path of Sin “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” —Romans 3:23
B. The Payment of Sin “For the wages of sin is death…” —Romans 6:23a
          
Failed Attempts to Reach God 
     People have tried many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God
               1. Good works
               2. Religion
               3. Philosophy
  
Our Perception “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” —Proverbs 14:12
 
God’s Reality “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
 
          No bridge reaches God—except one!
 
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.  Notice 3 reasons why Jesus is the Savior that "bridges" the gap between God and us!
 
A. The Sovereign Savior “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.” —I Timothy 2:5
B. The Sufficient Savior “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” —I Peter 3:18
C. The Suffering Savior “ For God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8
 
          God has provided the only way. Each person must make a choice.
 
4. Our Response: Receive Christ
          We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation.
 
A. The Introduction “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
B. The Invitation “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God.” —John 1:12
C. The Instruction 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 10:19
 
What is your response?
If you have not done so, 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. In prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)
Here is sample prayer to guide you:
          Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my
          sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and
          Savior. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
 
If you prayed this prayer with a sincere commitment to Christ, the Bible says...
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” —Romans 10:13
 
As a Christian, you will want to:
          1. Follow this decision by being baptized.
          2. Begin attending and fellowshipping at a church with other believers.
          3. Study the Bible daily.
          4. Serving and helping others in the name of Christ.
          5. Witness and testify to others about Christ's offering of peace and salvation.