Look Inside: b"What's it all about"

What's it all about? 2006

4/9/06

11:32

What’s it all about?

E

a discover guide

What’s Christianity all about?

Why did Jesus die?

Where do I fit in?

How do I become a Christian?

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What's it all about? 2006

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In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1 v 1

God created everything. He’s in control. Unlike most rulers, God is fair, loving and generous. God made men and women, and put them in charge of the world. Everything was perfect.

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Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin. In this way death came to all men, because all sinned.

Romans 5 v 12

The very first people, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God. They ate fruit from a forbidden tree. They chose to disobey God and reject Him. That’s how sin entered the world and messed it up.

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All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3 v 23

Ever lied, cheated, stolen, got jealous or ignored God? Sin isn’t just big stuff like stealing or murder. Sin is when we put ourselves first instead of God. We’ve all done wrong stuff. We’ve all disobeyed God and rejected Him.

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They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 1 v 9

By sinning, we’re rejecting God. We’re saying “I don’t want you to be in control. Get out of my life!” So God gives us what we ask for. He cuts us off from Him forever, punishing us with everlasting death in hell.

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God demonstrates But...

His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5 v 8 We’ve all rejected God. So we all deserve punishment in hell. But God showed His incredible love for us by sending His own Son Jesus to rescue us.

Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment in our place!

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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 v 16

If we trust in Jesus to rescue us, we can have all our sins forgiven!

No punishment! And there’s more great news: Jesus was raised back to life, beating death. If we trust in Him, we can live with Him for ever!

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He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. Acts 17 v 31 One day, Jesus will return to earth to judge us. People who’ve rejected Him will be punished forever in hell. But those who’ve had their sins forgiven by Him will live forever with God!

How will YOU live?

Your own way?

God’s way?

That means putting yourself first and refusing to obey God. Choosing to live without God in your life means dying without Him and spending forever without Him in hell.

That means turning to God and trusting Jesus to forgive your sins.

It means becoming a Christian – one of Jesus Christ’s followers. Living for Him and with Him for ever.

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7b If you choose to live God’s way, you need to...

• ADMIT to God that you’ve sinned against Him. • Tell Him how SORRY you are.

• Ask God to CHANGE you so you live with Jesus in charge of your life.

You might want to use this prayer...

Dear God, I ADMIT that I’ve sinned against you.

I’m SORRY for the way I’ve lived and ask you to forgive me. I’ve now turned my back on these wrong ways because I want to live for you. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for me so that I can be forgiven.

Please take control of my life.

CHANGE me so that I live for you.

Amen.

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What’s next???

When you become a Christian you might not feel anything new and the change might not be obvious straight away. But God is good and He gives Christians His Holy Spirit to help them live for Him. Others might notice the change in your life before you do.

Live for God! You need to ask God’s help to get rid of the wrong stuff you do (lying, being selfish etc). And start living God’s way: things like kindness, love, generosity, patience.

Pray!

Talk to God loads in prayer.

He longs to hear you talk to Him. Praise and thank Him. Tell Him what’s on your mind. Ask His help.

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Read the Bible!

God has so much to teach you and so many encouraging words for you – and they’re all in the Bible!

You might find it helpful to get some daily Bible reading notes to help guide you through this amazing book.

If you’re not sure what bit to read, Mark’s gospel is a good place to start.

Meet up!

Meet up with other Christians at church. You can encourage and help each other. And learn more about God together.

You might also want to set up a time when you meet with other young Christians, to share and pray and read the Bible together.

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Stick at it!

Living as a Christian isn’t easy. Sometimes you’ll mess up and get stuff wrong again. And you’ll need to say sorry to God when you do. Never stop relying on Jesus, He’ll stick with you through EVERYTHING!

Read John 10 v 27-28

© The Good Book Company 2003 For further information, visit our website at www.thegoodbook.co.uk Or email us: martin@thegoodbook.co.uk

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