Know Christ!

There is no greater way to start your RACE than to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.  If you do not have a relationship with Christ yet than read on.  We would love to show you how.  If you have already started a relationship with Christ, have you taken the next step of obedience in baptism?  Then click on our Baptism link.  If you have already taken these steps, then you are ready to GROW.  Click on our GROW link to find out ways you can begin growing in your walk with Christ.

There is more to this life than just going through the motions day after day after day. There is more to life than being tied to our routines of work, school, meals, extra-curricular activities and sleep. In the Bible, Jesus shared some words that break through the monotony of the routine. Jesus told us in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." The "they" includes you and me. Jesus came to this earth to bring us life. He is not talking about life that is filled with boredom, mediocrity and insignificance. Jesus came to give us abundant life! The life Jesus is talking about is exciting, fulfilling and eternally significant. The best news is this life is readily available to each one of us. Keep reading so you can discover how to receive this abundant life.

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

The Bible tells us we all share a common problem called sin. We all sin. We all miss God's mark of holiness and perfection. Sin is going our way rather than God's way. We all naturally lean toward sin and selfishness.

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

The Bible tells us the payment for our sin is death. The just sentence we deserve for our sinfulness is death apart from God. However, the verse also says there is a gift of God that is available to us. The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The death that results from sin can be exchanged for life that comes by faith in Jesus Christ.

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Ephesians 2:8,9, "For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast."

The Bible tells us God loved us so much that He gave us His Son Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus to this earth on a mission to provide us with forgiveness of our sin. We receive this forgiveness of sin through placing our faith in Jesus Christ. God's offer of life and love found in Jesus Christ is a free gift for us to receive. We do not strive to earn a relationship with God through our works. We simply receive a relationship with God through surrendering our life to Jesus Christ. Good works are a result of our salvation not a requirement for our salvation.

2 Corinthians 5:21, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

There is only one way to be made right with God. It is through a relationship with Jesus Christ! God placed the sin of mankind on Jesus. Jesus took our sin to the cross, died in our place and rose again so that we might have life abundant and eternal through placing our faith in Him. Jesus paid the price for our sins. He took our place on the cross.

John 14:6, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Acts 4:12, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

True life is found through a relationship with Jesus Christ! The only way for us to enter a relationship with God is by faith in His Son Jesus. Good works will not suffice. Baptism will not suffice. Church attendance will not suffice. Giving money to the church will not suffice. These are all good and necessary if we desire to grow stronger and deeper in our faith in Christ. Salvation is found solely through believing in Jesus Christ and receiving Him into our life as Savior and Lord.

Romans 10:9,10, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Romans 10:13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!"

Faith is a belief that leads to an action. We believe Jesus came to this earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross in our place, paid the price for our sin and rose again on the third day. We believe Jesus is alive today. We believe that Jesus loves us and desires to have a relationship with us. Therefore, we joyfully and humbly confess our sin to God, we ask Him to forgive us of our sin and we ask God to give us new life in Christ Jesus. Praise God we can have new life in Christ!

If you desire to receive abundant and eternal life found in Christ Jesus, then we want to encourage you to pray a simple prayer. There is no magic formula for asking Jesus to come into your life. God knows our hearts and He hears our prayers. If you want to accept God's free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, then pray a prayer similar to this one:

"Dear Jesus, I realize I am a sinner and I know my sin separates me from you. I believe that you are my Savior. I believe you came to this earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for my sin and rose again. I believe you are alive today and that you love me and want a relationship with me. Jesus, I ask you to come into my life, forgive me of my sins and be my Savior and Lord. I surrender my life to you today and I want to live my life for you from this day forward. Thank you for providing me with salvation and forgiveness of my sin. Amen."

If you prayed this prayer then you are part of the family of God! You have been changed from the inside out. God has a wonderful plan for your life. He wants to help you grow in your faith day by day. He wants to make you more like Christ everyday. Spiritual growth happens as you seek God first. If you prayed this prayer of salvation then we would love to rejoice with you and encourage you in your faith. Please email us or call our offices so we can celebrate with you.