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FOLLOWING
CHRIST
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UPDATE
PARTNER
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"preparing God's people
for works of service,
that the body of Christ
may be built up..."
How to Become a Christian

The central theme of the Bible is God's love for you and for all people.  This love was revealed when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead.  Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven, and because He conquered death you can have eternal life.  You can know for sure what will become of you after you die.

You have probably heard the story of God's love referred to as the "Gospel."   The word Gospel simply means "Good News."
The Gospel is the Good News that, because of what Christ has done, we can be forgiven and can live forever.

But this gift of forgiveness and eternal life cannot be yours unless you willingly accept it.  God requires an individual response from you.  The following verses from the Bible show God's part and yours in this process:

God's Love Is Revealed in the Bible

   "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." — John 3:16 (NIV)

   God loves you. He wants to bless your life and make it full and complete.  And He wants to give you a life which
   will last forever, even after you experience physical death.

We Are Sinful

   "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." — Romans 3:23 (NIV)

   You may have heard someone say, "I'm only human—nobody's perfect."  This Bible verse says the same thing: We are
   all sinners.  We all do things that we know are wrong.  And that's why we feel estranged from God—because God is
   holy and good, and we are not.

Sin Has a Penalty

   "For the wages of sin is death." — Romans 6:23 (NIV)

   Just as criminals must pay the penalty for their crimes, sinners must pay the penalty for their sins.  If you continue to sin, you
   will pay the penalty of spiritual death: You will not only die physically; you will also be separated from our holy God for all
   eternity.  The Bible teaches that those who choose to remain separated from God will spend eternity in a place called hell.

Christ Has Paid Our Penalty!

   "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
    Christ died for us." — Romans 5:8 (NIV)

   The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, has paid the penalty for all your sins.  You may think you have
   to lead a good life and do good deeds before God will love you. But the Bible says that Christ loved you enough to die for
   you, even when you were rebelling against Him.

Salvation Is a Free Gift

   "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is
    the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." — Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

   The word grace means "undeserved favor."  It means God is offering you something you could never provide for yourself:
   forgiveness of sins and eternal life, God's gift to you is free.  You do not have to work for a gift.  All you have to do is joyfully
   receive it, Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you!

You Must Receive Him

   "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
    children of God." — John 1:12 (NIV)

   When you receive Christ into your heart you become a child of God, and have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer at any
   time about anything.  The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ.  And best of all, it is a
   relationship that will last for all eternity.

If you are making this commitment to Christ today, please let us know.  We would like to help you grow in your faith.

Taken from "Your Christian Life" 1965, 1968, as "Aids to Christian Living," 1986 as "Practical Steps in Christian Living,"
1995 as "Beginning  Your Christian Life," 1997 as "Your Christian Life," by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
WHAT
WE BELIEVE
FOLLOWING
CHRIST
NEWS
UPDATE
PARTNER
WITH GGP
PRAY
WITH GGP