DO YOU NEED A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? (1)

TOPIC: DO YOU NEED A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? (1)
TEXT: ROMANS 1:18-32

What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him. The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now, through Jesus Christ.

PRINCIPLE 1
God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.

GOD'S LOVE
“God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

GOD'S PLAN
Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (John 10:10) — that is, that life might be full and meaningful.

Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life? Because ...

PRINCIPLE 2
All of us sin, and our sin has separated us from God.

WE ARE SINFUL
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

We were created to have fellowship with God, but because of our stubborn self-will, we chose to go our own way, and our fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is what the Bible calls sin.

WE ARE SEPARATED
“The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Death is spiritual separation from God.

This image illustrates that God is holy and people are sinful. A great gulf separates us. We are continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through our own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion – but we inevitably fail.

Word Affirmation: Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (John 10:10) (Don't just say it, mean it!)

“This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is what the Bible calls sin."

Central Truth