How Can I Have a Real Relationship With God?

Have you ever looked around and wondered if there wasn’t more to life than this? Do you want to know more about God but just don’t know exactly where to start? Ever wonder about what happens after death? Read the following to learn more:

What God Is: Perfect! We’ve never seen perfection—it’s hard for us to imagine. But the true God is absolutely Perfect, Holy, Pure, Loving and Righteous. He is also our Creator.

What You and I Are: Well, let’s put it this way . . . we aren’t perfect, holy, and pure. Not hardly. In fact, we’re the ones who break the rules—or God’s laws.
The Bible says it like this: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 Not only does this mean we have sinned, but also that we cannot be as good as God. (Pretty obvious, isn’t it?)

What Will Happen to Us: Because God is righteous, He doesn’t overlook sin or “bend the rules” for some people. He says if we break the rules—in other words, if we sin, we will have to be punished. And God’s punishment is as fierce as His love is strong. “The wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23 Eternal separation from God, from love, from all that is good is God’s punishment for sin. In other words, death and torment in hell.—Nothing to look forward to! (Actually, this makes sense if you think about it. How could a perfect God allow sinful people into His heaven to live with Him forever? He can’t and He won’t.) But . . .

What God Did For Us: Because of His powerful love for us, though we don’t deserve it, He made a way for our sins to be forgiven . . . forever. But the price was high—very high. You see, from the beginning of time God had made a rule (law) that in order for sins to be forgiven, innocent blood had to be shed. So, in ancient times, people would take the very best male lamb out of their flock and take it to the priest where he would offer it as a sacrifice. The blood of that innocent lamb did not cause God to forgive the people’s sins, but it was a powerful illustration of how Jesus Christ, God’s Son, would come to earth one day and make the sacrifice for sins by dying on the cross. Jesus—who healed any and every kind of disease, who raised people from the dead, who loved and taught the people God’s ways, who was perfect, pure, and holy—this Jesus became the sacrifice for you and for me, so God’s price for our sins could be paid. (Jesus was actually called the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29) Jesus stretched out His arms, was nailed to the cross, shed His blood, and gave His life willingly as payment for our sins. The Bible says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 Jesus laid down His life for you . . . to take the punishment for your sins so you don’t have to suffer for them yourself. He was the “final payment” for sins. We don’t have to offer sacrifices over and over because of our sins. He paid the price once for all. (“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23) And He proved His power, and that He is Truth, when He rose from the dead the third day—just as He’d said He would. Wow!

What We Need to Do: Believe. Put your full trust and faith in Jesus Christ. (“…whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:15) Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ loved you so much that He paid the price for your sins when He died on the cross. (“Christ died for our sins…” 1 Corinthians 15:3) Believe that Jesus rose from the dead after three days. (“He was buried, and . . . He rose again…” 1 Corinthians 15:4) Be willing, as God gives you help, to turn from your wrong actions, thoughts, and attitudes . . . to do things God’s way instead of your own way. (Accept His way instead of insisting on your own.) Admit you have sinned. We have all done wrong things, said wrong things, thought wrong things and not put God and His way first in our lives. So admit (confess) this to God. (In other words, repent of your sins before God.) Ask God to forgive you for all your sins. Trust Jesus alone to save you. He said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 It’s pretty plain; He’s the ONLY way! Surrender your life to God and to His love. Since you can’t get to God on your own, Accept Jesus as your Savior. And you know what the result will be? Oh, “just” a right relationship with God, peace, joy, happiness, fulfillment. . . and on and on we could go. Go ahead! Find out for yourself. You’ll never be the same.

We suggest that, if you sincerely want to, you take time to pray in your own words asking God to forgive you of all you sins, surrendering your life to Him, accepting Him as your Savior and accepting His gift of eternal life (life in heaven with Him forever). What have you got to lose? Doubts, fears, lack of peace, loneliness, lack of direction, etc., AND an eternity in hell. What have you got to gain? A vital, exciting relationship with the living God!! Peace, and eternal promise of heaven, joy, fulfillment,love, etc., etc.

If you have sincerely given your life to God at this time, we’d love to hear from you and to help you grow in your new spiritual life. Or, if you have questions about any of this, or need us to pray for you about something, please contact our church: