Do

YOU

Have A

Personal Relationship

With God ?

   There is a big difference between knowing about someone and actually knowing someone personally. For instance, I know from history something about the past Presidents of the United States, but I’ve never known one personally. Many people will tell you that they believe in God, but they have no personal relationship with Him.

   You might ask, “how can I personally know God?” A personal relationship with God is what the Bible calls being “born again” (Jh. 3:1-8). It’s a spiritual birth into the Kingdom of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is how a sinner can know God as his Heavenly “Father” (Lk. 11:2), Jesus Christ as “Savior, Lord, Master” (Lk. 2:11, Jh. 13:14), and the Holy Spirit as“Comforter” (Jh. 14:26). You may still be asking, “how can I know if I have been born again?” Because the Holy “Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God” (Rom. 6:18). When the Holy Spirit regenerates the soul, He births us into the family of God, convicts us of sin and our need to be forgiven, gives repentance and grants faith to believe.

   The One and Only Creator God took on human flesh and came to this earth in the body of Jesus Christ (Jh. 1:14). Herein, we discover the mystery of the Trinity. God is one in essence, but three in person. He demanded that sin be judged and no other payment was acceptable to Him except that which He Himself would pay in Christ’s atonement on the cross of Calvary.

   From the very beginning of Creation, God desired to have a personal relationship with man, but sin made it impossible unless there was reconciliation between the two. Sinful man has nothing to offer; therefore, God took the initiative as He always does (Jh. 15:16), and made forgiveness possible for sinners like you and me when we believe that Christ died for us.

   The Bible tells us that we all have sinned and deserve the consequences, but God in His infinite grace and mercy towards sinners offers pardon and peace.

   Scripture tells us that no “works” on our part can appease God (Titus 3:5). When God plants faith and a repentant spirit within your heart, it’s because He has tugged at your hearts strings and draws you unto Himself.

   Now, here is the question before you today. Do you have an interest in knowing God personally? Do you ever wonder about where you are going to spend eternity after you die? Does death frighten you? These and many more questions may be flashing through your mind regarding spiritual issues.

   Maybe you grew up in church and think that you are going to heaven because you’ve quoted the sinner’s prayer on the back of a gospel tract. It may be that you’ve joined a local church somewhere along life’s journey.

   Perhaps at some time you have even been baptized. These things may have a place, but none will grant forgiveness of sin nor give you a personal relationship with God.

   To begin with, “salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9). You can usually tell if God is dealing with your heart if you become uncomfortable in your sin and there is a genuine hunger to know Him. Following Jesus is not easy. In fact, it will be very costly. Jesus said that to be “a friend of the world” is to be an “enemy of God” (Jam. 4:4). With the same power with which Christ “was raised” from the grave, God gives to us in turning from sin to the Savior (Rom. 4:24-5:2).

   To know God personally is the greatest joy in this life because it’s knowing the forgiveness of sin and the promise of going to Heaven when we die. A sinner in the New Testament asked, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30-31). The answer was given, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” The word “saved” is a perfectly good word, meaning in this passage, to be “saved” from the penalty of sin which is an eternity in Hell.

   Head knowledge about God is one thing, just like the demons who believe in His existence and “tremble” (Jam. 2:19), but heart knowledge is another.

   In closing, just ponder some of these mighty truths recorded in God’s Holy Word.

Rom. 3:23  “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”

Rom. 6:23 “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”

Luke 13:3 “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”

Eph. 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”

Romans 10:9-11 “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

Matt. 11:28, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

Covenant of Grace Ministries

24504-A Ridgecrest Road

Locust, NC 28097

Burley W. Moore - Bible Teacher

www.covenantofgraceministries.com