I walked into the religious instruction classroom in a school and, with tongue-in-cheek, wrote in large letters across the blackboard "I hate religion." "Man, in this class, you'll get shot," gasped one student in amazement. "But I'm sold on real Christianity," I responded. "What's the difference?" half the class chorused.

The point is one can be religious without necessarily being Christian. Let me explain. True, Christianity is a religion, but it's much more than that, It's also much more than believing a creed. It's a relationship with God and people. It's knowing God personally, experiencing his divine love and forgiveness, and communicating this to every life we touch.

We start by realizing that no matter what we have ever done or have failed to do, God loves us and is vitally interested in our total life--both for this life as well as the next. In fact, Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV). And again, "I came that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10b, NIV).

The greatest thing in the world is to come to the realization that God is not out to punish you for wrongdoing but that he loves you unconditionally and does indeed have a wonderful purpose and plan for your life.

Man's Problem

Unfortunately, it is our wrong doing or sin that blocks out our experiencing God's love and receiving the full and abundant life that he has for us. And let's face it, We have all sinned and fallen short of God's standard" (Romans 3:23). Sin, of course, is not merely doing wrongful acts. It is anything that falls short of the perfection that God envisioned for us, including our damaged emotions, negative attitudes, and mixed motives.

Punishment for sin comes from the wrongdoing itself Sin has its own self destructive consequences, first spiritual death and ultimately eternal death (Romans 6:23); that is eternal separation from God, the author of all love and life.

Like a burned out electric light bulb that cannot respond to its power source, man being spiritually dead cannot respond to God's love and power without his help. God's love and power are constant. As sinners we're dead to it.

Christ's Answer

Because our sin has separated us from God, we have been left with a "God shaped vacuum' or spiritual emptiness. The world's many religions are all evidence of man's endless struggle to fill this vacuum. And his relentless search for inner peace through pleasure seeking, power, fame, fortune, drugs, and mystical experiences all tell of his inner emptiness. But as Augustine put it, "You have made us for yourself, 0 God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you."

As it is impossible for us to find God or peace with Him through our own efforts, God in his love and mercy sent his own sinless Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our predicament.(Ephesians 2:8-9).

Christ did this by dying on the cross in our place to pay the ransom price for our sins, which was death. Thus Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin and He is the only way back to God and eternal life (John 14:6 and Romans 5:6-8).

As the Bible says, "For there is one God and mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men" (I Timothy 2:5-6).

Your Response

If you were found guilty of a serious crime and were condemned to death, would you accept a free pardon from the President? I certainly would.

Through the consequences of sin we are all condemned to eternal death. But because Christ died on the cross in our place and paid our ransom, God now offers us a free pardon. All we need to do is to respond to God's love and accept his pardon.

How can we do this?

First, confess. The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9, NIV).

Second, repent. Turn from sin to God. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the good News" (Mark 1:15, NIV).

Third, believe. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:3p NIV).

Fourth, receive. Again God said, "To all who received him [Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12, NIV),

It is responding to God's offer of a free pardon for your sin, accepting His forgiveness and making a commitment of your life to Christ that makes you a real Christian. If you recognize your need and believe that Jesus is the only way of salvation, won't you accept Him now? He always keeps His Word.

Come to God through Jesus Christ, using words such as these: "O God, I don't understand why You care for me enough to send Jesus to bear the penalty of my sins. Even with my lack of understanding, I do believe You have the power to forgive me. I trust You absolutely. I believe in the fact of Christ's death for me, and the promise You made, that whoever believes will have everlasting life. Thank you for this marvelous gift. Amen."

There's Great Assurance

If you sincerely confessed your sin and prayed to receive Christ, you are now a true Christian and have the gift of eternal life. You are a brand new person inside with a new spiritual life. You are a child of God and a member of his family (,see 2 Corinthians 5:17 and John 17:1-2). God promises all of this. So believe it. Accept it. Take it by faith and not feelings. Feelings change, but God's Word never does.

And His Word, the Bible, says, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God,does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (I John 5:11-13 NIV).

Your new spiritual life, however, needs care just as your physical life does. If you prayed to receive- Christ into your life, we want to help you grow as a Christian. Use the form below to tell us about your decision and we will provide you with a free study designed for new Christian.