|
All of humanity is made in God's image, and is given the freedom to create, reason, love, and live in accordance with God's will. Often, we seek our own will instead of God's, and this is known as sin. Sin harms our relationship with God and other people. Since human beings are imperfect and cannot free themselves from sin, God offers to redeem us from sin through His Son, Jesus Christ.
God, in the Person of Jesus Christ took on our human nature to reconcile us to Him. He lived a life of obediance and was willing to die on the cross to free us from the power of sin and reconcile us to God. On the third day He rose from the dead. After appearing to His disciples for 40 days, He ascended into heaven and gave His followers the gift of the Holy Spirit. By accepting Jesus, we share in His victory over sin and receive the gift of eternal life.
If you are ready to receive Jesus into your heart and life, you may begin with a simple prayer for guidance such as this: "Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and need Your grace in my life. I thank you for Jesus sacrifice on the cross for my redemption. I wish to truly serve You and live my life in accordance with Your will, with Your Holy Spirit's guidance. I ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen." Establish a pattern of daily prayer. You may wish to use a book of prayers or pray in your own words, just like you are talking to a friend. God hears both kinds of prayers.
If you don't have a Bible, you may want to buy one, to better understand God through His Word. You may want to invest in a study Bible or at least a good commentary. Begin your Bible reading with a prayer to better understand God's Word. Some popular Bibles include: The King James (or Authorized) Version, which uses very traditional language, The Revised and New Revised Standard Versions (these are a modern revision of the King James), New international Version and New Living Translation (designed to be reader-friendly), New King James Version (uses the same phrasing as the KJV but modern language), and the Jerusalem and New American Bibles (popular Catholic translations).
Worship and fellowship with other Christians are also an essential part of your walk with Christ. Most churches allow for a variety of thought on many issues while being in unity on essential beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, and human nature. You may wish to find out about the teachings of any church before you attend, because some teach doctrines that contradict the teachings of most other Christians. If you're not sure where to start, or not sure how to find a church in your area, you may contact me and I'll be glad to assist.
Please feel free to visit my Christian forum as well. If you'd like us to pray for you as you consider Christ, let us know. May God bless you!