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Lesson One: Understanding
your relationship with Jesus Christ
By sincerely asking
Jesus to come into your life, you can know that your relationship with
God is secure. You've embarked on a life of adventure with an all-loving,
all-powerful God.
So what happened when you invited Jesus into your life?
1. He forgave your
sin.
"[God] is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through
the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven" (Ephesians 1:7-you'll
find this verse in the New Testament book of Ephesians, chapter 1, verse
7).
Jesus has paid the
price for all our sins. What difference do you think it makes to know
that God has purchased our freedom?
2. He gives you the
right to become a child of God.
"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right
to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth
resulting from human passion or plan-this rebirth comes from God"
(John 1:12,13).
What did you do to
be given the right to become a child of God?
3. He came into your
life and will never leave you.
(Jesus speaking) "And surely I will be with you always, to the very
end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
(Jesus speaking) "Those the Father has given me will come to me,
and I will never reject them" (John 6:37).
n Is there anything that might cause Jesus to leave you?
n According to the verse John 6:37, how many times do you have to receive
Jesus?
See answers on page 96.
4. He gave you new
life.
"Those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the
same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!" (2
Corinthians 5:17).
You have a chance to start over, to begin a new spiritual life. God will
develop new qualities in you as you get to know him better.
5. He gave you eternal
life.
"And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son. So whoever has God's Son has life; whoever
does not have his Son does not have life. I write this to you who believe
in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life" (1
John 5:11-13).
If you have sincerely prayed a prayer along the lines of the example given
on page 41, this is truly the first day of the rest of your life. If you
were to die tonight, you can have the assurance that you will spend eternity
with him.
All these benefits
are possible only through Jesus Christ. None of them can be earned, they
are God's free gift to those who put their faith in him.
n Which of these five truths are especially meaningful to you now?
n Why?
Dealing with Doubts
Once you've made a decision, it's natural to have doubts. Tomorrow, you
may not "feel" like a Christian.
Remember, though, that many things affect our feelings-friends, health,
weather and more. Don't gauge your relationship with Jesus by your emotions,
which may change. Instead, trust in God and the truths set out in the
Bible, which don't change.
Suggestions for
Further Growth
Every day throughout this week, reflect on one of the five truths you've
just read. Read the accompanying verses and thank God for each one of
these truths.
If you don't already
have a Bible, you can get one from your local bookshop. There are many
excellent Bibles written in modern English. Or, ask a church leader, member
of the clergy or Christian friend for suggestions. Find out about your
local church, fellowship, parish and/or prayer group. You can also email
bible@powertochange.ie (ROI) or bible@powertochange.co.uk (NI) for assistance.
Tell someone this
week that you have a relationship with Jesus.
Summary
Because you've accepted
Jesus, you have now entered a new relationship with God as your Father.
You are his child. He forgave your sins and gave you a new life with the
promise of eternal life. He will not fail you or desert you. When facing
doubts about your decision, rely on these and other truths in the Bible,
not on your feelings.
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