Connecting with God
At Sagemont Church, connecting with God is our goal. It is the purpose for which we all were created. However, anything contrary to the will of God is called sin (and we ALL do this daily). The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Separated by Sin
Isaiah 59:1-2 tells us that our sins separate us from God.
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your sins have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”
Sin not only separates us from God now, but it also separates us from Him eternally. This is known as “spiritual death.” However, God gives us great hope in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, BUT the free gift of God’s eternal life is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Notice the emphasis added on the word “but” – this is GREAT NEWS!)
Great News!
We cannot connect with God on our own, but He did provide his only son Jesus Christ to be our connection link. 1 Peter 3:18 tells us “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just and the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.”
Jesus, though God Himself, came as a human to offer His life on the cross as payment for our sins. Through Jesus, (who suffered, died, and rose from death), each of us can find the solution to our sin problem. Through Christ, we can be adopted into God’s family forever!
What an incredibly amazing gift! Jesus died to give you eternal life. ALL you must do is accept it. It’s that easy.
Will you accept His gift?
As powerful as God is, He allows all of us to make our own choices. He will not force Himself upon you. If you choose to connect with Jesus Christ, He will connect you with His Father. John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
You will NEVER receive a better gift in your lifetime. Jesus Christ can change your life like no one else. Once you accept Him, He will transform you into the man or woman He has designed you to be. Talk with Him daily and listen to what He teaches you through His word (the Bible). God is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When you begin to see these fruits of the spirit in your own life, you will know He is using you for bigger and better things than you could ever imagine on your own.
To BELIEVE in Jesus Christ is to believe that He died for your sin, rose from the dead, and you accept Him as your Savior. You can do this right now by praying this:
Father, I do believe that your son, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for my sin. I am forever grateful! I know that He suffered and died on the cross for me. Please come into my life and fill me with your presence. Change me from the inside out so that when others see me, they know I love you. Jesus, I accept you as the only way to connect with God the Father. Thank you for your amazing gift of forgiveness and love.