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<\/strong>We humans have a problem: we are sinners separated from God and we will die eternally unless something is done to change our situation.<\/p>\nAll have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.<\/em>\u00a0 Romans 3:23<\/p>\n The wages of sin is death.<\/em>\u00a0 Romans 6:23<\/p>\n We do not automatically go to heaven. Regardless of how “good” we may have been, we are sinners separated from a holy God and living in a sinful world; and without God’s special intervention, we are doomed to die eternally. We must make some conscious choices and there needs to be a significant change in our life in order for us to go to heaven. The solution to this problem of sin and death includes several things:<\/p>\n 1. God loves each one of us very much and wants to save us.<\/strong><\/p>\n For God loved the world so much, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.<\/em>\u00a0 John 3:16, 17<\/p>\n 2. Eternal life comes only through knowing God and receiving Him in our lives.<\/strong><\/p>\n This is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.\u00a0<\/em> John 17:3<\/p>\n But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.<\/em>\u00a0 John 1:12<\/p>\n 3. Our basic human nature needs to be changed: we need God to put His Holy Spirit in us.<\/strong><\/p>\n The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?\u00a0<\/em> Jeremiah 17:9<\/p>\n Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I tell you, Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.<\/em>\u00a0 John 3:5<\/p>\n 4. In order for God to change and renew us, we need to recognize and admit our sinfulness.<\/strong><\/p>\n If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. \u00a0<\/em>1 John 1:9<\/p>\n Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.<\/em>\u00a0 Psalm 51:10<\/p>\n God promises that no matter how bad our sin problem is, He can change us and clean us.<\/p>\n Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: thought your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.<\/em>\u00a0 Isaiah 1:18<\/p>\n Jesus will not reject us if we come sincerely wanting what He offers.<\/p>\n All that the Father gives me will come to me; and he that comes to me I will certainly not cast out.\u00a0<\/em> John 6:37<\/p>\n I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.<\/em>\u00a0 John 10:10<\/p>\n We can have our sinful life cleaned up when we believe God and accept His plan for us.<\/p>\n Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/em>\u00a0 Romans 5:1<\/p>\n But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he who comes to God must believe that His is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.<\/em> Hebrews 11:6<\/p>\n After we have received God’s gracious forgiveness, we need to put effort toward changing our sinful ways.<\/p>\n Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, Look, you are made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come to you.<\/em>\u00a0 John 5:14<\/p>\n Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more.\u00a0<\/em> John 8:11<\/p>\n We can grow and change only with God’s help.<\/p>\n Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.\u00a0<\/em> 2 Peter 3:18<\/p>\n Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to want and to do His good pleasure.<\/em>\u00a0 Philippians 2:12, 13<\/p>\n Here are some areas that need to be changed and developed in our lives and characters.<\/p>\n Make every effort to add to your faith moral excellence<\/u>; and to moral excellence knowledge<\/u>; and to knowledge self-control<\/u>; and to self-control patience<\/u>; and to patience godliness<\/u>; and to godliness brotherly kindness<\/u>; and to brotherly kindness love<\/u>.<\/em>\u00a0 2 Peter 1:5-7<\/p>\n When God’s Spirit is working in our lives, we will show these characteristics:<\/p>\n The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control.<\/em>\u00a0 Galatians 5:22, 23<\/p>\n God has a marvelous future prepared for those who live for Him now.<\/p>\n Do not let your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if is were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, you may be also.<\/em>\u00a0 John 14:1-3<\/p>\n God wants to help us with our struggles in this life.<\/p>\n Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.<\/em>\u00a0 Philippians 1:6<\/p>\n Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.<\/em> 1 Peter 5:7<\/p>\n If you want what God has to offer you, pray this prayer:<\/p>\n Lord, I realize that I am a sinner and I need you. I want you to forgive me and save me. Come into my life right now; clean me up and help me to live to honor you from this time onward. Thank you.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We humans have a problem: we are sinners separated from God and we will die eternally unless something is done to change our situation. All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.\u00a0 Romans 3:23 The wages of sin is death.\u00a0 Romans 6:23 We do not automatically go to heaven. Regardless of how … <\/p>\n