About God

ABOUT GOD

STEP UP TO LIFE*

by Elmer Murdoch

GOD IS A WONDERFUL GOD WHO LOVES YOU AND HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.

Perhaps some of these things have prevented it...

	problems
	business
	family
	friends
	sports
	drugs
	hobbies
	sex

Your involvements may have kept you from thinking about God. Yet, when you read the following, God may say something to you.

YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT GOD, BUT HERE ARE THREE VITAL TRUTHS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER NOW:

1. He is all-wise and knows what is best for your life.

2. He is holy, cannot approve of sin, and will judge it.

3. He is merciful so He can hold back judgment and pardon you because of Christ's death on the cross. "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin..." Micah 7:18

WHAT IS THE HIGHEST PURPOSE FOR LIVING?

Some say: "my family," "to be happy," "to live a good life," "to be fulfilled." These are good, but the Bible tells us the highest purpose is to know God by experience through Jesus Christ. Think of it! You can actually know God as you would a friend.

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3

THIS WONDERFUL GOD WANTS TO...

	forgive you all your sins
	give you meaning in your life now
	take you to heaven when you die

All this is yours when you submit to the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you reject this offer of mercy and love, you put yourself over God and under His judgment. (John 3:36) You are making yourself the final authority. Therefore, the most important question you will ever face is:

WHO RUNS YOUR LIFE?

You? Or Jesus?

EVERY PERSON IS ON ONE OF THESE 5 STEPS:

Your attitude determines your distance from God. Each "step" describes a heart attitude toward God and this determines your distance— near or far—from Him. Jesus taught this when He said to a man seeking truth, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
Mark 12:34

UNCONCERN

You may know a great deal about Jesus and salvation, or very little. The important point is you do not really care.

An unconcerned attitude will keep you from knowing God, but it does not keep God from caring about you. For "...God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Are you on this step?

CONCERN

You are aware of your inner and spiritual needs and would like to find answers to them.

Perhaps a death, divorce, job loss, sickness, or influence of a friend has caused you to realize your emptiness or spiritual need. This emptiness is due to the lack of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The Lord says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

Are you on this step? True concern can lead to...

CONVICTION

You have a strong spiritual discomfort and guilt caused by the Holy Spirit showing you your sin and emptiness.

Do you hope to go to heaven by "being good" or "doing the best you can?" The questions you must ask yourself are, "Am I good enough? Have I kept God's commandments—100 percent—in thought, word and deed?" If you have, then you can go to heaven by your good life. Matthew 19:17-19. However, "...through the law we become conscious of sin." Romans 3:20

To find out how good you are, take God's Goodness Test:

The Ten Commandments

You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honor (obey) your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness (lie).

You shall not covet.

How well did you score? Passing is 100%. God does not grade on the scale. James 2:10 says that if you break just one commandment once, you have failed. The Law is like a balloon. One hole destroys it all.

Next, consider these important questions:

1. Have you sinned by breaking any of God's Laws?

2. Do your sins bother you?

3. How much? A little? A lot? Enough to do something about them?

Are you on this step? Conviction can lead to...

REPENTANCE

You have a deep change of mind and heart and choose to reject and forsake all known sin and the right to run your life independently of God.

Repentance...is the act of your getting off the throne of your life so that Jesus Christ may take His rightful place there.

Repentance...is a spiritual U-turn necessary before you believe.

Repentance...is not just being sorry for your sins. With repentance there is sorrow, but you can have sorrow without repentance. Many people are sorry for the consequences of sin, but not sin itself. "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." 2 Corinthians 7:10

Repentance...is not just quitting a sinful act. Some men have refrained from certain sins and reformed for personal reasons (health, reputation, family, business, etc.), not because their sins displeased God.

Repentance...is mentioned over 55 times in the New Testament.

Jesus Himself said, "But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Luke 13:3

How important is it then to repent?

Repentance leads to...

SAVING FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS

You are prepared to make a total commitment of all you are and have to the total rule of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a change of government in your heart from self-rule to the Lord Jesus Christ. Since Christ is God and gave His life for you, He is more important than your job, family, finances, career plans, and even your life itself. Matthew 10:37-29. Luke 9:57-62.

In Luke 14:26, Jesus says that if a person would be His disciple, he must love Him more than his father and mother, his wife and children, his brother and sisters, — yes, and even his own life — or he cannot be His disciple.

When you surrender completely in this way, God will put His Spirit in you and you will be born into God's family. He is now your Lord and can make any changes in your life He wants — anywhere, any time.

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." Acts 16:31

The Lordship of Jesus Christ begins at conversion and continues with a widening application in your life as you grow in faith.

Since God has drawn you to this step, make your commitment to Christ today.

IN YOUR OWN WORDS TALK TO GOD

Confess your sins. Call them by name—pride, cheating, lying, immorality, greed, unforgiveness, etc.

Tell God you are repenting—willing to forsake all known sin and the root of your sins which is selfishness.

Tell God you are believing in Him—giving yourself entirely to Him and receiving Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Savior.

He will keep His word, forgive you and come into your life, making you new.

You may make this commitment with or without deep emotions. Your reaction is determined by temperament, background, and God's individual approach to you. You do know you have committed your will to please the Lord and this is essential. Emotions will pass, but the choice of your heart stays the same.

Thank the Lord now for becoming His child and for His new life within you.

FOUR REASONS YOU CAN KNOW YOU ARE SAVED:

1. You have obeyed God's commands to repent and believe, and He is faithful in keeping His Word. "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 5:13

2. You have confidence in the blood of Christ shed on the cross. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace..." Ephesians 1:7

3. You have renounced all claims to run your life and given Jesus Christ, the Resurrected Lord, that supreme right. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him..." Colossians 2:6

4. God has put His Holy Spirit right inside you—in your very spirit and gives you assurance you are His. "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God..." Romans 8:16

NEW LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST PRODUCES THESE BEGINNING CHANGES...

1. A desire to know the Bible. "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation..."
1 Peter 2:2

2. A desire to obey Jesus Christ. "If you love me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15

3. Distress over sin. We can no longer sin and enjoy it. "'The Lord knows those who are his,' and, 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.'" 2 Timothy 2:19

4. Concern for the lost—those who have not yet repented and do not know God personally. "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

All Scripture is from the New International and the New American Standard versions.

If you have any questions, or what would like to have a pastor contact you, please e-mail us: livingstreams@livignstreams.org