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What Does it Mean to be a Christian?

Most people live their lives without ever knowing "Why"? They exist year after year with no idea of why they live or God's purpose for their lives. The most basic question a person can ask is "What is the meaning of my life?"

Everyone wants to be happy. People try many ways:

• Some look for happiness by acquiring possessions.

• Some look for happiness by experience pleasure.

• Some look for happiness by gaining prestige and power.

But real happiness comes from understanding my purpose in life.

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Why Am I Here?

God made me to LOVE me!

"God says, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love!' " (Jeremiah 31:3)

"Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure." (Ephesians 1:4-5)

We were created to HAVE a personal relationship with God and to ENJOY all of the rest of God's creation! This makes us special!

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." (Genesis 1:27-28)

"...but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." (1 Timothy 6:17)

Jesus said "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

When we know and love God, and live in harmony with his purpose for our lives, it produces tremendous benefits in our life:

Clear Conscience Romans 8:1	Life and Peace Romans 8:6	Help with Weakness Romans 8:26
Purpose Romans 8:28	Confidence Romans 8:31	Security Romans 8:39
Power and Strength Philippians 4:13	Fulfillment Philippians 4:19	Freedom John 8:32,36

This is the kind of lifestyle God intends for us to live. Why then aren't most people really happy?

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What's the Problem?

Man has a natural desire to PLEASE HIMSELF and to ignore God's principles for living.

• "Look out for #1. Do your own thing"

• "If it feels good, do it — regardless of what God says about it."

• "It's my life and I'll do what I please!"

The Bible calls this attitude SIN.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

Sin breaks our close relationship with God. It causes us to fear God and try to live our lives outside of His will.

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23)

When our relationship to God is not right, it causes problems in every area of our lives; marriage, career, relationships, finances, etc. When people have problems, they often try many different ways of coping before turning to God.

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 16:25)

Even when we know that our deepest need is God, we often try wrong ways of getting to know Him:

• "My mother was a Christian, so..."

• "It doesn't matter what you believe, just be sincere."

• "I'll give up all my bad habits."

• "I'll work real hard and earn it."

• "I'll be religious and go to church."

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What's the Solution?

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

God Himself came to the earth as a human being to bring us back to Himself. If any other way would have worked, Jesus Christ would have not had to come. The Way is a Person! Jesus Has already taken care of your sin problem!

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

God did this for us because He loves us and wants us to know him.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5)

God has already done His part to restore our relationship to Him. He took the initiative. Now He waits for each of us to individually accept what He has done for us.

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What Does God Want Me to Do?

AGREE that God has not been first place in you life and ask him to forgive your sins.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

ACKNOWLEDGE that Jesus died to pay for your sins and that He rose again on Easter, and is alive today.

"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." (Romans 10:9)

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

ACCEPT God's free gift of salvation. Don't try to earn it.

"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)

Our relationship to God is not restored by anything we do, but on the basis of what Jesus already did for us!

ALLOW Jesus Christ to come into your life and be the director ("LORD") of your life.

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13)

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in..." (Revelation 3:20)

You can take these steps by praying a simple prayer of commitment to God:

"Dear Jesus, thank You for making me and loving me, even when I've ignored You and gone my own way. I realize I need You in my life and I'm sorry for my sins. I ask You to forgive me. Thank You for dying on the cross for me. Please help me to understand more. As much as I know how, I want to follow you from now on. Please come into my life and make me a new person inside. I accept your free gift of salvation. Please help me to grow now as a Christian."

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