AND NOW... A FREE GIFT FROM
BRENNEMAN EXCAVATING
Right now you might be saying,
"What free gift??"
It's the gift of
"salvation" - but what is salvation? First, let's see
what salvation is not. Salvation is not the same thing
as "religion."
Did you know that God hates
religion?
That's right - when you
have a girlfriend or boyfriend (or you get married), do
you want a "religious experience" with that person, or
do you want a relationship with them? You want a
relationship, of course! The same holds true with
God - He just wants a one-on-one relationship
with you, like you would have with a friend. The
difference is, there's no way to "earn" this gift of a
relationship with God, because it's free. In
fact, the Bible says that it is "by grace you have been
saved through faith... it is the gift of God, not of
works, so that no one can boast," (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Do
you remember when you were younger? At Christmas when
your mom or dad gave you Christmas gifts, did you have
to pay for them? Of course not. The same holds true with
God.
But what if you're already a
"good person"?
Maybe you already believe
in God, haven't killed anyone, and all that? Why should
you care about salvation? First of all, there's no such
thing as a "good person." God says in Romans 3:23 that
"all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We
are all separated from God by sin - until we ask Jesus
into our hearts. Secondly, it isn't enough to just
believe there is a God. Jesus said that unless you are
"born again," you cannot see the kingdom of God (John
3:3). Being "born again" means more than just believing
that Jesus Christ/God exists - it means asking Jesus
into your heart by faith, totally relying on what He did
on the cross for you. He has forgiven all of your
sins.
So you think that you've done
some "horrible" things?
You're a "bad person"?
You might be thinking that there's no way God could
forgive you. The truth is, God says in John 6:37 that
anyone who comes to Him will not be cast out!
Remember that if you could save yourself (by being
"good," or becoming a church member, or even by being
water-baptized), there would have been no point in Jesus
dying on the cross. He died because there is no way you
can save yourself.
So what now?
To receive God's free
gift of salvation, you just need to ask Him for it. Pray
this prayer - based on Romans 10:9, 10 in the Bible:
"Jesus, I confess
that I need You. My own works are not good enough. I
have sinned, and I need to receive this free gift. I
confess you as Lord, and believe in my heart that God
raised you from the dead. Lord Jesus, fill me with your
Holy Spirit; guide me to a Bible-believing church; and
help me to read your Word. Thank you for dying for me."
You are now a born again
Christian.
Remember, you're not
"religious." Instead, you have a personal, one-on-one
relationship with God. You can think of God the Father
as your "spiritual dad" (remember He is a good
Father). Think of God the Son (Jesus) as your Lord and
Savior - as your "best friend." Think of God the Spirit
(the Holy Spirit) as the Spirit of God that lives in
you. Think about it - God actually wants to live "in
you"!
If anyone ever comes to
you and asks if you're sure that you're going to Heaven,
you can say "yes," because of what Jesus did on the
cross! Think about this verse from the Bible, found in 2
Corinthians 5:17. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He
is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold,
all things have become new." Now you can live not by how
you "feel," but by who God says you are. God says
you are now His son or daughter (Galatians 3:26,
27)!
God is waiting, and He loves
YOU!
If you would like some more information or would like to
visit the church Rodney and his family attend click on the following
link.
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