Christianity
Perhaps you're reading through the material on this site because you are on a quest, a spiritual journey. Maybe you feel compelled to seek for truth...to find God. It could be that circumstances in your life have left you with a lot of questions, and not too many answers. It may be that God is calling you. In your heart, in the deep places in the center of your being, there is a voice, an impression, a desire to find God, to connect with Him somehow.
The Bible teaches that we have all been disconnected from God. Mankind was originally created for God's pleasure and in His image. We were designed to be close to God, to talk, live and exist in harmony with Him. But He made us with free will, we have the choice to love God, or to leave Him.
To exist apart from God...well, it's hell. Our choice to reject God, and to do our own thing... the Bible calls that sin. Our sin is what separates us from God. All of us are guilty of rejecting God, of violating our conscience, and causing harm to ourselves, and to others. These sins, and the sinful nature that compels us to continue to reject God, they dig a canyon between us and God that seems to get wider and wider.
God's requirement for sin is death. But God is merciful, and gracious. In fact, He loved us so much that He sent his son, Jesus. Jesus, being eternally divine, became a human. He was born, to a virgin. He lived a sinless life. He was the only human who deserved to be spared from death.
When He was here on the earth, He gave many teachings about the kingdom of God, and how to live life to the fullest. He healed sick people, He loved the unlovable. He challenged the religious "right" and exposed their hypocrisy. He loved and accepted those outside the accepted religious community. He broke cultural and ethnic barriers. He set in motion the wheels of freedom. He also found a handful of people who were willing to live their lives in the manner he taught and modeled.
From about age 30 to 33 He made an impact on humanity that has echoed through the rest of history. The religious leaders couldn't handle his teachings, and the ideas he was opening up the people to. They were losing control. They decided to kill him. They had no legal right, and in fact they broke many of their own religious rules to have him crucified, nailed to a Roman cross.
But, it was not a sad ending, for this was all somehow part of God's divine plan. Jesus, who was sinless, actually took all the penalty of sin upon Himself as he hung on the cross. My sin, your sin, everyone's sin was placed on Him, as he died on that cross. His death opened up the way for us to be reconnected to God. Jesus did not remain dead for long. He died on a Friday, and on Sunday morning, he rose from the dead. He was resurrected. He had conquered death.
Jesus then revealed himself to his followers, over 500 people in all. 40 days later, he ascended into heaven, and left His followers to tell the story. He sent the Holy Spirit to empower them to be His witnesses. This all took place over 2000 years ago.Today there are well over a 2 billion people who identify themselves as Christians.
You see, our sin was not enough to permanently kill Jesus, and because of Jesus, our sin no longer has to permanently separate us from God. If we will believe in Jesus and become one of his followers, God accepts us. There is no dark secret of your past that He cannot forgive and heal. There is no sin so great that His death on the cross did not cover. The only thing that can continue to separate us from God, is our own, deliberate choice to reject His offer of salvation.
We can begin a new life, learning to live the way God designed us to. We also have the promise of eternal life. That means even when we die, our souls will live on, with God. To be a Christian means to yield our life and our will to Jesus. It means acknowledging our failures, and turning from the darkness, from our self centered living, from our addictions, from our bad habits. It means learning to forgive, to heal, and to love. It means opening ourselves up to a whole new way of thinking.
If you want to become a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, why don't you start right now. Take a step of faith, and ask Jesus to save you from your sin. At this very moment, He is knocking at the door of your heart, awaiting your response.
You can say a prayer like this:
"Jesus, I believe in you. I admit that I am a sinner. I have violated my conscience, and I have broken your laws. I have rejected God, and found myself separated from him. I believe that you died on the cross for me. Because you died my sins are forgiven and I can now be reconnected to God. Come into my life and change me. Make me into the person you intended for me to be. Thank you for saving me. Amen"
If you sincerely prayed this prayer, God has accepted you into his family. All of your sins have been washed away. In God's eyes, you have a clean slate. And the Holy Spirit will help you to begin to change from the inside out. There is an incredible life ahead of you, and eternal life that will continue even after this one has past. There is so much that God has for you, and we hope that you will contact us and let us know of your decision to become a Christian. There are so many changes that will begin taking place in your life as you begin to grow in your faith.
If you would like to talk to someone about your decision to become a Christian, or maybe you have more questions about becoming a Christian, please call us at (250) 563-1003 or send us an email. gtwy@gatewaycm.ca
John 3:16 (New Living Translation)
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
Recommended reading:
- Gospel of John
- Fundamentals in the Faith - Tim Osiowy
- Beginning Your New Life in Christ - Tim Osiowy (avialable as a gift from Gateway; ask the staff)