How to know God
GOD CREATED YOU TO KNOW & LOVE HIM
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
He also created people to multiply and fill the earth. He made them unique among all the other creatures by creating men and women in His own Image. This means that you are like God in ways that no other creature is. You are special, and He intends you to live your life in close fellowship with Him and in perfect obedience to Him. This relationship is what you were made for, and is meant to be characterized by delight and love toward Him that displays to all how great God is.
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD HAS BEEN RUINED BY SIN
However, the current state of the world shows us plainly that things have gotten off track from what God intended. Isaiah the prophet said, “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Isaiah 59:1), and the Apostle Paul writes that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). God is altogether pure and perfectly holy. So any stain of sin that you bear keeps you from drawing near to Him.
But even more seriously, God has told us in His word that "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). This means that because of your sin you forfeited eternal life in God, and exchanged it for physical and eternal death. This is the most significant problem that anyone could face. This is the most significant problem that you face. The just wrath of God against your sin will result in a sentencing to eternal death.
GOD HAS PROVIDED THE SOLUTION YOU NEED
But because God is immeasurably gracious, He has reached out to us. In His mercy and by His grace, God the Father has sent His Son, Jesus, to provide us a bridge back to Himself by removing our guilt and condemnation. John 3:16 states "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
The Son of God lived the perfectly righteous, unstained life that you should have lived. And on a Roman cross, he died the death that you were sentenced to die. In this way, he pleased God the Father with a righteous life, and satisfied the wrath of God against our sin with his death. After Jesus was confirmed dead, he was laid in a tomb. And after three days God raised him from the dead to indicate that this solution was fully accepted by God the Father.
Now, because there is a substitute who has both pleased God with a life well lived and satisfied God’s just wrath against your rebel heart, you who once were an enemy of God may now become a righteous and restored friend of God. In Romans 5:8 we read, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Through Christ, God calls His enemies friends.
YOU MUST TRUST JESUS TO BE RESTORED TO GOD
Though this is fantastic news for you who are “dead in your trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1), it is not automatically applied to you. It will only become truly great news for you when you humble yourself and demonstrate your trust in this solution by telling God you agree with Him and are ready to come back to Him.
In order to do this, you must first admit to God your spiritual need (1 John 1:9). Then you must decide to repent, or turn from your sin, and humbly trust the good news about Jesus. Admit that his life, death, burial, and resurrection were sufficient for you. This good news is a gift, for in Romans 6:23 we read “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Then, surrender your whole self to him as your Lord and Master, and he will give you the grace to live a life that pleases him. John 1:12 says "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
By trusting what God did through Jesus, you will be transferred from death to life (Colossians 3:13), be forgiven of all your sins (Colossians 3:14), and you will obtain the promise of everlasting life with the God who made you (John 3:16)! There is no greater news.
Now What?
If you have decided to trust God’s solution for your sin problem by believing the good news of Jesus, we rejoice with you! It is the greatest change that could ever happen to you.
And we as a local church body at Foothills Church want to celebrate with you and support you by helping you grow in your new life. We would encourage you to reach out to us. You should obey the Lord Jesus by being baptized, and then start reading the Bible regularly, establish a habit of prayer, and meet together for fellowship with other believers at a church gathering.
Please reach out to us and we'll send you some materials and share some other ways to help you grow in your relationship with Christ. We are delighted to hear of your decision and can’t wait to celebrate with you!