Steps to Peace with God

STEP 1 – GOD’S PURPOSE: PEACE AND LIFE

God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life — abundant and eternal.

• Jesus said, “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”(John 10:10b)
• “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)
• “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
• “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Why don’t most people have this peace and abundant life that God planned for us to have? 

STEP 2 – THE PROBLEM: OUR SEPARATION

God created us in His own image to have abundant (meaningful) life. He did not make us robots to automatically love and obey him, but he gave us a will and a freedom of choice. We chose to disobey God and go our own wilful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God.

• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23)
• “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
• People have tried in many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God.
• “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”(Proverbs 14:12)
• “But 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)

No bridge reaches God … except one. 

STEP 3 – GOD’S BRIDGE: THE CROSS

Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people.

• “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.” (I Timothy 2:5)
• “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God…” (I Peter 3:18)
• “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

God has provided the only way. Each person must make a choice.  

STEP 4 – OUR RESPONSE: RECEIVE CHRIST

We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and receive Him by personal invitation. 

• “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
• “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)
• “That 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.” (Romans 10:9)

Where are you? Will you receive Jesus Christ right now?

HOW TO RECEIVE CHRIST:

Admit your need (I am a sinner).
Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit (Receive Him as Lord and Saviour of your life)

WHAT TO PRAY:

Dear Lord Jesus

I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as the Lord and Saviour of my life.
In Jesus name,
Amen.

GOD’S ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE

If you have prayed this prayer the Bible tells us…

• “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
• “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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
• “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:12-13)

Receiving Christ, we are born into God’s family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer…this is called regeneration or the “new birth.”

WHAT NEXT?

This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship you should:

1. Read your Bible everyday to know Christ better.
2. Talk to God in prayer every day.
3. Tell others about your new faith in Christ.
4. Worship, fellowship and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.
5. As Christ’s representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.

If you have just made a commitment to Christ, please let us know. We would like to connect with you and to ensure that you receive Bible study materials; to help you grow in your faith.

Steps to Peace With God and the Bridge to Life Illustrations from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and The Navigators Canada. Scripture verses are from the New International Version