Encounter Jesus

God created us to be in a relationship with Him.

The Bible, however, tells us that our relationship with God has been broken by sin and that sin has separated us from God.  If that weren’t bad enough, the Bible goes on to tell us that the punishment for our sin is death.  When we realize this, our natural reaction is to do something to get back in God’s good graces and hope that by cleaning up, doing better, or trying harder, God might forgive us.  But there is nothing we can do to earn God’s forgiveness.  Nothing. That’s the bad news.

But the Good News (the Gospel) is this: God sent His Son Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin and to restore our relationship with Him. Jesus lived a sinless, perfect life here on earth (the life we never could have lived) and died on the cross where He suffered the full wrath of God (dying the death we never could have died) to pay the penalty for our sin.

Jesus took our sin record, died for it, and offers us His perfect record in return.  Once again, nothing that we have earned.  Instead, this is God’s gift to us.  This gift, like all gifts must be received.  We receive God’s gift of salvation by placing our faith in Christ.

If you think you would like to receive this gift, you can do so today by saying a prayer like this: “Heavenly Father, I realize that my sins have separated me from you and that I can never make up for what I have done.  Thank you for loving me and sending your Son Jesus to die for my sins.  I receive your gift of salvation and ask that You become Lord of my life.  In Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you have prayed this prayer or would like to know more about what it means to follow Jesus, please call our church office at 706-541-1086, or find someone in our Welcome Center (near the Sanctuary) who can help you take your next steps with Jesus.