1. God LOVES you and offers a wonderful PLAN for your life.
   
   God's Love - John 3:16 John 3:16 (King James Version)
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   3:16	For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

   
   
   God's Plan - John 10:10 John 10:10 (King James Version)
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   10:10

   The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

   
   
   Most people are not experiencing abundant life because...
   
   
2. Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life.
   
   Man Is Sinful - Romans 3:23 Romans 3:23 (King James Version)
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   3:23	For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

   
   
   Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his own stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
   
   Man Is Separated - Romans 6:23 Romans 6:23 (King James Version)
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   6:23	For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

   
   
   There is a great gulf that separates a holy God from a sinful man. The sinful man continually tries to reach God and the abundant life through his own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion--inevitably failing.
   
   The only way to bridge this gulf...
   
   
3. Jesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life.
   
   He Died in Our Place - Romans 5:8 Romans 5:8 (King James Version)
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   5:8	But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

   
   
   He Rose From the Dead - 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 (King James Version)
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   15:3	For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
   15:4	And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
   15:5	And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
   15:6	After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

   
   
   He Is the Only Way to God - John 14:6 John 14:6 (King James Version)
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   14:6	Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

   
   
   God has bridged the gulf that separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.
   
   It is not enough just to know this....
   
   
4. We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
   
   We Must Receive Christ - John 1:12 John 1:12 (King James Version)
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   1:12	But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

   
   
   We Receive Christ Through Faith - Ephesians 2:8-9 Ephesians 2:8-9 (King James Version)
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   2:8	For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
   2:8	Not of works, lest any man should boast.

   
   
   When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth - John 3:1-8 John 3:1-8 (King James Version)
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   3:1	There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
   3:2	The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
   3:3	Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
   3:4	Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
   3:5	Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
   3:6	That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
   3:7	Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
   3:8	The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

   
   
   We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation - Revelation 3:20 Revelation 3:20 (King James Version)
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   3:20	Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

   
   
   

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will. The following explains how you can receive Christ: You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer (Prayer is talking to God) God is not so concerned with your words. God knows your heart and desires a proper attitude! The following is a suggested prayer: "Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be." Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If it does, pray this prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.