How Can I Be Made Right With God?

How can a person be made right with God?

What must we do to be saved?

(Religious leaders at Pentecost)

Of all the questions we need an answer to, this is the most important one.  You can know all the answers to all the other questions and even be able to hold your own in a debate with a secular professor, but if you have no relationship with God you will have missed the very purpose for your being created. 

            When I was still in high school, I remember thinking about this question.  Was it really possible to have a relationship with the God who made me?  Was there even a God who made me?  If there was a God who made me, did He even care about me?

            These questions all found answers when I went to college at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.  It was here, on a secular college campus, that I was taught in the way of Christ.

            I remember being asked by a local pastor if I thought I would go to heaven when I died.  I responded, “I think so.”  My thinking was that I was a fairly good guy.  But the question still plagued me.  What if I was not good enough?  What if I was way off?

            The Bible says that no one comes to God on his own.  The world through its wisdom did not know God (I Cor. 1:21) nor can they come to God on their own because they are dead in their sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1-3).  Even our attempts at being righteous are stained with rebellion (Isaiah 64:6) and we are completely incapable of doing anything that is even remotely righteous. (Jeremiah 13:23)

            Since this is our case before God, what hope do we have of making it to heaven?  On our own, absolutely none, but this is the good news of the gospel.  “When we were yet without strength Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6) and while we were still without strength God, “being rich in mercy wherein He loved us made us alive in Christ, for by grace are you saved, and raised us up together in Christ Jesus, and caused us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that n the ages to come He might show us the exceeding riches of his grace and kindness” (Ephesians 2:4-7)

            The hope we have is this:  God has come to our rescue since we could not rescue ourselves.  We have been rebels since our birth and from that time on all we have done is to turn from God’s truth.  Because of our rebellion, God has declared that the soul that sins it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:20)  Now we are headed for the execution block and there is no one who will speak up for us.  The demands of the Law must be met.  We have sinned so we must die.  But at just the right time Christ entered human history and offered his life in exchange for ours.

            Jesus Christ lived a perfect, sinless life and then exchanged his sinless, perfect life for our guilt ridden, wicked life.  He took on himself on the cross the full outpouring of God’s wrath for our sins.  His statement on the cross was, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”  He was forsaken by the Father so we would never be forsaken.  He felt the full vent of God’s wrath against our sin so we would never have to face it.  He died in our place so we could live in His place.

            When Jesus died on the cross he said these remarkable marvelous words, “It is finished!” indicating that for all time the wrath of God had been fully satisfied.  All those who heard God’s invitation could now come home and receive the permanent pardon and forgiveness for all their sins past, present and future.  In the words of the great hymn, “Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain he washed it white as snow.”

            When Jesus rose from the dead, it was an indication from God the father that he had fully accepted his Son’s payment for our sin on the cross and we need never fear His wrath again.  Because of Jesus we are declared fully pardoned forever.

            So how does a person go about receiving the pardon offered by God in his Son Jesus?  The scriptures say, “Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)  Right now, if you realize you are estranged from God, your creator, cry out to Him and ask him to forgive your sin and your rebellion all these years.  Personally turn from your sins and ask Christ to come into your life and he will.

            If you need help in turning to God and receiving his forgiveness I have included a prayer you can use as a guide:

Dear God,  I see now how I have been rebellious toward you all of my life.  I know I have nothing to offer you but a life of rebellion.  God I do not want to be separated from You any longer.  I believe now that Jesus died to pay for my acts of rebellion and wickedness so I would never have to face the judgment alone.

            Dear God, I believe that Jesus came and died in my place and right now I turn from my sins and rebellion and ask you to forgive my sin for Jesus sake and take over my life.  I long to live for you and your glory.  May my life that I now live be lived by your Son Jesus whom I now invite to enter my life and to become my savior and Lord.

            From this day on help me to live for You no matter what! Amen!

            May the God who brought again from the dead the Lord Jesus, now live in you to accomplish His purposes and lead you to eternal pleasures.

For now and until He comes for each of us may we live to please Him.

You may be wondering how you can live for His pleasure.  The following are guidelines for you to help you in your new relationship with Christ.

            To grow and learn how to follow God, it is important that you daily read from the Bible and seek to follow what God reveals to you as you read.  As you read, ask God for His help in understanding the Bible so you can obey His commands.  As you follow, He will lead you to what you need to know.

            Look for a church that believes that Jesus is God and seeks to follow what God has revealed in His Holy Word, the Bible.  Let others know as soon and as often as possible of your decision to follow Jesus.

            If you have trusted in Christ as a result of this book, please write to me or e-mail me, and I will be glad to send you some material to help you in your new life with Christ.

 My address is:

 Phil Nelson

719 South Giant City Road
Carbondale, IL    62902
pastorphil@LakelandChurch.org

May God bless you as you now seek to make Him known to others.

Small Group Discussion Questions:

When was the first time you heard about Jesus?

Who was the person that influenced you the most in your decision to follow Christ?  Why not take a moment and thank God for that person right now.  If you have his/her address, write them a letter to thank them for their influence in your life.

Share with the group how it was you came to trust Christ.

Whom do you know that needs Jesus right now?  Take a moment in your group to pray specifically for those that were just mentioned. 

Ask God to lead you to someone this week that needs to know about Jesus.