How to Have a Relationship With God

 One of the biggest mistakes of Christianity is that so much weight is put on eternity that we often miss the life in front of us; often more focused on life in the hereafter than life in the here-and-now.   We embrace the good news that God loves us – ALL of us – and that eternity is in God’s hands, not ours. We announce, as Jesus did, that the Kingdom of God is at hand by embracing everyone as already a beloved child of God. We believe that Jesus died for everyone’s sin like New Testament teaches. We trust that God is good and so too, is life.

 

“Without FAITH (trust) it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

F is for forgiveness and freedom.  The truth is you have been forgiven. Believe it.

“In him (Jesus, the Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace…” Ephesians 1:7

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died… God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:14, 19

 

A is for all-encompassing.“He (Jesus) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2

“Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.” Romans 5:18 

I is for intimacy. Jesus prayed, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (Eternal life is about intimate knowledge, a relationship, with the only true God.)

 

T is for trust.  We must not trust in someTHING (religion, self-righteousness), but trust in someONE (Jesus).  Trust in God’s grace.

 

“… because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions and sin — it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and even this faith is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast. ^{10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:4-10}

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 1 Corinthians 2:15

 

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery… You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:1, 13