Steps to Peace With God - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (John 3:16)
Here are four steps to peace with God. Billy Graham discovered the secret to effectiveness in his preaching which we all need. Many often overlook this one element that is so central to the Christian faith - the preaching of Christ crucified on the cross as a substitutionary payment for the forgiveness of sins.
1. RECOGNIZE GOD’S PLAN - Peace and Life
God loves you and wants to give you His plan that begins with the gift of eternal life that is filled with peace, satisfying and good. However, billions of people are not saved because they do not know that they are lost and headed for hell. Only when people recognize that they need to trust Christ alone as their Savior from sin can they recognize God’s plan for their life.
Many go through their entire life not recognizing God’s will for their life and consequently suffer distress, frustration and emptiness then eventually hell and eternal judgment.
Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
2. REALIZE OUR PROBLEM - Separation from God
People chose to disobey God and go their own way. When sin entered the world, because of man’s disobedience, death passed upon all men, for we have all sinned through the sin of Adam as well as with our own disobedience to God’s holy character.
Realizing that one is separated from God means that one fully comprehends the condition of one who is at enmity with our Creator. Paul wrote about this state in Ephesians 2:1-3 when he wrote,
"You were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient... Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath."
The Bible says, "For everyon ehas sinned and is far away from God’s saving presence and glory." (Rom. 3:23)
3. RESPOND TO GOD’S REMEDY - Cross of Christ
Christ died, was buried and resurrected from the dead to provide a sacrificial atonement for the forgiveness of all our past, present and future sins if we will respond to Him with saving faith. It is not enough to just say we believe in Christ. We must place our trust in Christ as the substitutionary payment for the forgiveness of our sins. We must trust Christ to become our personal Savior from sin as the one who became our sin bearer.
The Bible teaches, "But God has demonstrated his own love for us. It was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us... and not just for our sins only, but also for the sins of the world." (Rom 5:8)
Jesus is the medicine we need to respond to if we want to receive the remedy for sin, death, hell and eternal separation from God.
4. RECEIVE GOD’S SON - Savior and Lord
A person crosses the bridge to become a member of God’s eternal family when you ask Christ to come into your life and receive Him by saving faith.
The Bible says, "But to as many as did receive and welcome Him. He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is to those who believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely alone on) His name - the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." (John 1:12) Amplified Bible
Only when we personally invite Christ into our life as our Savior and Lord do we become a son or daughter of God. Until that time we are not a part of God’s eternal family.
The Bible teaches, "Who owe their birth neither to bloodlines nor to the will of the flesh (that of physical impulse) nor to the will of man (that of a natural father or mother) but to God. (They are born of God and receive His nature into their soul)." (John 1:13) Amplified Bible
The INVITATION IS TO:
Repent (turn from your sins) and by faith receive Jesus Christ into your heart and life and follow Him in obedience as your Lord and Savior.
PRAYER OF COMMITMENT:
"Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I receive You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me now. Amen."
If you want further help in the decision you have made, write to
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. PO Box 779, Minneapolis, MN 55440
