Here’s something to ponder…

        God created all of us in His own image to be His friend and to
        experience a full life, where we’re assured of his love, abundant and
        eternal?

           In God’s written words to all of us (The Bible), Jesus said
           (about himself):
          
           “...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
           (St. John 10:10b…The word “they” means:  “whoever wants it”.)

          The Bible also says:

          “...we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
            (Romans 5:1)
 

      Since God planned for us to have peace and abundant life right now,
      why are most people not having this experience?

         Since God created us in His own image, and since he also wants us to
         have an abundant (meaningful) life...He did not make us like “robots”
         to automatically love and obey him, but instead, he gave us our own will
         and freedom of choice.  Unfortunately, we’ve all initially made the
         wrong choice.

         We’ve chosen to disobey and reject God and go our own willful way. 
         What  a really bad idea!  This choice is known as: sin…plain and simple.

         Sin is a word we don’t like to use today, because many feel it’s an
         "old-fashioned" type of word, one that’s out-dated.  However, for the
         sake of this explanation, let’s just call it what God calls it (and call it
         what it is) …sin.   And, in case you didn’t know it… Sin results in
         separation from God; hence "Our Problem".
 
 

          “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
            (Romans 3:23)

          “...your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins
          have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear.”
           (Isaiah 59:2)
 

       On our own, or by what we try to do, there’s really no way we can
       attain the perfection that is needed to bridge the gap between us
       and God.  Through the ages, people have tried many ways...without
       success.

       Things like:  "Good Works" won’t do it...our money won’t do it...our
       “morality” won’t do it...our philosophy won’t do it... EVEN  OUR 
        RELIGION  WON’T  DO  IT!

           God says:
          “There is a way that SEEMS right to a man, but in the end it
           leads to death.”   (Proverbs 14:12)

          Since it’s true that things like “good works”, money, religion
          or things that seem right won’t “cut it”…what possible hope
          do we have to “get right” with God?

         Perhaps you’ve never been taught, or you’ve never read about
         the fact that…

         Because Jesus loves us so much, He specifically died on a wooden
         cross for us.  In other words…He took our place!  Then, three days
         later, He literally rose from the grave, assuring us victory over death
         by paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God
              and us. 

          God also said:

          “For Christ (Jesus - The Messiah) died for sins once for all, the
            righteous (that's Jesus) for the unrighteous (that's all of us), to
            bring you to God...”   (I Peter 3:18)

          “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men,
           the man Jesus Christ.” (I Timothy 2:5)

          “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ (that's Jesus)
           to die for us while we were still sinners”  (Romans 5:8)
 
 

    God Wants A Response From Us:

         Believing, in faith, means trust and commitment.  By acknowledging
         our sinfulness, trusting in the forgiveness of Jesus, and letting Him
         control our life… eternal and abundant life is a FREE GIFT for anyone
         to receive.  And yes…anyone means you!
 

         Here are two very “eye-opening” texts, directly from God, as written
         in the Bible:

          “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son
          (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) shall not perish, but
          have eternal life.”   (St. John 3:16)

          “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him
          who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has
          crossed over from death to life.”      (The words of Jesus, talking about
            himself and His father, God... as recorded in: St. John 5:24)

   Don’t Keep Thinking The Wrong Thoughts:

    Many people make one, or more, of these fatal mistakes by thinking that…

      …because they were born into a “Christian” family, that they are a
          Christian as well.

      …because they were baptized at an early age, they are now a Christian.

      …because they attend a certain kind of church, they must be a Christian.

      …because they give to charity organizations, they must be a Christian.
 
 

     Or Worse Yet…
 

       They think that they aren’t bad people – especially when compared to
       the person “next door” or even to some really bad person or well-known
       “mass murderer”.

       Lots of people think that receiving Jesus into their life is a very
       complicated chain of events, that involves a never ending, and ongoing
       stream of jumping through “hoops” to get God to accept them and let
       them into heaven someday.

      It is, however, that type of thinking that keeps people from making a
      positive decision to accept the FREE GIFT offer of salvation, through  
      Jesus, which gives them the inner peace that they need (and will receive)
      to go through their life, here on this earth…and on into eternity.  The
      positive action of receiving Jesus into your life is as easy as the next four
      “steps”…
 

    Here’s How:

        1.)  You need to realize and admit your need (in other words, it's true...
               I am a sinner).
        2.)  Be truly sorry for your sins and be willing to turn away
               from them (that's called repentance).
        3.) Believe that Jesus died for you on the cross and also that He
               rose from the grave.
        4.) Through a simple prayer (talking to Jesus), invite Him to come into
              and control your life through what is known as His Holy Spirit
              (Accept Him as Lord - the ruler and deliverer of your life from sin).
 
 

    What To Pray:  (The following is a suggested prayer for you to say.)
 

            Dear Jesus,

              I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness from my sins.
              I’m so sorry for all of them.  I believe that you died for all of my
              sins, and I want to turn away from them.  Right now, I want to invite
              you to come into my heart and life.  With this step of faith, I want to
              trust and follow you as the Lord and Savior of my life.  Thanks for
              being faithful in hearing and honoring my humble prayer.  Amen.
 
 

   God’s Assurance Of Eternal Life:
 

         If you were serious, and meant what you said if you prayed this
         prayer and are now trusting in Jesus, then the Bible says that you
         can BE SURE in knowing that you have eternal life.  Here’s what
         God says…

          “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just (right) to forgive us
          our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.”
          (1 John 1:9)

          “...for, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord WILL be saved.”
           (Romans 10:13)

    What Next?

         If you’ve just accepted Jesus into your life, this is only the beginning
         of a wonderful new life in Him.  To deepen your relationship with Him,
         you should desire to do the following:

            1.) Read the Bible regularly, in order to know Jesus better.
                  (You might want to start off by reading the books in the Bible
                    known as St. John and Romans.)

            2.) Talk to God, in prayer, every day.   It’s not so important as to
                   the words that you use when you pray to him… just be honest
                   and sincere.  He knows your thoughts, your motives, and your
                   heart.

            3.) Tell others about your new faith in Jesus.

            4.) Attend a local church, where the Bible is diligently and truthfully
                  taught/preached, so that you can mingle with others in order to
                  worship and learn of Jesus together from His written word (the
                  Bible).

            5.) As a representative of Jesus, in a needy world, demonstrate your
                  “new life” by showing your love and concern for others.