Wednesday | December 11, 2024
First Steps to God
From Speaking of Jesus by J. Mack Stiles
The following is an outline of the Christian message that was developed for students and staff in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The links on the Bible references will take you to that passage on BibleGateway.com. It is inintially set to the English Standard Version (ESV), but you can pick from a variety of versions and languages in text and audio.
God
- God loves you. (John 3:16)
- God is holy and just. He punishes all evil and expels it from His presence. (Romans 1:18)
People
- God, who created everything, made us for Himself to find our purpose in fellowship with Him. (Colossians 1:16)
- But we rebelled and turned away from God. (Isaiah 53:6)
- The result is separation from God. (Isaiah 59:2)
- The penalty is eternal death. (Romans 6:23)
Christ
- God became human in the person of Jesus Christ to restore the broken fellowship. (Colossians 1:19-20)
- Christ lived a perfect life. (1 Peter 2:22)
- Christ died as a substitute for us by paying the death penalty for our rebellion. (Romans 5:8)
- He arose (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and is alive today to give us a new life of fellowship with God, now and forever. (John 10:10)
Response
- I must repent for my rebellion. (Matthew 4:17)
- I must believe Christ died to provide forgiveness and a new life of fellowship with God. (John 1:12)
- I must receive Christ as my Savior and Lord with the intent to obey Him. I do this in prayer by inviting Him into my life. (Revelation 3:20)
Cost
- There is no cost to you; your salvation comes to you freely. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- But it comes at a high cost to God. (1 Peter 1:18-19)
- Ultimately, your response is a life of discipleship. (Luke 9:23-24)
This page is also available as a pdf document.