GOOD NEWS - GOSPEL EVANGELIC

2. HOW CAN YOU BE SAVED AND FIND RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?

1. Your Verification: Relationship with God don't work. You have not been able or willing to live according to God's will, you are not able "to love God with all your heart". You are weak and can not resist temptations. The Bible says, that "all have sinned". Perhaps in people's opinion and in your own opinion you are living a good life and morally on a high level, but in front of the Holy God you are however a sinner. "The wages of sin is death" and so eternal separation from God. With your own power you can't cross over this ravine of sin. You regret however your sin and you want honestly to find God.

2. God's promise to you: Bible and the Gospel promise us that JESUS will forgive our sins and provide us salvation from eternal damnation: " For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." (Rom.10) Gospel announces, that God has in His love and in the mercy come to search for lost persons. In all other religions people's own strength is emphasized in different ways to find genuine connection to God, which however does not succeed.

3. You too can be saved by believing in Jesus and receiving the gift that God has offered to you. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:8-10) Good life or high moral, although they are extremely good things, can't create connection to God. Religious rites or membership in some Christian church cannot save you. Everywhere in the world we find formal Christianity, which however serves only people's own often very selfish purposes. Only the way God has planned for you, you can find real life.

Although different people can experience salvation in various ways, there are however "certain steps to be taken" :

• Admit your need. (I have sinned)

• Be ready to turn away from your sin (to repent)

• Believe, that Jesus Christ died on on the cross on your behalf and rose up from the grave

• Invitate Jesus Christ into your life by praying, and ask Him to control it by the Holy Spirit

You can pray for example like this:

Beloved Lord Jesus! I know, that I am a sinner and I need your forgiveness. I believe, that you died for my sins. I want to turn away from my sin. I invitate You now to come into my heart and life. I want to trust in You as my Saviour and follow you as my Lord in the midst of your church. Help me, have mercy on me. Thank you, that you hear my prayer!

You can also pray in other words. The main point is, that your decision is genuine and you are ready to start a new life in connection to God. "But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name". (John 1:12)

Attend the meetings and services in the church and try to discuss your problems with some pastor or some believer you can thrust.

When you have now received Jesus as your Saviour, there are some very important steps to go on:

READING THE BIBLE. Already Luther stated, that the Bible is the only instruction guide in our religious lives. By reading Bible you learn to know better God and his will for your life. The faith Jesus gives you will grow and strengthen, because your own "belief" or imagination can lead you in wrong direction. Start reading for example from the Gospel of John and then Paul's letters. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim 3:16-17) Many people in our days think, that the Bible is a book like others or just a myth. But thousands and millions of people, who are trusting in the Bible, have found that it is really The Word of God.

PRAYER

Try to arrange yourself quiet moments, when you by thanksgiving and praying tell to your Heavenly Father about your needs. Try also to listen to His voice through the Bible and his Holy Spirit. Prayer is not primarily dependent on the words, most important is, that you open your heart to the influence of the Spirit..

Ask especially, that selfishness, hardness, bitterness and unforgiveness may go away from your heart and instead you might be filled with God's forgiving love.

Just as for everyone own home is important, also for every believer it is important to have a church or congregation, where you can get more teaching and you can rejoice in the relationship with other believers. Try to find a church with true believers. Although the local church comprise of imperfect people, it is however a irreplaceable spiritual resting-place in this hard and merciless world.

When you have experienced this new life in connection to God, it is easy to share the experienced pleasure also with others. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." You need not be afraid of this beforehand, because the Holy Spirit will guide you also in this respect. Many people fear, that they can not keep in faith, but also in this issue we get help from the above and fear is in vain.