Is there anybody out there?

How do I know the Bible is true?

How do I know that Jesus really is who He claims to be, and does it really matter?

That’s all great...But what does it have to do with me?

Do I matter to God?

Why does God allow suffering?

I am interested in Christianity, but I hate religion.

I've heard a lot about Islam lately. Don't all religions lead to God?

I'd like to talk to someone about the questions I have.

I'm interested in being part of a discussion group that deals with Tough Questions about God.

I want to know how to get a copy of the Bible in language that I can relate to.

Want to start a relationship with Jesus or want to learn more about Getting to Know God?

Resources for further study

Is there anybody out there?

We all seek for meaning and purpose in life.  We all encounter it – that feeling that something’s missing. It’s an almost indefinable restlessness, a spiritual yearning. What are you looking for? Many people just aren’t sure what it is, or what will fill the void, but they know they want something more. Some will look almost anywhere to find it– human relationships, material wealth, or a vast number of other things. It has been said that the deepest longings of the human heart can be traced back to God. Yet, ironically, many people soon come to realize that even religion is an inadequate and empty means of finding purpose in life or relating to God. In religion, we see man’s attempt to categorize certain views about God, to reach God or please Him somehow, or to find fulfillment through mystical means. In itself, religion, no matter where it’s found, tends to lead to disappointment, disillusionment, and distraction from what is essential. The Bible says that the only way to find hope and fulfillment in life is by following Jesus Christ and by developing your relationships with God and with other people. Jesus Himself said, "My purpose is to give life in all of its fullness."  (Recorded in John, chapter 10, verse 10)

Often people are interested in God because they want Him to change their circumstances or make them happy.  They may feel that if God is there, He should prevent them from experiencing unhappiness in life. After all, life can be tough. In fact, many people reject God because of painful experiences in their past. But even believers– although they often speak of experiencing greater joy, peace and fulfillment –  would also acknowledge difficult times. The Bible is the book that tells us about God– and us. As you read it, you may be surprised to find out how much He has already done for us. And there’s more that He wants to do in your life.

Others fear the changes that God may want to make in their lives.  It is true that we should "count the cost" of following Him. But there is a cost in not following Him as well. Don’t let fear of change or fear of commitment keep you from the truth. The Bible tells us that God wants us enjoy a relationship with Him in this life and that He has a wonderful plan (purpose) for us.  God loves you deeply and will accept you where you are. But He also loves you too much to leave you there.

There are those who approach God only on an intellectual basis.  They feel that humans have the choice to "figure out" God, study Him or dismiss Him, but that He has no personal relevance in their own lives.  In truth, God is relevant to everyone. Every person must come to terms with Him – on His terms. God is much more than just an idea. He is the One who knows you and wants to be involved with you at the very core of your life. Sometimes when people say they have intellectual reasons for denying the Bible or God Himself, it may be that they are not willing to look at themselves and let go of some things that they know offend God.

On the other hand, you may have very legitimate questions about God and the Bible. You have the right to ask these questions and to benefit from informed answers. But remember: You don’t have to have every question answered right away. In other words, you don’t have to know everything in order to know whth you need to know. There’s probably no end to the questions you could ask, but don’t let your questions or objections get in the way. In fact, you may always have questions, and you may not always have every question answered to your complete satisfaction, but there comes a point when you must decide whether you will trust God or not. Decide that you will seek answers about God and the Bible for a certain time, but then attempt to reach an appropriate conclusion to your search. Then take the appropriate action based on that decision. Be honest and open‑minded. Just be sure you are searching in the right places, and asking the right questions. For instance, talk to people who have a genuine relationship with God– people who demonstrate their love for Him and who live by His principles. Ask them what they believe and why. And ask God to help you in your search.  Ask Him to guard you from being misled, or from giving up. He is able to help you.

Some may ask, why bother with God at all?  God matters, because you matter to God. And that being the case, wouldn’t it stand to reason that life without Him is only a shadow of what it could be? 

The story has been told about a man making his way through the desert who came upon an old hand pump. He had no water, and by this time was very thirsty. Next to the pump was a sealed jar and a note that instructed whoever came along to pour the little bit of water into the pump to prime it, and then they’d have plenty of water. If you were that man, what would you do? Would you drink the small amount of water in the jar or risk pouring it into the pump in hopes of much more?  Ask yourself those questions with your life in view.

Then consider the following:

Is the life you’ve known enough for you? Are you willing to take the risk that there’s nothing more? Spiritually speaking, are you willing to risk your own survival by letting this life slip away without finding out? Or will you recognize that there’s more to life than what you’ve experienced and take a step of faith to discover the truth?  

Those who honestly seek God on His terms are not disappointed:

"If you look for Me in earnest, you will find Me when you seek Me."
          (Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 13) 

"Ask and you will receive.  Search, and you will find.  Knock, and the door will be opened for you.  Everyone who asks will receive.  Everyone who searches will find.  And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks."  
            (Matthew, chapter 7, verses 7, 8)

Many people have an interest in God, but just don’t know where to begin to look.  It can be confusing if you listen to conflicting beliefs about God. Following Him is ultimately a matter of faith, but it must also make sense. Often people allow their preconceived notions from the past or misinformation from others to taint their search. Sometimes, painful past experiences cloud their perception of what God is like. However, it’s best to realize that if you want to know about something or someone, you should go to the source. The same is true for God. All we can know about Him is what He has chosen to reveal about Himself.

"Your Word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk."  

(Psalm 119, verse 105)

"Long ago in many ways and at many times, God’s prophets spoke His message to our ancestors. But now at last, God sent His Son [Jesus] to bring His message to us. "(Hebrews, chapter 1, verses 1, 2)

How do I know the Bible is true?

The Bible is a book different from any other book.  It was written over a span of 1500 years (over 40 generations), by more than 40 authors from various walks of life and with various experiences. It was written on 3 continents, in 3 languages and has been meticulously copied, translated and circulated more than any other book.

Archaeological evidence supports it. Much of the Bible is comprised of eyewitness accounts. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (who wrote the biographies of Jesus), Paul, Peter (whose writings also contribute to the New Testament) and others were willing to die for what they had seen and knew to be true.With so many people contributing to the Bible over such a period of time, in a variety of circumstances and cultures, wouldn’t you think that there would be major discrepancies in its content and meaning– especially when dealing with "controversial" subjects, including the nature and will of God? Such discrepancies simply do not exist in the Bible. 

Referring to the New Testament, Eugene H. Peterson writes:

"Three kinds of writing-- eyewitness stories, personal letters, and a visionary poem-- make up the book.  In the course of this writing and reading, collecting and arranging, with no one apparently in charge, the early Christians, whose lives were being changed and shaped by what they were reading, arrived at the conviction that there was, in fact, someone in charge-- God's Holy Spirit was behind and in it all.  In retrospect, they could see that it was not at all random or haphazard, that every word worked with every other word, and that all the separate documents worked in intricate harmony.  There was nothing accidental in any of this, nothing merely circumstantial.  They were bold to call what had been written "God's Word," and trusted their lives to it.  They accepted its authority over their lives.  Most of its readers since have been similarly convinced."  (The Message, © 1993, 1994, 1995 by Eugene H. Peterson)

When people begin to take a serious look at the Bible, they find a book marked by accuracy and consistency. In fact, many seekers find more than a book– they find a reliable voice of authority, revealing God and the answers to life’s ultimate questions, such as: Why am I here? What is the purpose of my life? It sheds light on human nature and human suffering.

Most importantly, it clearly reveals the way to God. The Bible is all about God, in love and mercy, revealing Himself to humankind. This is because God directly inspired the words that His spokespersons wrote down. In other words, His Spirit instructed them on what to write. God has spoken to us through the Bible.

We have all heard skeptics who ridicule the Bible. But even from among the most hardcore skeptics, people who take up a serious investigation of all the evidence find that the Bible is unique, accurate, and reliable– and therefore relevant to life here and now, in the 21st century. The most significant question that remains is: Will I approach the Bible as God’s Message to me?  What does it mean in my life?

How do I know that Jesus really is who He claims to be, and does it really matter?

Jesus Himself said many things about Himself:
Here are a few statements, recorded in John's biography of Jesus (found in the Bible), that describe Him and our need for Him:

"I am the bread of life."  (John, chapter 6, verse 35)
"I am the good shepherd."  (chapter 10, verse 11)
"I am the way, the truth, and the life."  (chapter 14, verse 6)
"I am the light of the world."  (chapter 8, verse 12) 

And there are numerous statements made by many others-- those who knew Jesus, who saw what He did, heard what He said, and whose lives were impacted greatly by Him. John's biography opens with these words about the coming of Jesus:

"In the beginning the [one called the] Word already existed.  
He was with God, and He was God.... Life itself was in Him....  

The One who is the true light... was going to come into the world. So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.  

No one has ever seen God.  
But [the Father's] only Son who is Himself God, is near to the Father's heart; He has told us about Him."

(John chapter 1, verses 1, 4a, 9, 14, 18)

These words of John begin to show us who Jesus is-- that He is both fully divine and fully human, God the Father's unique Son who shows us perfectly what God is like.

What did Jesus do?  Jesus, who is God's unique Son, and who is Himself God, came to live on the earth about 2000 years ago. He became a human being.  He is often referred to as the "God-Man," since He possessed fully the aspects of humanity and divinity. He lived an exemplary life, without sin. Then He willingly gave up His life for us, as He was tortured and executed. Somehow He paid for our wrongdoings and ultimately made us acceptable to God by this act, so that whoever responds to His invitation might be given a fresh start, a new life that never ends. On the third day after His death, He rose again (physically came back to life and walked out of the tomb where He was buried) as both verification of who He is, and as a promise that He is the One who is able to overcome death. This sounds incredible, almost incomprehensible, but it's true. Jesus is inviting you now to consider your response to His invitation.

"The arrival of Jesus signaled the beginning of a new era.  God entered history in a personal way, and made it unmistakably clear that He is on our side, doing everything possible to save us. It was all presented and worked out in the life, death, and resurrection (raising to life again) of Jesus. It was, and is, hard to believe-- seemingly too good to be true.
But one by one, men and women did believe it, believed Jesus was God alive among them and for them." (from The Message, © 1993, 1994, 1995 by Eugene H. Peterson)

There is no doubt that Jesus existed as a historical Figure. Not only do the writings of historians outside the Bible make reference to Him, the fact that His followers believed Him to be the Son of God is indisputable. The Gospels– Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the biographical accounts of Jesus. Details in these biographies are confirmed by archaeological and other evidence. These biographies were written within the generation of the events which they report to have taken place. This attests to their authenticity (we can be sure the eyewitnesses themselves wrote them). If the events reported had not been true, they could have easily been disproved by skeptics of the day.

The Old Testament of the Bible contains several hundred references to the coming Messiah (a Hebrew term meaning "Anointed [or Chosen] One"). These prophecies, written many hundreds of years before Jesus was born, foretold details of His birth, life and ministry, purpose for coming, death and resurrection (literal rising from death). The probability that even a few of these prophecies could have been fulfilled coincidentally (by accident) is ridiculously low. And the possibility that Jesus could have deliberately arranged to fulfill these prophecies is non-existent, since many of them speak of the place and time of His birth, and the manner of His death– details over which no ordinary person could have had control.

Although Jesus was human, His character was not that of an ordinary man. He was much more than a religious figure. His behavior and personality, His power, His sense of justice, and His deep compassion for people indicate that He was– and is– more than just a man. The Bible tells us: "God created the universe by His Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son. The Son reflects God’s own glory, and everything about Him represents God exactly." (Hebrews, chapter 1, verses 2, 3) "Christ is exactly like God who cannot be seen.... God Himself was pleased to live fully in His Son." (Paul, in Colossians, chapter 1, verses 15, 19)

Jesus’ resurrection (the event in which He literally rose from death) is His ultimate "stamp of authenticity." It is proof that Jesus is who He and others claimed about Him– that He is God’s Son, the Messiah, who came to seek and rescue people who are lost and far from God. There is overwhelming evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For instance, after His crucifixion (execution by being nailed to a cross), no enemy or skeptic was ever able to produce His body and thereby squelch the spreading news that He was alive. If Jesus had not truly risen to life again, it would have been very easy to put an end to His followers’ message. Jesus’ followers were willing to die horrifying deaths for what they had seen and knew to be true. People will not die for something they know to be a lie.

The apostle Paul was once a skeptic, and an enemy of Jesus’ followers. But following his encounter with the risen Christ, Paul himself became one of His most devoted and enthusiastic followers. Here’s what he wrote about the resurrection of Jesus:

"I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me.  That part is:

Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say.
He was buried and on the third day was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.
Christ appeared to Peter, then to the twelve.
After this, He appeared to more than 500 other followers. (Most of them are still alive, but some have died.)
He also appeared to James, and then to all of the apostles."

(1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verses 3-7)

Notice not only the large number of people by whom Jesus was seen alive after His death, but also the fact that Paul indicates that "some of these (the 500) are still alive...." By this, Paul seems to invite skeptics among those to whom he was writing to check out the credibility of the account for themselves by seeking out these eyewitnesses and talking to them directly.

Credibility for the resurrection is also seen in the fact that the lives of Jesus’ followers were transformed– when He was nailed to the cross, they grieved His death. They hid for fear of retaliation from those who had conspired against Jesus. They were afraid to be identified with Him. They did not expect to see Him alive again. But after His resurrection, Jesus came to them several times and their lives were never the same. They now had full confidence in Him as their living Leader.

"One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed The Twin) was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he replied, ‘I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in His hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in His side.’ Eight days later, the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see My hands. Put your hand into the wound in My side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’ 

‘My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen Me and believe anyway.’" (John, chapter 20, verses 24-29)

Click here to read a commentary on Jesus' resurrection.Of course, it isn't enough to know about Jesus, we must consider our own response to Him.  
We must each ask, "What does it all have to do with me?"

That’s all great...But what does it have to do with me?

Countless other lives have been transformed over the course of 2000 years.

Jesus Christ, who came to show us what God is like, who came to be the way to God, who willingly died a cruel death on our behalf, and who rose again to life– still makes a difference in people’s lives today. Jesus said, "If you trust in Me, you are really trusting God who sent Me. I have come as a Light to shine in a dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the darkness." (John, chapter 12, verse 44-46)

The great Christian author and brilliant professor of Cambridge University, C.S. Lewis was once a skeptic. He launched an honest investigation concerning the truth about Jesus. The evidence led Him to become a believer and follower of Christ. He wrote:

"I am trying to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [which is]: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.... You must make your choice. Either this Man was, and is, the Son of God– or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon – or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher.He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

(C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 
New  York: Macmillan-Collier,1960
© renewed 1980 by  Arthur Owen  Barfield)

Considering these realities, then, we must each ask ourselves: Does it matter to me who Jesus is? Jesus is the most influential Person in history; He changed the course of history. No one who is serious in their search for God or their search for truth can overlook Him. Often people first ponder whether God exists and erratically explore different religions or systems of belief. Sometimes people just go on wondering, never realizing the immense significance of these questions: What about God? If He’s there, can I live without Him? Why wouldn’t I want to know Him? God does exist, and we see His reflection clearly in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Some may think it’s narrow-minded to believe that Jesus is the only way to God. Many people are hopeful that it doesn’t matter what you believe as long you’re sincere and your beliefs "work for you". It is popular to think that, if God exists at all, then all beliefs lead to God and that truth is whatever you want it to be. But this cannot be true any more than thinking that all roads will lead to a particular destination, or that any answer given to a math problem is correct. Keep these things in mind: The conclusions you reach about God do matter. What you believe will make a difference in your life. When looking for answers to life and spirituality, you may find a grain of truth here or there. You may be intrigued by what you hear. But on the most essential, foundational level, there is a difference. The concepts of other religions or belief systems teach that through our own efforts we can attain a life of spirituality and self-actualization, or work our way to God somehow. Some teach mistaken and inaccurate opinions about Jesus– that He was only a man and nothing more. But the Christian faith– a life of following Jesus as the Bible describes is not about "religion." It’s about life. It’s about truth. It’s all about Jesus. Only through Him will your search for God make sense and come into clear focus.

Maybe you’ve never thought of yourself as a spiritual person anyway. But deep inside, you have a longing, something that tells you there’s more to life than what you’re now experiencing. The Bible is clear on this point: Until we come to terms with Jesus, we have not begun to deal with the one issue that is central to starting a relationship with God.

You may be wondering: what can I expect from having God in my life? Life will always bring us difficulties, and those who know God are not exempt. However, Christ-followers have many significant promises to rely on and find, among other things, that:

The guilt of their sin is erased. They have life that never ends. Placing their lives in His hands, they find greater fulfillment, meaning, and purpose in life. They find they are able to build lives on something strong, something reliable and true. God offers greater peace, joy, and a sense of hope. Best of all, if you decide you want Jesus in your life, you will be God’s child and will know His love for you. You will be able to begin the adventure of living life connected to the One who made you, who cares for you deeply, and has a marvelous plan for you. When we try to "find ourselves", we are inevitably disappointed. The same happens when we look in the wrong places for something to fill our emptiness. But when we look for God through Jesus Christ, we find Him– and with Him, we find all we need and more than we ever dared to hope for.

If we take an honest look at ourselves, we can quickly see our imperfections and the resulting fractures that run throughout our lives. We are often painfully aware of our inadequacies. Deep loneliness tends to mark our existence. We regret the past; we fear the future. We fail at relationships. We fall short when it comes to our own dreams and expectations, let alone those placed on us. We plod endlessly through the daily routine. Life doesn’t make sense to us because we are oblivious to the One who can make sense of it all– God, who lovingly reaches across the distance, into the darkness of our existence. The French physicist and philosopher Blaise Pascal recognized our need for Jesus when he said, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man, which only God can fill through His Son, Jesus Christ."

How many times do we silently declare: "There has to be more to life than this." And too often, we are unaware of– or we ignore– the fact that there is more. There is a God who loves us. He will accept us when we turn to Him. He has the answers to all our questions.

Do I matter to God?

Whether you’re just now wondering about taking that first step on the journey toward a relationship with Him, or are looking for a place to serve and grow in that relationship, we're here for you.

God wants you to live a life of meaning and purpose. He wants to make a difference in your life. And He wants you to know that you can make a difference in your world. Your life matters.

If you’ve never begun to entrust your life to Jesus or made the decision to follow Him—or if you find it hard to believe that you matter to God—then consider the following:

God wants you to know Him.
God says: “If you look for Me in earnest, you will find Me when you seek Me.” (Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 13) God loves you deeply.
“God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who has faith in Him will have eternal life and never really die.” (John, chapter 3, verse 16)

We have all been separated from God. “All have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans, chapter 3, verse 23)“…your sins have made a separation between you and your God….” (Isaiah, chapter 59, verse 2)

Jesus came to bring you a relationship with God and give you real life that lasts forever. “There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only One who can bring us to God…. He gave Himself to rescue all of us.” (1^st Timothy, chapter 2, verses 5 and 6)“And this is the only way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One you sent to earth.” (John, chapter 17, verse 3)

You can know God & His great plan for you. “Some people accepted Him and put their faith in Him. So He gave them the right to become children of God. They were not God’s children by nature or because of any human desires. God Himself was the One who made them His children.” (John, chapter 1, verses 12 and 13)“God had also said that He gave us eternal life and that this life comes to us from His Son. And so, if we have God’s Son, we have this life. But if we don’t have the Son, we don’t have this life.” (1^st John, chapter 5, verses 11-13)Click here to learn more.

If you’d like to talk to someone about your search for faith, or are interested in knowing how you can “cross the line of faith” by taking the step to establish a relationship with Jesus Christ, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’d love to talk to you about it and help to answer questions you may have. See the other side of this brochure for contact information.

If you’re already a Christ-follower, but you’re wondering if your life can make a difference, consider this:“I have come to give life in all its fullness.” (Jesus, in John, chapter 10, verse 10)“What God has planned for people who love Him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!” (1^st Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 9)

“My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus— the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.
(Paul, in Acts, chapter 20, verse 24)

Wherever you are on your spiritual journey,
Salisbury Bible Fellowship wants to help you live a life of purpose.

Why does God allow suffering?

While there are no easy answers as to why there is suffering and evil in the world...we at Salisbury Bible Fellowship include this excerpt from a book by Nancy Gaughan, entitled, "Why God Lets People Suffer," hoping that it provides insights that will benefit you. If you have questions about your personal spiritual journey, please contact us or visit us at one of our services.

I am interested in Christianity, but I hate religion.

Are you interested in Christianity, but don't like religion?
You're not alone.  Read this article by Richard Innes to find out more...

I walked into a Religious Education classroom in a public school in Australia and with tongue-in-cheek wrote in large letters across the blackboard:

I hate religion.

"Man, in this class, you'll get shot," gasped one student in amazement."But I'm sold on real Christianity," I responded."Well, what's the difference?" several chorused."Let me explain," I replied.

1. God's Purpose

True, Christianity is a religion, but people can be religious without being Christians. Christ condemned the religious Pharisees of his day because they hid their real selves behind a facade of religion and external morality.It may sound odd, but God isn't into religion or external morality. He's into relationships and reality. That is, he wants us not only to have a right relationship with him, but also with each other and with ourselves. And he wants us to be real—to see and admit what we truly are so he can help us. Neither is it God's goal to make us good. It's to make us whole, for only to the degree that we are made whole will our actions, lifestyle, and relationships be wholesome!Religion tends to want to fix us from the outside in. God wants to fix us from the inside out. The first can become an impossible burden. The latter is what brings freedom. Christianity is not a set of rules and regulations. It is experiencing divine love, divine acceptance and divine forgiveness.It helps to realize that God isn't out to zap us for the wrongs we've done. In fact, no matter what we have ever done or have failed to do, he loves us with an everlasting love and has a wonderful purpose for our lives—for this life as well as the next! As Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."1 And again, "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."2

2. Man's Problem

On the outside we may look like we are doing very well, but on the inside everyone of us has a major issue. Seneca, the ancient Roman philosopher, put it bluntly when he said, "We have all sinned. Some more. Some less." God's Word, the Bible agrees. It reads, "We have all sinned and fallen short of God's standard."3 Sin, however, is not only doing harmful acts. It is anything that falls short of the standard of perfection that God envisioned for us. This includes nursing grudges and other negative emotions, pride, jealousy, mixed motives, etc. Most of us, too, are guilty of sins of omission; that is, not doing what we know we should and could do.4Another misconception about God is that he is out to get us or to punish us for our sins. We bring sin's punishment on ourselves because sin has its own natural consequences. If we try to break the universal law of gravity, for instance, we can't. It will break us. Neither can we break God's universal moral law. When we do, it breaks us, and besides its painful effects in this life—suffering, sorrow, sickness and spiritual death—its ultimate and tragic consequence is eternal death or separation from God.5We are like a burned out or "dead" electric light bulb that cannot respond to its power source. And because we are spiritually dead, we cannot respond to God's love and power either, without his first "fixing" us. Furthermore, because of our spiritual deadness, it is impossible for anyone to save him or herself. Only God can do this. This is why all the "good works" in the world cannot make us alive to God. Only when we see and admit this, is God able to "fix" us!

3. Christ's Answer

Because our sin has separated or disconnected us from God, we have been left with a God-shaped vacuum, or spiritual emptiness, within. As Augustine put it, "You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you." The world's many religions are all evidence of man's endless search to find God and fill this vacuum. However, because God loved us so much, he sent his own sinless Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our predicament.6Christ did this by dying on the cross in our place to pay the consequence of and ransom price for our sins—death. Thus, Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin, and he is the only way back to God and the only door into eternal life.7God's Word, the Bible, says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men."8 Had there been any other way to save mankind, Christ wouldn't have had to die for us. Because he was without sin, he was the only one qualified to die for our sins.

4. Your Invitation

If you were found guilty of a serious crime and were condemned to death, and if offered, would you accept a free unconditional pardon?Because of Christ's dying for us, that's what God offers us, and with it the gift of eternal life. All we need to do is to accept his pardon. Here's how to do this:First: Confess. God's Word says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins."9Second: Repent. That is, we need to turn from sinful and selfish ways to follow God and his ways. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe."10 That is, we need to turn from sinful and selfish ways to follow God and his ways.Third: Believe. "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved,"11 declares the Word of God.Fourth: Receive. God also said, "To all who received him [Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."12Admitting our sinfulness, believing that Jesus died for our sins, inviting him into our lives as Lord and Savior, and accepting God's forgiveness is what makes us real Christians. The following prayer will help you do this:"Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry for all the wrongs that I have done. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me. I invite you, Jesus, to come into my heart and life as Lord and Savior. I commit and trust my life to you. Please give me the desire to be what you want me to be and to do what you want me to do. Thank you for dying for my sins, for your free pardon, for your gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen."Inviting Jesus into your heart and life as your personal Savior is your Passport into Heaven.

5. Here's Great Assurance

If you genuinely prayed the prayer to invite Jesus Christ into your life and truly meant it, you are now a true Christian and have the gift of a new spiritual life as well as eternal life. You are also a child of God and a member of his family.13 God promised this. Choose to accept it. Take it by faith and not feelings. Feelings change but God's Word never does.God's Word says, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."14 

FOOTNOTES: (1) John 3:16; (2) John 10:10; (3) Romans 3:24; (4) James 4:17; (5) Romans 6:23; (6) See Ephesians 2:8-9; (7) See John 14:6; (8) 1Timothy 2:5-6; (9) 1John 1:9; (10) Mark 1:5; (11) Acts 16:31; (12) John 1:12; (13) See 2 Corinthians 5:17 and John 1:12; (14) 1 John 5:11-13.

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When you pray to receive Christ into your life, you have a brand new spiritual life and this life needs care and nurturing just as your physical life does.  To know more, please contact us.  We'd be glad to help.

Written and © Copyright by Richard Innes.  More than 3,000,000 of this article in print.

I've heard a lot about Islam Lately don't all religions lead to God?