STEPS TO PEACE WITH GOD Most people have an idea of what they believe it will take to be accepted by God. After all, who likes the idea of leaving this life without being on good terms with him? Thankfully, it's possible to be certain that you've made peace with God, but the way must be chosen during this life. Here are the steps drawn from God's book, the Bible: 1 UNDERSTAND GOD'S PURPOSES-- PEACE AND ETERNAL LIFE God loves you and wants you to experience peace and eternal, fulfilling life. The Bible says: We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) Why don't most people have this peace and the fulfilling (abundant) life that God intended for us to have? 2 ADMIT THE PROBLEM-- OUR SIN AND SEPARATION God did not create us like robots to automatically love and mechanically obey him. God gave us a will and the freedom to choose. The first man and woman chose to disobey God and go their own willful way. And we still make that choice today. This results in separation from God. The Bible says: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) People have tried many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God. The Bible says: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12) Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God. (Isaiah 59:2) No bridge reaches God . . . except one. 3 DISCOVER GOD'S BRIDGE-- THE CROSS Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave. Though he was God's sinless Son, he became a human, took our place, and paid the penalty for our sin, bridging the gap between God and us. The Bible says: For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5) Christ . . . suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. (1 Peter 3:18) God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. . . . The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 5:8; 6:23) Christ died for our sins . . . he was buried . . . he was raised on the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) God has provided the only way to forgiveness of sin and eternal life. But each person must make a choice. 4 EMBRACE THE TRUTH-- RECEIVE CHRIST We must trust Jesus Christ as our Savior and receive him by personal choice. Jesus says: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) The Bible says: To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. (John 3:36) WHAT IS YOUR DECISION? Will you receive Jesus Christ right now and trust in him alone for forgiveness and eternal life? The Bible says that's the only way to find peace with God - Admit your need--that you are a sinner in need of God's forgiveness. - Be willing to turn from trusting in anything else for eternal life and trust only in Christ. - Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross, came back to life from the grave, and is your only way to heaven. - Receive Jesus's offer to forgive your sins and come into your life as your Savior. You may want to tell him in words like these: Dear Jesus, thank you for