THE HEART OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

GOD . . .

. . . loves you.
  "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." (John 3: 16; NIV)

. . . has a wonderful plan for your life.
  "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you,
   plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29: 11; NIV)

YOU . . .

. . . are separated from God by sin.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3: 23; NIV)

. . . therefore you cannot know His love and plan.
                                                        "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; NIV)

JESUS . . .

                                                       . . . is God who became man—for you.
                                                       "Phillip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.' Jesus answered:
                                                       'Don't you know me, Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time?
                                                       Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say "Show us the Father'?" (John 14; 8-9; NIV) . . .
                                                       "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14: 6; NIV)

                                                      . . . took the consequences of your sins by dying on the cross  in your place, and rose from the dead to give you

a new life and to carry out His wonderful plan for you.
                                                        "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 8; NIV)

FAITH . . .

                                                        . . . is receiving Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord.
                                                       "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; NIV)

                                                       . . . includes sorrow over sin and turning away from a self-centered life . . .
                                                       "Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
                                                        And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2: 38; NIV)

                                                      . . . and trusting Jesus for forgiveness and for power to live henceforth for Him alone.
                                                       " And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."
                                                        (II Corinthians 5: 15; NIV)

  LETTING JESUS INTO YOUR LIFE. . .

                                                      . . . can be as simple as a prayer asking him in.
                                                      "Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins and rising from the dead to give me a new life.
                                                      I gladly receive You as my Savior and Lord! Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take the management of my life.
                                                      Make me the person You want me to be. Let others meet You through me. Amen."

                                                      Now, join us at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church as we grow in our relationship with God and one another praising God and his love
                                                      for us in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.