May 11, 2011

Do you know the Four Spiritual Laws?

Just as there are physical laws that govern the physical universe, so are there spiritual laws which govern our relationship with God.


LAW ONE. GOD LOVES YOU AND HAS A WONDERFUL PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.

God's Love - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

God's Plan - "I came that they might have life, and might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life? Because...

LAW TWO. MAN IS SINFUL AND SEPARATED FROM GOD. THEREFORE, HE CANNOT KNOW AND EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE AND PLAN FOR HIS LIFE.

Man is Sinful
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans3:23).

Man was created to have fellowship with God; but because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

Man is Separated
"For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

The third law explains the only way to bridge this gap...

LAW THREE. JESUS CHRIST IS GOD'S ONLY PROVISION FOR MAN'S SIN. THROUGH HIM, YOU CAN KNOW AND EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE AND PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.

He died in our place
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

He rose from the dead
"Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred" (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

He is the only way to God
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me" (John 14:6).

LAW FOUR. WE MUST INDIVIDUALLY RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD; THEN WE CAN KNOW AND EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE AND PLAN FOR OUR LIVES.

We must receive Christ
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).

We receive Christ through faith
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, is is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

We receive Christ by personal invitation
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him (Revelation 3:20).

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us the kind of people He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.

The bible promises eternal life to all who receive Christ
"And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God in order that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:11-13).

"Thank God often that Christ is in your life and that He will never leave you" (Hebrew 13:5). You can know on the basis of His promise that Christ lives in you and that you have eternal life from the very moment you invite Him in. He will not deceive you.

Do not depend on feelings
The promise of God's word, the Bible--not our feelings--is our authority. The Christian lives by faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word. 

Suggestions for Christian Growth
Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus Christ. "The righteous man shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11). A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly with every detail of your life and to practice the following:

G Go to God in prayer daily (John 15:7)
R Read God's word daily (Acts 17:11) --begin with the Gospel of John
O Obey God moment by moment
W Witness for Christ by your life and words (Matthew 4:19, John 15:8)
T Trust God for every detail of your life (1 Peter 5:7)
H Holy Spirit--allow Him to control and empower you daily life and witness (Galatians 5:16-17, Acts 1:8)


      xoxo

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