Time to look Pathway to hope
Choices . . . Choices . . . My way “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
Me
God’s way God did not make people robots. He elevated us in giving the high privilege of choice. Choice to love God or not to love God.
Going our own way not God’s way puts the crown on Me not him.
Why
is this the case? Why do we do this? Surely “the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart”
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
God's says of mankind: “every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood” (Genesis 8:21) (References in brackets are verses from the bible)
Jesus said: "from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man The bad news is that we are inclined to be self-centred, we tend to sin by our very nature...and it comes easily.
Who me? Yes everyone!
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)
Separated “Your sins Have separated you from your God; your sins have Hidden his face from you, So that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)
Choice without consequences makes us less than human. Our choices have consequences... ...eternal consequences
God does not go away because we cannot see him, deep down we know he is there, but we are cut off from him and do not experience his love and care over us in our daily lives.
Man Stuck!....
Morality Doing Good Religion Philosophy
Sin
God
Despite trying our best we cannot change the way we are, or the situation we find ourselves in before a Holy God. What we have done is on record and will one day be brought before God for his right judgment.
“The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.” (1 Timothy 5:24) “For in Adam all die, (1 Corinthians 15:22)
Death
Here lies the body of John Brow n
“For the wages of sin is death, (Romans 6:23)
Separation from God produces Death. We may be walking and breathing but this separation cuts us off from the Life of God.
where can we turn for help?
... to God who sends the rescuer... God knows that man cannot change himself or save himself. All our best efforts fail. God sent his Only Son Jesus Christ who lived the perfect life that we fail to live. He came into the world and fully obeyed God’s Law at every point, all of the time. Jesus’ perfection means his life can be given up to pay off the debt/guilt of others.
“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.”
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
(John 3:17)
(John 3:16)
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
(1 Peter 2:24)
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the good for the bad, to bring many to God. (1 Peter 3:18)
How can we understand the cross?
God averts the punishment due to us directing it instead to the one being sacrificed as a substitute. Just as lightning might be averted onto someone else so the first person is saved at the expense of the other who dies.
Time to consider “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5) Jesus.... Man
....the Bridge
Jesus
God
The only way
“Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) “On the third day he will rise again.” (Luke 18:33)
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:6)
What does the empty tomb mean? Jesus’ resurrection from the dead confirms the work at the cross was completed and accepted. Now at last there is a way to be forgiven. That great enemy death and judgment has been conquered and the way to heaven open for all who trust in him.
How about you?
You have a choice.....
Are you grieved at having broken God’s law? And realise you need help? Or do you say “not me....”
Time to turn God urges you to turn to Christ in repentance and declare Him Lord of your life.... will you follow millions of others and do just that?
Jesus
Jesus said: “Whoever comes to me I will never turn away.” (John 6:37)
What must I now do?.... +Admit that you have sinned against a Holy God and deserve nothing but his anger.
+Confess your sin to him. Turn from it. Turn to Jesus. +Plead with Him that he might have mercy on you. Ask the Lord to forgive you because of his death on the cross on your behalf.
+Show that you have made Jesus your Lord and master by serving him with all your life from now onwards. ‘Love the Lord you God with all your heart, soul, mind and Strength’ (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Trusting God’s promises Declared not guilty!
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1) Secure!
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:35-37)
God’s keeping power
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
The new believer’s checklist -
! Read God’s word the bible* at least every day to hear from God and learn from Him. ! Pray to God through Jesus that your new relationship may be strengthened and you might know God at work in increasing ways each day. ! Meet with other believers and share your new life with them as they share their lives with you. ! Find a local church to join. (For help finding a local church fill out a form on the website below). Jesus lives in
his people the church, it is His body on earth. It is a ‘forever’ family, and described as a building in which he lives.
For further help: > Contact the person who gave this leaflet to you. > Contact the address / church stamped on the reverse. > Contact www.now-ask.com* (*submit a form for a free bible portion; the gospel of Luke).
Finished the booklet? There are now some options:
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C
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