New Believers Bible - Flipbook - Page 90
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A17
HOW YOU CAN KNOW GOD
people to repent—to acknowledge their sinning, change their minds, and
change the direction of their lives.
Look at it this way. In the past, we have been blinded by our sins, causing
us to run from God. As we repent, we do a “U-turn” and start running toward
him. It is not enough just to be sorry for our sins. We must also change our
lifestyle, for the Bible teaches that “The kind of sorrow God wants us to
experience leads us away from sin” (2 Corinthians 7:10). In other words, if
you are really sorry for something, it will result in a change in your actions.
The apostle Paul summed up this change succinctly when he quoted Jesus,
who had said that people must “turn from darkness to light and from the
power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins
and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me”
(Acts 26:18).
You see, there are some things only God can do and some things only you
can do. Only God can remove your sins and give you the gift of eternal life,
but only you can turn from your sins and receive Jesus as your Savior. That
brings up the second thing you must do to respond to God’s offer.
2. Believe in Jesus Christ and Receive Him into Your Life. Having seen
the enormity of your sin and decided to turn from it, you then must believe
in and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Becoming a Christian,
however, is far more than following a creed or trying to live by certain
standards. Jesus said that you must be “born again,” or more literally, “born
from above” (John 3:3). This spiritual rebirth happens when we personally
believe in Jesus Christ, receive him by inviting him into our lives, and turn
from our sins. In other words, we ask Jesus to come and take residence in
our lives, making the changes he deems necessary. A person must take this
all-important step in order to become a child of God.
Notice that this offer is yours for the asking, and it is free. You don’t have
to work for it, trying to clean up your life before you make this life-changing
decision. The Bible says, “The free gift of God is eternal life through Christ
Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Being a Christian also means having a relationship with the living God. In
Revelation 3:20, Jesus said, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear
my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together
as friends.” To better understand the meaning of this verse, it is important
to understand the culture at the time it was written. Eating together in Bible
times was a long, drawn-out affair. People would not sit on chairs behind
tables in a formal setting as we do, but they would sit on the floor, reclining
on pillows around a low table. The relaxed atmosphere made meals a time
when you would not only satisfy your appetite but also receive a gratifying
