Relationship with a Heavenly Father
A relationship where you can talk to Him about anything at anytime? A relationship where He is always forgiving and constantly making your better? A relationship where He empowers you to do great things? A relationship that is secure from fall out? A relationship with God that lasts forever?
If you answered yes to anything then what God has to say below is of great importance to you and could, potentially, change your life forever.
"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard" - Romans 3:23.
To sin is to do something that God considers wrong. God has told us that we have all done wrong things and that this has caused us to fall short of the beautiful and righteous standard He has set up for all mankind.
Have you ever worshiped someone or something other than God?
Have you ever used God's name in a way that did not show Him respect?
Have you ever gone an entire week without taking a day to rest and worship?
Have you ever dishonored your parents?
Have you ever hurt someone else?
Have you ever done something sexually wrong?
Have you ever stolen something?
Have you ever lied?
Have you ever wanted something someone else had?
If you had to answer yes to any of those things than you are considered a sinner who has fallen short of God's glorious standard.
"For the wages of sin is death..." - Romans 6:23.
Everything that we do brings about consequences including rewards and punishments. When you go to work you get a wage which is your payment for a day's well done work. When you are speeding down the highway and you get a ticket which is your wage for your action.
Because we have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard we have earned death for ourselves. This includes both physical death and spiritual death (an eternity separated from God in torment).
Perhaps this seems unfair but God, who is holy, cannot be in the presence of someone who is unholy. And in order for Heaven to be a holy place He must keep everyone who is unholy out. That includes you and me.
This is why we do not have a relationship with God on our own. We have sinned and therefore have been separated from God through spiritual death. This is terrible news. But Christians call this the "Good News" and the shadows mentioned above will prove the sunshine I am about to mention.
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" - Romans 5:8.
"...the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" - Romans 6:23.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" - John 3:16.
About two thousand years ago God Himself came to earth in the form of a man. He lived with us and was one of us except that He never sinned. He performed many miracles to prove that He was from God including raising the dead, giving the blind sight, causing the lame to walk, and healing those with deadly diseases. He preached about holiness from the heart instead of outward appearances alone. He preached about complete peace and love through the power of God. But despite all of this the religious and political leaders of His day hated Him for taking away their power. So they had Him killed. A perfect man was killed in a torturous way like the worst of criminals, on a cross. God Himself died as if He was a sinner.
Hundreds of years before this a prophet wrote that "...he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed." (Isaiah 53:5).
Jesus Christ, the God-man, took your sins and my sins and paid our price.
If you get a speeding ticket either you have to pay it or someone else has to give you the money. But it must be paid.
The same goes for our sins. Either you and I have to pay for our sins through eternal spiritual and physical death or God can pay for our sins.
God said His payment for our sins through the death of Jesus Christ is a "free gift". It was sitting waiting for us to reach out and take it. God has offered but now you and I have to decide to accept it. A gift cannot be used until it is accepted.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved" (Romans 10:13).
Have you asked God for forgiveness and cleansing of your sins? Have you told Him you accept His free gift?
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as YOUR Lord and Savior please pray and ask for Him to be so.
God,
I know that I am a sinner.
I know that Jesus died on the cross to save me.
Please forgive me of my sins and transform me.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.
If you have questions or if you have been moved by what you have just read please contact me.
In Christ,
Joshua Rystedt
Youth Director, Westminster Bible Church.
If you answered yes to anything then what God has to say below is of great importance to you and could, potentially, change your life forever.
"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard" - Romans 3:23.
To sin is to do something that God considers wrong. God has told us that we have all done wrong things and that this has caused us to fall short of the beautiful and righteous standard He has set up for all mankind.
Have you ever worshiped someone or something other than God?
Have you ever used God's name in a way that did not show Him respect?
Have you ever gone an entire week without taking a day to rest and worship?
Have you ever dishonored your parents?
Have you ever hurt someone else?
Have you ever done something sexually wrong?
Have you ever stolen something?
Have you ever lied?
Have you ever wanted something someone else had?
If you had to answer yes to any of those things than you are considered a sinner who has fallen short of God's glorious standard.
"For the wages of sin is death..." - Romans 6:23.
Everything that we do brings about consequences including rewards and punishments. When you go to work you get a wage which is your payment for a day's well done work. When you are speeding down the highway and you get a ticket which is your wage for your action.
Because we have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard we have earned death for ourselves. This includes both physical death and spiritual death (an eternity separated from God in torment).
Perhaps this seems unfair but God, who is holy, cannot be in the presence of someone who is unholy. And in order for Heaven to be a holy place He must keep everyone who is unholy out. That includes you and me.
This is why we do not have a relationship with God on our own. We have sinned and therefore have been separated from God through spiritual death. This is terrible news. But Christians call this the "Good News" and the shadows mentioned above will prove the sunshine I am about to mention.
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" - Romans 5:8.
"...the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" - Romans 6:23.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" - John 3:16.
About two thousand years ago God Himself came to earth in the form of a man. He lived with us and was one of us except that He never sinned. He performed many miracles to prove that He was from God including raising the dead, giving the blind sight, causing the lame to walk, and healing those with deadly diseases. He preached about holiness from the heart instead of outward appearances alone. He preached about complete peace and love through the power of God. But despite all of this the religious and political leaders of His day hated Him for taking away their power. So they had Him killed. A perfect man was killed in a torturous way like the worst of criminals, on a cross. God Himself died as if He was a sinner.
Hundreds of years before this a prophet wrote that "...he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed." (Isaiah 53:5).
Jesus Christ, the God-man, took your sins and my sins and paid our price.
If you get a speeding ticket either you have to pay it or someone else has to give you the money. But it must be paid.
The same goes for our sins. Either you and I have to pay for our sins through eternal spiritual and physical death or God can pay for our sins.
God said His payment for our sins through the death of Jesus Christ is a "free gift". It was sitting waiting for us to reach out and take it. God has offered but now you and I have to decide to accept it. A gift cannot be used until it is accepted.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved" (Romans 10:13).
Have you asked God for forgiveness and cleansing of your sins? Have you told Him you accept His free gift?
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as YOUR Lord and Savior please pray and ask for Him to be so.
God,
I know that I am a sinner.
I know that Jesus died on the cross to save me.
Please forgive me of my sins and transform me.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.
If you have questions or if you have been moved by what you have just read please contact me.
In Christ,
Joshua Rystedt
Youth Director, Westminster Bible Church.
