4. Our Response

We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord;
then we can know God personally and experience His love and plan.

We Must Receive Christ

“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1.12)

We Receive Christ Through Faith

“For it is by grace 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.” (Ephesians 2.8-9)

When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth

(Read John 3.1-8)

Receive Christ by Personal Invitation

[Christ speaking] “Here I am! I stand at the door knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3.20)

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive us of our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.

These two circles represent two kinds of lives

Which circle best describes your life?
Which circle would you like to have represent your life?

A life without Jesus Christ Self is in the center and on the throne; Christ is outside.

A life entrusted to Christ Christ is in the center and on the throne, and self yeilds to Christ.