Faith 101
What is faith, and why do you need it?
Why am I here?
Everyone wants to be happy. People seek happiness through various avenues—possessions, pleasure, prestige, power, and the list goes on.
But pay close attention to the headlines and entertainment magazines about the people who have achieved all of these things. Rarely do they seem to have found “true happiness.”
So if fame and riches can’t bring happiness, what can?
The answer to the ultimate question comes from understanding who God is, who Christ is, and who we are.
No matter what our relationships in this life have been like, there is one who truly loves us unconditionally and would give up the most important thing to maintain that relationship. And the One who loves us that much is God!
The Bible shows us that God is a caring and loving father who wants to have a real, daily, and personal relationship with us.
In John 10:10 God says, “I came that they may have life, and have {it} abundantly.”
What's stopping me from enjoying an abundant life?
Despite all these great things God has taken care of for us, we all reach one point in our lives where we decide our plan is better than His, and we go our own way.
Do any of these phrases sound familiar?
- “You have to look out for #1”
- “Do your own thing”
- “If it feels good, do it”
- “It’s my life and I’ll do what I please”
- “I’m a self made man”
God has a word for this kind of attitude, and it’s called SIN.
Sin breaks our relationship with God. When this happens, problems follow in every area of our lives: marriage, career, relationships, finances, and the list goes on.
Does God really love me?
Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)
God loves us so much that He didn’t want us to live hurting and separated from Him. God was not willing to let us live that way.
Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Another verse says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
God did the one and only thing that could have been done to save us after we chose to sin. And that was to send His only son, who never sinned, to take the penalty for us. Jesus took the initiative. He paid the ultimate price. That’s how much he loves us!
So what’s standing between me and the life I was created for?
Faith—I have to have faith in God and Jesus and their plan for my life and the price Jesus paid for my sin.
But, this can be hard to accept when faith is often looked at as a simple man’s solution to life.
What do I do now?
The path to an eternal relationship with God and a healed heart is simpler than you might think.
First, we have to admit there is sin in our lives, what we have done wrong, and ask God to forgive us. We also have to believe Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin, he rose from the dead after three days, and is alive today.
“That if you confess your mouth Jesus {as} Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Next, we have to accept God’s free gift of salvation and not try to earn it. Ephesians 2:8-9 explains this: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, {it is} the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
We also have to ask Jesus to come into our life and take control. We know, this one is easier said than done, but it’s important to give our lives to him completely. “But as many received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, {even} those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)
Romans 10:13 also says, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Ready to take your next step?
A Prayer of Commitment to God
Jesus, thanks for making me and loving me. Even when I ignored you and did my own thing, you were there waiting for me.
I realize I need you in my life, and I’m sorry for doing so many things that are wrong. Please forgive me. Thank you for what you did for me, for dying for me and taking my punishment.
Please help me to grow and know more about what you did, and what you want me to do with my life. I want to follow you from now on, no matter what. Please be a part of my life and make me a new person from the inside out.
I accept this gift of salvation that you paid such a big price for. Now, help me to understand what it means to have a relationship with you and help me grow as a follower of Jesus.
Amen