Christian Information Ministries

When a person believes the gospel in his heart, he becomes a Christian. Because of the person's acceptance of Christ's death on the cross as payment for his own personal sin, the barriers previously created by that sin are removed. He now has free access to God the Father through prayer because of what Christ's death accomplished on the cross.

The instant a person believes numerous things take place in the spiritual realm. We'll mention just a few of those things here:

The angels in heaven sing for joy. The person is granted eternal life, is adopted into God's spiritual family, and a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP is established between the new believer and God. Even as a new believer, the person can claim God as Father and boldly come before Him in intimate prayer and fellowship. It is God's desire that the person will seek Him regularly and develop that relationship to even greater depths of intimacy and fellowship. The Westminster Catechism puts it this way, the purpose of life is "to know God and enjoy Him forever."

1. God's Love--God loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you.

Key Verses:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Love is from God...for God is Love....We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:7,8,19). See also 1 John 4:9-10.

I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly (John 10:10).
Related verses: John 17:3; Psalm 139:13-14; Isaiah 49:15-16; Zephaniah 3:17.
Why is it that so many people don't have
a personal relationship with God?

2. Your Sin-- Your sin keeps you from having a personal relationship with God.

Key Verses:

For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

They have ALL turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one (Psalm 14:3).

For the wages of sin is DEATH (Romans 6:23). Note: Here "death" means eternal separation from God.

But your iniquities have made a SEPARATION between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you so that He does not hear (Isaiah 59:2).
                                                     Your personal sin has separated you
                                                     from God. From a human perspective,
                                                     you are without hope. Is there a solution
                                                     for this dilemma?

Key Verses:

Christ DIED for our sins,...He WAS BURIED, and...He WAS RAISED on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

I am THE way, and THE truth, and THE life; NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT THROUGH ME (John 14:6).

For there is one God, and ONE mediator also between God and men, the man Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).

Speaking of Christ: THERE IS SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE; for there is no other name under heaven...given among men, by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Related verses: John 3:3; Romans 5:8; Isaiah 53:5.

                                                Since Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for
                                                your sin, what must you do to have a personal
                                                relationship with God?

4. Your Choice--You must personally place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

Key Verses:

Bust as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name (John 1:12).

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation (Romans 10:9-10).

Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed....Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:11,13).

Are you ready to accept Christ and begin a
personal relationship with God?

5. Your Decision--You can receive Jesus Christ right now as your Savior and Lord and begin your personal relationship with God.

You can express your desire to have a personal relationship with God through prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God, so the act of praying doesn't save you; it is the attitude of belief in the heart expressed through prayer or confession that God hears and honors with salvation.

The following prayer or confession is just a suggested guide. God is concerned about your heart attitude more than your exact words.

Suggested Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I realize that I'm a sinner and separated from You. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose again. I acknowledge my need for forgiveness and open the door of my heart and life to You. I receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for coming into my life, forgiving my sins, and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life and change me into the person You want me to be. Help me to grow in my new relationship with you. Amen.

If these words express your desire, then read the words again thoughtfully while agreeing with God in your heart concerning each point. Then thank the Lord for what He has done for you and for your new relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

What should you do next?

6. Become Grounded in Your Faith-- Your assurance of eternal life is vitally important; it is the foundation for building a confident and growing relationship with God.

Study and memorize verses that confirm what God has done in your life.

God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE (1 John 5:11-13).

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:27-30).

I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God (1 John 4:15).
Related verses: 1 Peter 1:3-5; Jude 24; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:27; Colossians 2:13-14.

Other aids to spiritual growth and stability:

Read your Bible daily. If you are new to Bible reading, start with the book of John.

Attend a good church where the Bible is taken seriously and Christ is honored (Hebrews 10:25).

Pray daily. Prayer is talking with God, so be natural, honest and conversational. Tell God your concerns, pray for the needs of others and ask for His guidance and help.

Realize that you will fail, make selfish mistakes, have times when you have a bad attitude and sin in a variety of other ways. When you realize that you have sinned, confess it and then claim God's forgiveness and move on. Satan will attempt to make you feel that God has not forgiven you and keep you defeated. Read 1 John 1:9 and then memorize it. Claim it daily when you realize that you've sinned.

What if I have concerns and questions?

7. Contact Us--We'll help you get answers to your questions, find a good church, suggest good books and study aids, etc.