To some people God seems distant or uninterested. Others may feel that they are too far away from God for hope and even some think they are alright just the way they are. Whoever you are and wherever you’ve been, God is personally interest in you and longs to share a close relationship with you. He has revealed Himself to you in the Bible so that you can know him.
Close relationships are made by taking time to get to know each other. This page is designed to introduce you to God by showing you four of His characteristics. As you take time to investigate God’s amazing love, you can begin to know Him for yourself.
GOD IS HOLY
He cannot tolerate our sin.
One Old Testament verse states that God is “of purer eyes than to behold evil,” and cannot look on sin (Habakkuk 1:13). God’s law is a reflection of His holy nature, and every time we break one of His laws we offend him.
This puts us in a dilemma because “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God’s standard is perfection, and we all fall short of His perfect standard.
Imagine two people trying to touch the top of a 40-foot flagpole. One might be able to jump higher than the other, but neither would be able to touch the top. The same is true about God’s holy standard. Some people may sin less than others, but no one is perfect and without sin. There is more, but if this were all we knew about God, who would be able to have a relationship with Him? No one!
GOD IS JUST
He cannot overlook our sin.
As the just judge of all the earth, God must judge all of us by the same standard. Romans 6:23 teaches that God’s standard judgment for sin is death. Jesus gave this picture of the judgment day, “Then shall He say also unto them…, ‘Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angles’” (Matthew 25:41). The Bible teaches that the destiny of all men apart form the hope found in God’s grace is eternity in hell.
You may be thinking, “How can this be? I thought God was a loving God.” Look at it this way, what would you think of a judge who let an obvious murder go free? Would that be just? No, if that murderer were the judge’s brother and he love him more than any man on earth, would it be just to let him go free? No! Love does not undo the necessity for judgment.
GOD IS LOVING
He reached out to us.
God could not simply watch men die and go to hell without doing something about it. He has provided a way for us to be close to Him that satisfies His holy, just nature. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jesus was in heaven with God and come to earth in the form of a man. He came to give his life in exchange for ours. “Christ [Jesus] also hath suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). He paid the penalty for our sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 teaches that He completes the exchange by giving His perfect righteousness to us. Now, God can give us a home with Him in heaven forever and still be just. This is the reality of the exchange He offers us!
Jesus offers you the ability to have a full relationship with God as your Father. He suffered as a lying, coveting thief in your place and offers you the ability to have full relationship with God as your Father, accepted by Him. Jesus delivered us from the penalty of sin when he defeated death and rose from the grave.
GOD IS GRACIOUS
He offers salvation as a gift
John 1:12 promises, “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” You can receive Jesus by believing that He died in your place and rose to defeat the penalty of death for you. He will give you a satisfying relationship with Him and an eternal home in heaven.
God wants to make you His child. What will you do with His offer?
- Do you believe that Jesus loves you and will save you from your sin and give you eternal life if you ask Him?
- Then are you willing to follow Jesus and put your trust in him right now?
Let’s Pray Together
Here is a sample prayer, but praying “just the right words” is not what saves you. Your choice to depend on Jesus alone is what saves you from sin and its penalty. You can use this as a guide or just talk to him from your heart.
Dear Jesus,
I have sinned against Your holy nature and deserve judgment in hell. I believe You loved me enough to die in my place. Please forgive my sins, exchange my sinful record in Your holy one, and give me eternal life in heaven.
Thank you, Jesus
Amen.
If you just received Jesus as your personal Savior, please contact us! We’d love to hear from you!