Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior are a part of the greatest family ever created. We belong to the family (household) of God. God is our Father; we are His children. He accepts us, protects us, directs us, comforts us, disciplines us, loves us and cares for us better than any human being could ever hope to do. - Thelma Wells
IDER BAPTIST CHURCH
Wednesday, February 22, 2012

GOD loves us

                                   

 
       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
 
Often memorized by both children and adults, John 3:16 is one of the best-known and most-loved verses in Scripture, as well as one of the most significant. Succinctly and eloquently, this familiar verse spells out not just the heart of the teachings in John but also the very essence of the gospel message.
 
Here is the first time we see the theme of redemption and judgment that is so prevalent in the fourth gospel. the writer teaches that the consequence for rejecting Christ is to "perish," or to be lost. Yet the emphasis of the passage rests on the hope of salvation, on God's generous compassion not just to Israel, but to the entire "world," and on his promise that "whoever believes" in Christ will be redeemed.
 
                                                                                                                                                                                  What does the Bible say about becoming a Christian?
  • God loves us. - [1 John 4:10] "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us."
  • Sin separates us from God. - [Romans 3:23] "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
  • God sent Jesus so we would not have to die for our sins. Jesus died on the cross, He was buried, and He rose from the dead. - [1 Corinthians 15:3-4] "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

How to Become a Christian

  • A - Admit to God that you are a sinner. - [Romans 6:23] "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Repent and turn away from your sin. - [Acts 3:19] "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out . . ."
  • B - Believe that Jesus is God's Son and that God sent Jesus to save people from their sin. Believe that he died on the cross for your sin and was buried but rose again. - [Matthew 1:21] "And she shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." - [Romans 10:9] "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
  • C - Call on Him. - [Romans 10:10] "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." - [Romans 10:13] "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."