How to Know God

How to Know God

 

Can we know God?

God loves us and wants us to know Him, but there is a devastating problem and a barrier between us and Him...

Read more about His Story...

 

What was life like in the beginning?

In one word, there was harmony. God created everything perfectly, including the garden of Eden, where He created His masterpiece, man and woman. He created them in His own image to enjoy relationship with Him. There was perfect love, acceptance, and intimacy between God and man, between Adam and Eve, and throughout creation (Genesis 1:21).

But, something tragic happened...

 

What went tragically wrong?

Adam and Eve chose to disobey and rebel against God and the consequences were devastating. Sin entered all creation and into the hearts of Adam and Eve. All of creation was now distorted from its original design (Romans 5:12). The proof is all around us, just think of war, poverty, disease, greed, and scandals. These are all a result of sin. We are far more flawed and far more sinful than we'd ever want to admit! Just think about God's standard, think about His 10 commandments. Have you ever told a lie? Yes, that makes us liars. Have you ever stolen anything, no matter how insignificant? Yes, that makes us thieves. Have you ever committed adultery? Jesus says, if you have ever lusted after someone, you have committed adultery with that person in your heart (Matthew 5:27-28). So, yes, we are adulterers at heart. If God were to judge us right now, by His 10 Commandments, we are guilty! If you have disobeyed any of these or any others, you are a sinner. Your sin prevents you from having a relationship with God. But, the Bible tells us that we are already sinners from birth (Psalm 51:5). Romans 3:23 tell us that ALL are sinners and separated from God (2 Thessalonians 1:9). What is the consequence for our disobedience and rebellion? We are separated from a loving God. This is FAR worse than physical death.

So, where is your HOPE? Can anything be done to help us?

 

God himself provided the solution to this problem

God made a way to rescue mankind from sin. He even made promises long ago and prepared the way for His Rescuer, our Savior. Who is He? Simply, He is God. God became human in the person of Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Through His life, Jesus fulfilled God's Law - His high standard, perfectly, without any sin! He then willingly submitted to God's plan to take the punishment of mankind on Himself, though He deserved none of it. Through His death on the cross, He paid the penalty for the sins of mankind! He paid the debt we cannot pay! His life and His death became a substitute for all who would trust in Him (Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8). He then was raised from the dead, defeating death, just like God promised (Matthew 28:6). He is now alive, in Heaven, and reigning as King.

So, what next? .....

 

Jesus invites our response!

God calls you and every person to agree with Him about your sin, turn from it, and believe that Jesus paid the price that you could not pay for your sin.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified [declared righteous], and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31

To know God and his life we must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he is the one that God has appointed to be our substitute and Savior. To believe in Jesus means to acknowledge that what the Bible says about him is true, and to place all our confidence in Jesus alone as the sole means of knowing God.

  1. Admit your need (I cannot please God by myself).
  2. Turn from your imperfect ways of thinking and behaving [the Bible calls this repentance].
  3. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he is the one that God appointed to be your Savior, and his substitutionary death and resurrection are acceptable to God as the basis of your renewed relationship to God.
  4. Through prayer communicate your faith to God.

 

What does your future look like?

When we believe what God has done for us through Christ, our relationship with God is restored (John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9). For all those who put their trust in Jesus alone, God has promised He will make all things new, free of sin and selfishness. We will have a perfect friendship with God. We will be able to worship Him, serve Him and enjoy relationship with Him forever. Forever we will be with The One who created, loved, and died for us.

  

What can you do to learn more?

 

God's Story - video

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Chelsea's story of grace:

 

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