1

God's Purpose:
Honor and Serve Him

GOD CREATED MAN TO HONOR, SERVE, AND FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM. THE BIBLE SAYS...

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."  Revelation 4:11

"Whether then, you eat oft drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  I Corinthians 10:31

"You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."  Psalm 16:11

If God's purpose is for mankind to honor, serve, and fellowship with Him, then what happened that destroyed this perfect relationship?

2

Mankind's Problem: Sin

MAN CHOSE TO SIN AGAINST GOD RATHER THAN SERVE HIM. THE BIBLE SAYS...

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  Romans 3:23

What does it mean to sin against God?
Sin is breaking God's law (I John 3:4).

We sin by doing what God has commanded us not to do or by not doing what God has told us to do.

3

Sin's Penalty: Death

THE BIBLE SAYS...

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 6:23

When man chose to disobey God, the result was death. The basic meaning of death is separation. The Bible teaches that there are three types of death, or separation, that result from sin.

Spiritual death separates a person from the life of God. (Ephesians 2:1)

Physical death separates a person's soul from his or her body. (Hebrews 9:27)

Eternal death separates a person, both soul and body, from God forever in Hell. (Revelation 20:15)

4

Then How can we ever have eternal life?

THROUGHOUT HISTORY INDIVIDUALS HAVE TRIED MANY WAYS TO GAIN OR EARN ETERNAL LIFE, BUT EVERY ATTEMPT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE BIBLE SAYS...

"There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."  Proverbs 14:12

"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy." Titus 3:5a

"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."  Ephesians 2:8,9

5

Christ's Payment: Our Sinless Substitute

JESUS CHRIST, GOD'S SINLESS SON, WAS SENT BY THE FATHER TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS BY DYING ON THE CROSS IN OUR PLACE. THE BIBLE SAYS...

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8

"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God."  I Peter 3:18a

THEN HOW DO WE CROSS THE BRIDGE TO ETERNAL LIFE?

6

Our Pardon: Turn and Trust

HOW DO WE CROSS THE BRIDGE TO ETERNAL LIFE? WE MUST RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. JESUS HIMSELF SAID...

"...I am the way and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."  John 14:6

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR, YOU MUST REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND PUT YOUR TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST AS THE ONLY HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE. THE BIBLE SAYS...

"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away."  Acts 3:19a

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."  Acts 16:31a

"For whosoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."  Romans 10:13

7

God's Promise: Eternal Life

JESUS CHRIST SAID...

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him Who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."  John 5:24

THIS VERSE HAS ONE PROMISE WITH THREE PARTS.

The person who believes:

1. Has eternal life

2. Does not come into judgment

3. Has passed out of death into life.

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®,
© Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission"