...it's the question humanity has been asking since the beginning of time.
Here's what we believe is the answer to this question...
1. God has always existed and will always exist. He created us, humanity, to live in fellowship with Him. Everything he created was made as proof of both his existence and his love and care for his most precious creation--humanity. He created us in his image, resembling Him.
Ask yourself two questions:
What would a perfect world look like?
What is it that makes me different than God?
2. Humanity has chosen to disobey God and as a result this disobedience, or sin, has separated us from Him. One of the differences between us and God is that He is perfect, set apart because of His perfection, and therefore our sinfulness separates us from Him and the fellowship that was intended between the two of us.
In the book of Romans (chapter 3, verse 23) we see that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." There is no one that is able to equal the perfection of God.
In chapter 6, verse 23 of Romans we read that the penalty for our sin is death. When we leave this life, each one of us will stand before God and be judged (2 Corinthians 5.10).
This has the potential to be the greatest separation and loneliness any person has ever experienced, but in the same way, it has the potential to be the event that marks the most fulfilling joy and peace we could ever imagine.
Because God loved us, in spite of our sin, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to Earth to make a way for us.
3. The Son came from heaven--a place where He was always praised, always able to live in freedom with God the Father, and came to Earth. The Son took the form of a human, Jesus Christ, and grew both in body and mind as a human all the while maintaining His status as Son of God. Christ lived His entire earthly life both as human and as God. He felt the hurt and heartache of this world, He endured the temptations each one of us face every day, but He never once faltered. Christ came and lived just like one of us, but did not sin one time. He was perfect. From this God-man, Christ, we were provided a way to bridge the separation between our sinfulness and God's perfection.
Christ came both to teach us the ways of God and to be the sacrifice for our sin. He came to pay the penalty for our disobedience toward God, our sin. Christ died on a cross for sins he did not commit so that each one of us could enjoy fellowship with God.
While Jesus was going about teaching people the way to true life both here on Earth and after, He told the people, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24).
Christ came to be THE WAY to bridge the separation between us and God. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one goes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
4. Christ tells us that it is through faith in Him that we are saved from separation with God. We are not saved by doing good things here on Earth or by completing certain rituals. We are saved by faith.
One of Christ's most devoted followers, Paul, tells us, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. This is not of yourself, but it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Faith in Christ is THE WAY to bridge the gap between us and God. Faith means believing that you are a sinner, you have disobeyed God, but that Christ died for you, to pay the price for your sins.
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
When we believe that Christ paid the price for our sin so that we can live in fellowship with God, we are compelled to turn from our old way of life where we always sought to go our own way or only please ourselves. We call this turning from our old way to now face our God, repentance. In Romans, chapter 2 we find that "God's judgement is based on truth" and that his "kindness leads you toward repentance" (2.2, 4). Believe in Christ and what he's done for you and turn from your way to God's way. This doesn't mean that you will never sin again, but it does mean that you have re-oriented your life away from your way to God's way.
If you have read through what we believe about who God is and it has impressed upon you your need for bridging the gap between yourself and God, you can pray to God right now and place your faith in Him.Below is a prayer you can pray to tell God about what you now believe. This prayer is not special in that these specific words must be said in this exact order for God to hear you. God hears and sees your heart and your faith and this prayer is a way to verbalize what you believe with your heart.
Father, I know that I am a sinner. I know that I have disobeyed you. I believe that you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for me. I believe Christ paid the price for my sin. I want Christ to bridge the separation between you and me. I want a relationship with you from now through eternity.
If you have just prayed this prayer, we would love to help you with the big question, "What Next?" Please contact us either by phone, mail or email.
This is the most important decision and/or change you will ever make. Like any new experience, it is best done with others who have had the same experience. You need to talk to us or find a Bible-believing church to help you through the "what next's?" of this decision.
