How to Know God Personally and have Joy, Peace and Eternal Life

by Pastor Emeritus Steve Swires

Because as humans we did not exist before we were conceived in our mother’s womb and have grown to what we are today, we naturally want to think that everything starts from nothing and works its way up, getting better and better. However, that is not reasonable; it could not have started with nothing! Actually, everything had to start from eternity, infinity, and perfection and work its way down.

God, the Creator is an infinite, eternal, perfect person and has created everything by power from Himself, and by His perfect knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.

When seeking the answer as to how a person can know God and be accepted by Him in order to have total inner peace, then we absolutely MUST understand that God is PERFECT, RIGHTEOUS, and HOLY. He made that abundantly clear in the Bible through the prophets of Israel.

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” -Deuteronomy 32:4

MOST RELIGIONS IGNORE THIS CRITICAL POINT! They present a religious system that has their god accepting people who are far from perfect and letting them live forever. But, if God did, then He would not be perfect or just! Instead, He clearly communicates that He is an HOLY God and cannot embrace anyone or anything that is not perfect.

And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.” –Joshua 24:1

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.” -1 Samuel 2:2

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.” -Psalms 5:4

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” -Psalms 24:3,4

But, God has clearly revealed to us through holy prophets in the past that we are not perfect and therefore not acceptable to Him the way we are naturally. We have flaws and do things (sins) that will cause us to be rejects unless they are fixed!

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” –Romans 3:19

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” –Romans 3:23

THE ONLY POSSIBLE SOLUTION is for God to satisfy His justice by providing perfect payment for our sins, and then provide a way for us to be MADE NEW AND PERFECT!

Good news! God has done just that. God came in the form of His only Son and became a human by being born of the virgin Mary as Jesus of Nazareth some 2000 years ago.

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” -Isaiah 7:14

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” -Matthew 1:23

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, thatwhosoeverbelieveth in him should not perish, but have everlastinglife. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” -John 3:16,17

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” -2 Corinthians 5:19

After Jesus Christ died to pay for the sins of humanity, he resurrected (literally came back to life!) so that humanity could be born again with new, perfect, eternal life in Him as children of God.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:10-13

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:3,6

This was provided as God’s free gift to man!

For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christour Lord.” -Romans 6:23

Notice that it is clearly stated that it is a free gift. That is because there is no way imperfect people could ever earn or deserve something so valuable. Again, this is where many religions fail. They insist that you follow their religious system, be as good as you can etc., and God will forgive your sins and give you eternal life. NOT SO! It is FREE because God loves everyone, and our goodness could never be enough so He paid the full price! There is nothing left for you to pay.

The only condition is that you must accept the free gift. You have the right to make your own choices. No one can force you to take it. If you wish, you can ignore it, reject it, or whatever… the choice is yours.

However, God clearly states that EVERYONE who chooses to BELIEVE and TRUST in Jesus Christ as the Saviour who paid for their sins and resurrected so they could have the gift of new life with all of their heart receives it!

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoeverbelieveth in him should not perish, but have everlastinglife.” -John 3:15,16

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” -John 3:36

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” -John 20:31

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” -Romans 10:9

PLEASE! Choose to believe and trust Him.

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