Our Beliefs

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

• John 3:16 is the essence of the Christian faith. It contains the truth of the Gospel message in a nutshell. God gave His one and only Son, Jesus, in order that the human race might be reconciled to God. Here, indeed, is the way to abundant life now and eternal life forever for all who believe. Let's take a closer look...

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

• God's standard for His people from the beginning has been perfection. Mankind, though, beginning with Adam and Eve, has chosen to live life on their own... attempting to be their own god, and making their own choices. This self-righteous attitude led man to disobey God and caused a separation from God. The truth of the Gospel message is that each one of us has chosen to go our own way, to go against the plan of God. What was the result of this choice to disobey God and rebel against His love?

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

• As a result of man's choice to disobey God, death - both spiritual and physical - was brought into the world. Because of our rebellions against God, we are all sentenced to die. Sin and its consequences are serious and so is the penalty for sin. The good news of the gospel message is that the penalty for our sin was paid in full by Jesus Christ through His death on the cross. The blood that He shed was a satisfactory substitute for the penalty of death that each one of us was to pay. The free gift of God is abundant life now and eternal life forever through Jesus Christ, our Lord. What must I do to receive this gift?

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, NIV

• Man throughout the centuries has attempted to earn God's love and forgiveness. Forgiveness and eternal life in Christ cannot be earned, it must be received. God offers to all mankind His grace and forgiveness, with no strings attached. The response that God desires of His people is that we believe with all our hearts that Jesus is Lord and that He took our place on the cross. What then?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. II Corinthians 5:17, RSV

• God has a marvelous and exciting plan for your life! After we have received the forgiving love and grace of God in Jesus Christ, He begins the work of molding us into His image. God wants us to think as He thinks, to see people as He sees them, to love others with a sacrificial and selfless love. This process is a life-long adventure of becoming one with Christ.
  
  
• Becoming a Christian involves allowing God to do for you what you could not do for yourself. The Christian life is about surrendering your will to God and allowing Him to show you the purpose, meaning, and joy that comes from living for the King! Have you taken the first step in being reconciled to God? Thank God for loving you, ask Him to pour out His forgiveness on you, and ask Him to give you a new life in Christ.

If you would like to speak to someone about this new life that God offers to all who believe, please call LakeRidge UMC at (806)794-4015. May God richly bless you this day!