About Faith

You Were Created with Value.
In Psalm 139:13-14 the Bible says, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made!"
God Loves You.
"For 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 Wants You to Know Him.
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3)

Why is it that many people do not have a close and personal relationship with God?

Our Sin Keeps Us Separated from God.
"We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way." (Isaiah 53:6) Sin means going our own independent way and living life for ourselves. Sin is also an attitude we demonstrate by ignoring or rejecting God.
Who Has Sinned?
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
What Happens When We Sin?
"But your iniquities (sins) have separated you from your God." (Isaiah 59:2) "For the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) God is holy and perfect, therefore he cannot accept us in our sin, it causes a chasm between God and us. Death, which ultimately means eternal separation from God, is the penalty of our sin.

What can I do about my separation from God?

"I Can Fill the Chasm…"
Some people try to fill the chasm with careers, possessions, relationships, and such. Jesus said, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36)
"I Can Bridge the Chasm…"
Others attempt to bridge the chasm by going to church, giving to the poor, or living a moral life. Yet the Bible is clear that none of us can be good enough to bridge the chasm to God. "All our righteous acts are like filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6)
"I Can Deny the Chasm…"
Some people deny that they are even sinners and presume to be well-qualified to go to heaven one day. But wishful thinking doesn’t change reality. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

Jesus is the Only Bridge to God.
Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Jesus is the unique and perfect Son of God. Only his sinless life could be offered as a payment for our sins.
Why Did Jesus Have To Die?
"…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Hebrews 9:22) Jesus, being without sin, died once to pay the penalty for our sins, so we might be forgiven.
Why Did Jesus Rise From the Dead?
"Christ (Jesus) died for sins once for all...to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18) Jesus rose from the dead to prove he had conquered death and could give us eternal life.

How can you begin your personal relationship with God?

Repentance
Admit your sins and turn from anything that is not pleasing to God. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us." (1 John 1:9)
Faith
Put your faith in Jesus as your Savior – as the only one who can forgive your sins. "To all who received him...he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)
Trust
Transfer your trust from what you have been doing to what Jesus did for you on the cross. Receive Jesus as Lord and allow him to direct your life and make you what he wants you to be. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

You Can Begin Your Personal Relationship With God by Receiving Jesus by Faith.
You can express your faith (trust) through prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. This prayer will help you express yourself to God. But even more important than your words is your attitude. Talk to God honestly and humbly, and He will hear you.

"Jesus, I know that I am sinful and in need of forgiveness. I want to stop going my own way in life and follow you. I believe you died on the cross for me, to pay the penalty for my sins. I ask you to forgive my sins. I receive you as my Savior and Lord and accept the free gift of eternal life. I put my faith in you and ask you to help me be the kind of person you want me to be. Amen."

Can you say this and mean it? You can pray right now and trust Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your life, as he promised.

You became a child of God.
"To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)
God will never leave you.
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
God completely forgives your sin.
"He forgave us all our sins…he took it away, nailing it to the cross." (Colossians 2:13-14)
God assures you that you have eternal life.
"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)
God gives you his Holy Spirit to enable you to live the Christian life.
"So I say live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Galatians 5:16)

• Tell those who are most important in your life about the decision that you just made.
• Call the church office and let us know of your decision to follow Jesus. The number is 630.485.3300.
• Request a copy of the "Next Steps" packet. We can provide a mentor who will go through this material with you.
• Share the Good News of Jesus with someone that needs to hear about God's love and how he can change their life too.