Ruth's christian testimony: Was God real to me?

Saturday 7 April 2007

Was God real to me?

I didn’t believe in God. I had been an atheist for years. People suggested I pray. I thought the idea of praying to a God that I didn’t believe in to be silly. Although I visited Sean’s grave, I found no comfort there as his family seemed to do. I ended up wanting to believe in God, but felt it wasn’t an option open to me. Either you believe, or you don’t. How can you make yourself believe in God? It never seemed to be a matter of choice to me and therefore it was a luxury I didn’t have.

I believe not believing in God had something to do with my father being a communist and athiest.

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How to be right with God...

The following is taken from BCF Self Confrontation Manual for in-depth Biblical Discipleships developed by John C. Broger

If you do not already have a sincere (guiltless, pure, genuine) personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, you have a spiritual problem that only God can solve. Without this relationship to Jesus you are:

Hopelessly separated from God (Romans 6:23a; Ephesians 2:1-3 11-12: Colossians 1:21)

Spiritually dead in your own sin (Romans 3:23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13)

Hostile to God (Romans 5:10a, 8:7; Colossians 1:21)

Blinded to Satan (11 Corinthians 4:3-4)
and held captive by him to do his will (11 Timothy 2:24-26, esp verse 26)

Powerless to overcome sin's hold on your life (Ecclesiastes 7:20; John 8:34, Romans 1:28-32, 5:6; Galatians 5:19-21; 11 Peter 2:19)

Unable to understand the things of God (Proverbs14:12, 16:25; Isaiah 55:8-9; 1 Corinthians 2:14)

Unable to please God or to walk in His way (Psalm 143:2b; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-12, 23; 8:7-8; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; 11 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 11:6)

Incapable of living a spiritually fruitful and meaningful life (John 15:4-6)

God's answer to your spiritual problem is based on His character.

God is just, so you face His wrath and judgement in your sinful state (Romans 1:18, 6:23a; Ephesians 2:3; Hebrews 9:27; 11Peter 3:7)

On the other hand, God is loving and doesn't want you to perish in your sin (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 11 Peter 3:9)
so He draws you towards His Son, Jesus (John 6:44-45, 65)

The answer to your spiritual problem is found in God's Son, Jesus Christ.

By His gracious and merciful love, God gave His one and only begotten Son, Jesus, as the only answer for your helpless spiritual condition (Isaiah 53:2-12; John 3:16, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6; Ephesians 1:3-12; 1Timothy 2:5-6; 1 John 4:10)

Since you could not save yourself or do anything to merit God's favour and mercy (Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; 11Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5-7)
Jesus paid the full price for your redemption by dying on the cross for the penalty for your sins (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3;-4; 11Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 1Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 10:10-14; 1Peter 1:18-19, 3:18)

God accepted and approved His Son's sacrificial death for your sins by raising Jesus from the dead (Romans 1:4, 4:25)
Jesus Christ is eternally alive (Acts 2:32; Romans 6:9; Revelation 1:17-18)
is with God (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 8:1)
and is Lord of all (Philippians 2:9-11; Revelations 17:14, 19:16)
Through His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ is victorious over sin (Romans 6:10)
death (Romans 6:9)
and the devil (Hebrews 2:14)

Through Jesus you can:

Have your sins forgiven (Acts 5:31, 10:43; Ephesians 1:7, 4:32; Colossians 1:13-14, 2:13-14)
and be reconciled to God (11Corinthians 5:18-19)

Experience a spiritual new birth (John 3:3; 1Peter 1:3, 23; 1John 5:1)

Receive the gift of eternal life through God's gracious gift of faith (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:40, 47; 11:25-26; 17:1-3; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1Timothy 1:16; 1John 5:11-12)

Have access to God (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:18, 3:11-12; Hebrews 10:19-22)

Be a member of God's family (John 1:12; Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:5, 2:19; 1John 3:1-2)

Understand the things of God (John 14:26, 16:13-15; 1Corinthians 2:9-13)

Become a new person with the capability for living in a totally new manner (Romans 6:4-22; 11Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:13)

and be empowered to change, to mature into Christlikeness, and to have an increasingly intimate knowledge of God Himself (John 17:3; Romans 8:2, 28-29; 11Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 1:6, 4:13; Colossians 1:9-11; 1Thessalonians 2:13; 11Peter 1:3-4)