There are many religions out there that claim to have the path to God. This leaves some people wondering, “How can I know who is right?� or “Is there a way to know God?�
God has spoken to us in His Word, the Bible. Please consider these few questions that will make clear God’s message to us about how to know Him.
- Do you consider yourself to be a good person? Yes or No?
- Have you kept the 10 commandments? (Ex. 20)
- Have you ever loved something or someone more than God? (Yes or No)
- Have you ever told a lie? (Yes or No)
- Have you ever committed adultery? Remember that Jesus said that who ever lusts has already committed adultery in their heart (Matthew 5).
- Have you ever stolen something, even something small? (Yes or No)
- Have you ever hated someone? Remember that Jesus said that if you hate someone, you have committed murder in your heart. (Yes or No)
- Have you ever used God’s name as a curse word? Have you used the name of the One who gave you life and brought it down to the level of a 4 letter curse word? (Yes or No)
- If God were to judge you by these standards, the 10 Commandments, would you be innocent or guilty? (Innocent or guilty)
When we break the Law of God it is called sin. It is sin that separates us from God. In fact, the Bible says that we have angered God. The Bible says His wrath abides on you (John 3:36), and that you are an “enemy of God in your mind through your wicked works� (Colossians 1:21).
Many people are counting on God’s goodness to get them into heaven. They believe that despite the fact that they have broken God’s Law, He will overlook their sins. But if you knew a human judge who turned a blind eye to the crimes of a guilty rapist, thief, liar … would you describe him as a “good� judge? No. That would be a corrupt judge. A good judge would never let sin go unpunished. God could never be a corrupt judge.
Revelation 21:8 says that God will also punish all liars, the lustful, adulterers, idolaters, and blasphemers in hell. Hell is the place of eternal punishment.
Thankfully, God is rich in mercy and compassion, and has provided a way for you to escape the wrath to come upon all sin and to receive a full pardon and the free gift of Eternal Life. You cannot earn it, and you do not deserve it, but God is offering it to you because He is love.
Imagine you are standing in front of a judge, guilty of multiple serious crimes. All the evidence has been presented and there is no doubt about your guilt – you have broken the Law. Your apologies and good works cannot erase your crimes; therefore you must be punished. The fine for your crime is $250,000 or imprisonment, but you are penniless. The judge is about to pass sentence when someone steps in and pays your fine for you! The court accepts the money and declares that you are free to go. The law has been satisfied, your debt has been paid in full, and the stranger’s sacrifice was a demonstration of his love for you.
This is what God did for you over 2000 years ago.
The Bible says that the God of the Universe became a man (Jesus Christ), and suffered the punishment of God’s wrath and died on the cross for people’s sins so that they can be set free from God’s just punishment. It’s as simple as this – we broke the Law, and Jesus paid the fine.
√¢‚Ǩ≈ìGod demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us.� Galatians 3:13
Do you see God’s great love for you? Do you see your need for His forgiveness? Because God loves people, He took our punishment. Now, we must respond to God’s gift of love. The Bible says that we must “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.� (Acts 3:19)
This means that we must turn away from sin and turn to God. Desire to have NOTHING to do with sin, and surrender your life to the One who can save you. Jesus died to set you free, and then he rose from death to be your Lord. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.� If you will confess and forsake your sins (repent) and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, God will forgive you and you’ll pass from death to life.
If you are not sure what it means to repent and believe, you can read Psalm 51 in a Bible and make it your prayer.
When we repent from our sin we then “put our faith in Jesus Christ.�
This means that you believe that when Jesus died on the cross 2000 years ago he took on your sin – He paid the fine. Then, three days later He raised from the dead proving that He was in fact God as He had said and that He now has the power over death. You believe that Jesus is God and that His payment was enough to bring you to God.
Today – turn away from sin, and surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Please don’t put it off until later. You may die today and then it will be too late.
Read God’s Word. Begin to meet with other believers in Jesus who teach His Word. Pray and ask God to guide you in all truth.