The Gospel
How to begin a personal relationship with God
One day Jesus was talking to a large group of people and He used an illustration about two roads to describe our choice of our eternal destination. He described one road as broad and busy and the other road as narrow and uncongested. The broad road leads to eternal separation from God and the other to eternal life in heaven. Here is what He said…
"Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. But the gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it."
Because of the staggering consequences of coming to the end of life on the wrong road, River Oaks Community Church is determined to help as many people as possible find the narrow road leading to eternal life. If that interests you or you are not completely sure of your eternal destination, please read on to find out how you can be sure that you are on the right path.
The Bible teaches that we were created in perfect relationship with God. There were no barriers between a holy God and His creation. But something went dreadfully wrong when Adam and Eve decided, against God’s clear instructions, to eat from the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. That single act of rebellion plunged the human race into a condition of separation because a perfectly holy God cannot have fellowship with sinful people.
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man [Adam], and death through sin, and in this way death came to everyone, because all sinned."
The good news is that God is not only a holy God; He is also a God of love. And his love found a way for us to have our sins paid for and become a traveler on the road to eternal life!
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son [Jesus] that whosoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life.
Read the following verses very carefully, because it describes how it all works. "But now God has shown us a different way to heaven – not by being good enough and trying to keep his laws, but a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says he will accept and acquit us --declare us ‘not guilty’ – if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us ‘not guilty’ of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins. For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us. He used Christ’s blood [his death on the cross] and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath [hell].
Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins and to provide a way for you to have a restored relationship with God. The only thing you need to do in order for your sins to be forgiven is to ask Jesus to be your Savior. You can’t earn it, work for it or be good enough to deserve it. But because of God’s grace, love and Jesus’ death on your behalf, you can have forgiveness and eternal life by simply asking Him for it.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast."
You can begin traveling on the narrow road that leads to heaven by simply telling God in your own words that you acknowledge that your sins have separated you from Him; that you believe the only acceptable payment for your sins is Jesus’ death on the cross; that you want Him to forgive you of your sins and to have Jesus be your Savior; and that you commit to follow Him and obey Him for the rest of your life. You can do that right now in the quietness of your heart. Simply ask Jesus to forgive your sins, to come into your life and be your Lord and Savior.
Once you have made this important decision to trust Christ as your personal Savior, River Oaks would love to help you grow in your new Christian life. Please contact one of the pastors so they can suggest ways to develop your new relationship with God.
