1 Man was created to know, love and serve God. The following four points explain the basis on which you can get to know God is a personal way.
God loves you and created you to have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPwith him.

God loves you
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16)
(References contained in this appendix should be read in context from the Bible when ever possible. Unless otherwise stated reference are taken from the New InternationalVersion,)

God wants you to know him Jesus said:
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3)
"I have come that they may have life and have it to the full ... I am the good shepherd;
I know my sheep and my sheep know me.,, (John 10:10,14).
Why is it that most people do not have this kind of relationship with God?

2 Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God who is perfect and just.
Because of sin the relationship between God and Man is broken.

Man is sinful
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans3:23).
God created us to know and love Him. But we have failed to love and obey God and have gone our own way. We show our independence and self-will by being hostile towards God or just being indifferent. This attitude is what the Bible calls sin.

Man is separated
"Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you." (Isaiah 59:2).
"For the wages of sin is death." (eternal and spiritual separation from God) (Romans 6:23).

This diagram shows that God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates the two.
Even though separated from God, man still tries to bridge this gulf through his own efforts in leading a good life, or seeks fulfillment in money, possessions, religion or relationships. However, all attempts will eventually fail because they cannot deal with the problem of his own sin. The third point give us the only answer to this problem.

3 Jesus Christ is God's ONLY solution for man's sin. Through Him you can have a personal relationship with God.

He died in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to
God" (1 Peter 3:18).
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

He rose from the dead having completely paid for our sins.
"But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. (Acts 13:27,38).

He is the only way 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)

We are separated from God because of our sins but God sent His Son Jesus to pay the penalty for sin, and bridge this gulf. By laying down His life He had made it possible for us to receive forgiveness and enter into a personal relationship with God.
How can we begin this personal relationship with God?

4 To enter into this new relationship with God we must put our TRUST in Christ and His sacrifice for us.

Trusting not Trying
"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." (Titus 3:4).
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no-one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10).

We can express our trust by responding to His invitation.
Jesus says:
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in an eat with him and he with me." (Revelation 3:20).
It is not enough to know these points in your mind or have a religious experience. In order to make an adult commitment to Christ there must be a decision of your will. The following diagram explains this.

The two circles represent two kinds of people.

This diagram illustrates a life where the relationship with God is broken and payment for sin will be required.

This diagram represents a person who has accepted God's solution for his sin and willingly chooses to obey Christ as Lord.

Which circle better represents your life?
Which circle do you want to represent your life?
The following explains how you can invite Christ into your life and receive this gift of a relationship with God:

You can invite Christ into your life by faith expressed in prayer. (Prayer is simply talking to God).
God knows your heart is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here is a suggested prayer:
"Lord Jesus, / realize that I am running my own life and have sinned against You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I want to know You personally. / open the door of my life and ask You to come in. As You have given Your life for me, now give You control of my life. Make me the kind of person You've always wanted me to be."
Could you say this to God, and mean it?
If so, pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life as He promised.

What happens when you put trust in Christ?
Jesus Christ comes into your life by His Spirit and He never leaves or forsakes you. (Revelation 3:20)
You are reborn as a child of God into His family. (John 1:12).
Your debt of sin is cancelled out as you are made alive in your heart with Christ and fully forgiven. (Colossians 2:13,14) You receive the gift of eternal life.
"God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son; anyone who has the Son has life, anyone who does not have the Son does not have life. I have written all this to you so that you who believe in the name of the Son of God may be sure that you have eternal life."(1 John 5:11-13, Jerusalem Bible).

If you have not put your trust in Christ and are not yet sure, consider these truths carefully. You are responsible to God for your decision.
"Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is not other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved". (Acts 4:12).
How to know that Christ is in your life
If you have asked Christ into your life you can be sure that God has answered your prayer. You don't have to continually plead with Christ to come in because God has promised this and His Word can be trusted.
"Never will I leave you: never will I forsake you."(Hebrews 13:5).
Thank God often that He is in your life, relate to Him as His child and praise Him for His gift of eternal life.
What if I don't feel any different?

Do not depend on feelings
We rely on the promises of God's Word, not on our feelings. The Christian lives by faith (trust) in the reliability of God Himself and His Word. This train diagram illustrates the connection between fact (God and His Word), faith (our trust in God and His Word), and feeling
(a result of our faith and obedience).

A train is pulled by the engine, not by the guard's van. In the same way, put your trust in the fact of God's promises. The more fuel of faith (trust) you put into the facts of God's promises the more you will grow in your relationship with God. Do not allow your faith to depend on your feelings. ''We live by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Suggestions for Christian Growth
Our relationship with Christ grows as we trust God more and more with every detail of our lives. This trust is developed through:
G= Getting to know God through reading the Bible (2 Timothy 3:14-17).
R= Responding to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6)
O= Obeying God moment by moment (Luke 6:46-49)
W= Witnessing for Christ by your life and words (Acts 4:13)
T= Trusting Jesus to fill you with His Spirit moment by moment (Ephesians 5:18)
H= Having fellowship with other Christians (Hebrews 10:25)
Several logs burn brightly together, but put one aside on the cold hearth and its fire goes out. Take the initiative and join regularly with others who have allowed Christ to be their Saviour and are enjoying His love.

If this booklet has been helpful to you please read or give it to someone else. You may help another person to come to know God personally.
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