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 As a loving creator,
God designed everyone with a specific purpose. He laid out this
road map knowing what was best for each one. He designed rules
to govern behavior to protect us from ourselves. These rules
were known as the Law. While He posted signs to alert people
to danger, often people think they have a better way, ignore
the warnings, and head in a direction completely opposite God's
plan. |
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Romans 2:12-13 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. |
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 This wrong way is
identified in the Bible as sin. Sin, an archery term, actually
means to miss the mark. Anything less than a bullseye is called
sin. People miss the mark when they try to live their lives outside
of God's plan. Much like breaking the law of the land, breaking
this law also incurs a penalty. |
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Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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God, however, is not surprised at our sinfulness. He knew we would sin so he made a provision to take care of our sins. He wants us to take the provision and stop sinning, as Jesus instructed the woman caught in adultery. Some consider adultery a major sin and say that they have never committed such a sin, but any sin separates us from the relationship that God has in mind for us. |
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John 8:3-11 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus said. "Go now and leave your life of sin." |
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 The provision that
God provided is the only way we can have our sins purged and
be restored to God. In order to pay the death penalty incurred
by our sins, Jesus died on the cross for us even though he was
completely sinless. In fact, He could not have died in our place
if he had sin an if he did not the ability to come back from
the dead. After we accept his way, we are faced in the right
way and our lives take a completely new direction. |
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John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. I Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. |
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Knowing that God loves us, has a plan for us, and gave his Son to die for our sins is not enough. We must individually choose to accept Jesus as our savior and Lord and to yield to his Spirit to walk the spirit-filled life and gain victory over our sinfulness. We receive Christ in faith. By accepting him, we receive eternal life. |
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Job 22:21 Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Eph. 2:8-9 For 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. |
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Each individual must choose between the broad way that leads to destruction and the narrow way that leads to life. Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. |
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Even if you are unsure that He exists, pray and ask Him to reveal his truth to you. He will hear your prayers and will respond to you. If you believe He exists and you desire a relationship with Jesus, you can receive Him right now by faith through prayer. Prayer is just talking to God. The following is a suggested prayer: Lord Jesus, I need You. 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 my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life and keep me on the highway to heaven. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. Amen. If you prayed that prayer and meant it, you are a new creation in Christ, according to II Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! |
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It is imperative to find a strong, Bible-teaching church where you can develop strong discipleship and accountability relationships. God did intend for christians to live in such treacherous times alone. Start to read the Bible and pray daily. Ask Him to change your heart and to show you what you need to do. By doing these things, you will be prepared to fight Satan, the great dragon, when he tries to make you doubt your relationship with God or when he tempts you to sin. |
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| If you have accepted Christ and don't know where to go or what to do next or if you have more questions about a relationship with Jesus, email me at MikeCrishaDonelson@yahoo.com | ||||
