How Can I Know God
You Are Loved by Your Creator
"For 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
Jesus spoke these words to an individual who was asking lots of questions about spiritual matters. The questions focused on the subject of life—eternal life. In this one statement Jesus addressed the most urgent issues you or anyone else will ever face.
There are five of them:
1 – Mankind is Guilty of Sin
Romans 5:12: Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man [Adam], and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned
2 – Are There Consequences to Man’s Sin? If So, What Are They?
YES, God requires sin to be paid for.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 20:14, 15: Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (15) And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
3 – Is There No Way Out? Can Anyone Escape This Penalty? Is There Any Hope For You?
Yes, there is hope! God Loves Guilty Sinners.
Ephesians 2:4-5: But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved
Romans 5:8: But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
4 – Specifically, How Did God Extend His Love And Provide Hope For You?
He Gave His Only Son As A Substitute For Guilty, Condemned Sinners.
Romans 5:6: For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
2 Corinthians 5:21: For our sake he [God] made him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we [the guilty sinners] might become the righteousness of God.
5 – Can This Payment Be Yours? If So, How?
Yes, this payment can be yours.
“Whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
What does it mean to believe? Believe means to place your complete confidence in. It means to trust in and rely on. It expresses the idea of unqualified acceptance of and exclusive dependence on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ alone securing the mercy of God for you; the guilty sinner.
Because of Christ’s death in the place of guilty sinners, God will grant forgiveness to those who repent and believe in Christ. The word forgive means send away or cancel. When God forgives, He cancels the sinner’s debt and penalty for sin. Forgiveness separates the sinner from God’s wrath as the penalty he deserves.
Ephesians 1:7: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
Friend, the Scriptures are very plain:
· Your condition and conduct are sinful.
· You have broken God’s law.
· You are guilty before God.
· You are condemned to die and suffer God’s wrath as the penalty for your guilt.
· God is merciful and poured His wrath on His Son as man’s substitute.
· Jesus said to repent and believe.
Will you humble yourself, acknowledge your guilt and deserved judgment, repent and turn to God for forgiveness?
God is gracious; He has provided in Christ all that is needed for forgiveness of sins... “Whoever believes in Him [Christ’s sacrifice for sinners] will not perish but have eternal life.”
*All quoted Scripture taken from the English Standard Version.