Do you feel disconnected from God?

 At some point we all are.  Humanity has a natural desire to be in charge of our own lives and to ignore God’s principles for living. The Bible calls this attitude “sin” or separation.

 “All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, and each of us has turned to his own way.”  Isaiah 53:6

 Sin separates us from God and causes us to live our lives out of His will.

 “The trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God.”  Isaiah 59:2

 “All have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious ideal.”  Romans 3:23

 It looks like this…

 All the best attempts in the world won’t get you to where you need to be.  Many people may say: 

• “My mother was a Christian, so…”          
• “I’ll work real hard and earn it.”
• “It doesn’t matter what you believe, just be sincere.”
• “I’m better than so-and-so.”
• “I’ll give up all my bad habits.”
• “I’ll be religious and go to church.”

 The Bible teaches us a relationship with God is NOT based on GOOD WORKS or RELIGION.  

I. WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

  “Jesus said, ‘I AM THE WAY, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except THROUGH ME!’”  John 14:6

 God came to earth as a human being [in Jesus] to bring us back to Himself. If any other way would have worked, Jesus would not have had to come.  “The Way” is through the person of Jesus!

 “The wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Roman 6:23

 JESUS PAID THE PRICE FOR YOUR SINS!

“For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people.  He is the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5

WHY DID GOD SEND JESUS TO DIE IN YOUR PLACE?

 God did this for YOU because He loves YOU and wants YOU to know Him.

 “God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

 God has already done His part to restore our relationship to Him. HE TOOK THE INITIATIVE.  NOW HE WAITS FOR EACH OF US to individually ACCEPT what He has done for us.

 WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?

 1.  ADMIT THAT I HAVE IGNORED GOD’S PRINCIPLES AND ASK HIM TO FORGIVE MY SINS.

 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from every wrong.”  1 John 1:9

 2.  BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED TO PAY FOR MY SINS AND THAT HE ROSE AGAIN, AND IS ALIVE TODAY.

  “If you confess that Jesus is your Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Romans 10:9

 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name (Jesus) by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12

 3.  ACCEPT GOD’S FREE GIFT OF SALVATION. DON’T TRY TO EARN IT.

 “For it is by grace you are 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

 Our relationship to God is not restored by anything we do, but on the basis on what Jesus already did for us!

  4.  INVITE JESUS CHRIST TO COME INTO MY LIFE AND BE THE DIRECTOR (“LORD”) OF MY LIFE.

 “To all who receive Him, He gives the right to become children of God. All we need to do is to trust Him to save us. All those who believe this are reborn! … Not a physical rebirth …  but from the will of God!”  John 1:12-13

 “Jesus says, ‘Listen!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…’”  Revelation 3:30

 YOU CAN TAKE THESE STEPS BY PRAYING A SIMPLE PRAYER OF COMMITMENT TO GOD.  IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE THIS…

 “Dear Jesus, thank you for making me and loving me, even when I’ve ignored you and gone my own way.  I realize I need you in my life and I’m sorry for my sins.  I ask you to forgive me. Thank you for dying on the cross for me.  Please help me to understand it more.  As much as I know how, I want to follow you from now on.  Please come into my life and make me a new person inside.  I accept your gift of salvation.  Please help me to grow now as a Christian.”

If you prayed a prayer like this to God, you have committed your life to Christ.  You have come to KNOW Him.  Congratulations!   You have made the most important decision in your life: 

 It Forgives Your Past, Secures Your Future, & Makes Your Present Manageable With God’s Help.

  “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Romans 10:13

If you have any questions, or if I can help you grow in any way please let me know.

Darrell

 For more about The Ridge Fellowship go to www.ridgefellowship.com 

To see more about our beliefs go to

http://theridgeblog.com/category/our-beliefs/