He wants to have a living relationship with you. He wants you to know Him and His ways. He wants to give you new and eternal life that can begin today.

The problem is we have turned our back on God. Isaiah 53:6 says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each one of us has turned to his own way".

When we live our way, we disregard and disobey His commandments. We hate. We envy. We aren't truthful. This is sin. It is offensive to God.

God's law and His way of living can be summed up as "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37), and "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:39). Love is the fulfillment of God's law (Romans 13:9-10).

The result of our sin is spiritual death (Romans 6:23). If we die physically in this state, then we will exist in eternal torment (Isaiah 66:24).

God requires the sacrifice of innocent blood to make atonement for sin. The good news is that God sent His only Son Jesus to be the all sufficient sacrifice for us.

God sent Jesus in the form of a man. He didn't come as a king, nor a judge, but a servant. He showed us God. He was the fulfillment of God's law - love personified. He was life. He healed the sick and raised the dead. He was tempted in every way, as we are, but was without sin. Although He fulfilled the prophecies that were spoken of Him, the world didn't recognize Him. In fact, they crucified Him, because He claimed to be the Son of God.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us..." (2 Corinthians 5:21). He laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6). "It was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer..." (Isaiah 53:10). "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins..." (1 John 2:2). Jesus endured an agonizing death on a cross to satisy your debt to God's righteous law, so God might have mercy on you.

Jesus did not stay in the grave. Three days later, God raised Jesus from the dead, and appointed Him to be an eternal high priest and advocate for us before God. He is alive!

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies" (John 11:25). Believing means to trust or have faith in.

Jesus also said, "Whoever does not believe stands condemned already" (John 3:18). God's wrath remains on him (John 3:18).

There is no other way that we can gain a right relationship with God, and escape judgement. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me" (John 14:6).

It is God's gift to us that we can we can be saved by faith in Jesus. We can't gain God's favor by doing enough good deeds. It isn't by works so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

When we receive God's great gift of love and forgiveness, our spirit is reborn. We naturally love Him, and extend our love and forgiveness to others. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). God's gift enables us to live the way He intended.

Jesus says, "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in..." (Revelation 3:20).

If you would like to accept God's gift, and begin a living relationship with Him, pray a prayer similar to this:

"Dear God, I have wronged others and sinned against you. I believe that you sent your only Son Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for my sins. Please forgive me. I forsake my old selfish ways, and will live to honour and serve you. Come and live in me. Thank you for cleansing me and giving me new life. In Jesus' name, Amen."

If you prayed this prayer, share your decision with a Christian friend or pastor. If you are not already attending church, find one in which you can worship and grow in your faith. Following Christ's example, ask to be baptized in water as a public expression of your faith. Water baptism is a visual representation of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. You identify yourself with Christ when you are baptized. It also symbolizes what has happened in your life. You have died to your way of living, buried your sin in Christ's death, and are now living to honour and serve Him.

I'd love to hear about your decision to trust Christ. Please let me know by sending me an e-mail at david@westbrooksoftware.com.

Related Sites:
Can I Really Trust The Bible?
Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus
Evidence for the Resurrection