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The amazing design of our universe hints that there is a Creator. "The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship. Day by day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known." Psalm 19:1-2 Creation proclaims a creator, but it is
incapable of describing Him or what He expects of us. Our lack of
information leaves us in a
CAN WE REALLY KNOW
ANYTHING We can only if God communicates to us. The Bible says he has! The Bible originated with God. "For no prophecy recorded in Scripture was ever thought up by the prophet himself. It was the Holy Spirit within these godly men who gave them true messages from God." 2 Peter 1:20-21 The Bible is inspired by God. "The whole Bible is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true..." 2 Timothy 3:16
WHAT IS GO REALLY LIKE? Most of us know that our guesses about God are just that—guesses. As such, they will never satisfy our longing to know who God really is. Since God desires for us to know Him, He made sure that He provided an accurate way for us to do that through the Bible. The Bible tells us what God is like. For instance... God is love. "Let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God...for God is love." 1 John 4:7,8 God is just. "God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." Ecclesiastes 12:14 God is all-knowing. "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away...You know what I am going to say even before I say it." Psalm 139:1,2,4 God knows everything. He knows our dreams, our desires, and our hidden hang-ups. He's seen all that is good in our lives and all that we wish we could forget.
WHAT DOES GOD THINK OF ME? All fall short. "For all have sinned; all have fallen short of God's glorious standard." Romans 3:23 Everyone has sinned. We are all in the same condition. What exactly is sin? "All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own." Isaiah 53:6 Sin is not just a list of inappropriate actions or bad habits. Sin goes much deeper than that. According to Isaiah 53:6, sin is living independently of God. The consequence of sin: Death in the Bible speaks to the fear, guilt, blame, aimlessness, frustration, and enslaving habits that we experience because we live independently of God. "For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23 Death is the consequence of living independently of God and describes what existence is like apart from Him. Are you living independently of God?
CAN I HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH
GOD, Yes. Because God loves you. Jesus Christ is God's solution for man's sin and the solution for discovering God's abundant life. Jesus Christ died on a cross for your sin so that you might escape the death your sin brings. "Christ also suffered when He died for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners that He might bring us safely to God." 1 Peter 3:18 Jesus Christ also was brought back to life by God. Because of that, He offers to anyone who believes, abundant life. "I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6 "I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 Jesus can give you life. To receive it, you must give up your life of independence and trade your life of sin for the life He offers. But how?
HOW DO I MAKE THIS EXCHANGE? You must receive Christ's gift of forgiveness and life by faith. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 "I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life." John 5:24 To receive Christ's gift of forgiveness and life you must:
"And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. So whoever has God's Son has life; whoever does not have His Son does not have life." 1 John 5:11-12
HOW CAN I EXPRESS MY FAITH TO
GOD Prayer is how you can tell God of your desire to accept His gift of forgiveness and life. The following is a suggested prayer: Lord Jesus, I admit I have lived my life without You. I admit I am sinful and in need of Your forgiveness. I choose to trust You to forgive me of my sins and give me life as You promised. Take the leadership of my life and help me discover the abundant life You have for me. Amen. Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If so, would you like to pray this prayer now? SO WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?
"But these things are written so that
Used
by permission of: NEW BOOK
FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS This book sells in bookstores for
$7.95, but IFO is offering a limited number FREE to international students
living or studying in the Central Arkansas area. If you meet this criteria,
you may request a free book by clicking this
link. On-line or CD-ROM Resource
The material also features an encyclopedic hyperlinked text describing the major events in the life of Jesus, his unique claims, and the ancient predictions concerning him. Through hyperlinks, you can read about the other major world religions and how they compare and contrast to the teachings of Jesus. The contents and quality of this resource are excellent!
To view this exciting material go to
www.whoisjesus-really.com and follow the
links. Read the
Bible online in a variety of languages. Also check out www.bible.org .
Bible studies especially for international students
We discuss questions such as: "What is the
meaning of life?" You do not have to be a Christian to
attend. Location 1 Location 2 Links to sites featuring intellectual approaches to Christianity: Ravi Zacharias International Ministries Answers to Life's Ultimate Questions
God's Story: From
Creation to Eternity |
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Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ. It has brought up questions
about who really killed Jesus, why was he crucified, why did he have to
suffer? Author John Piper's new book The Passion of Jesus Christ
explains fifty reasons why Jesus came to die. 