It is having a personal relationship with Christ!

How does someone develop a personal relationship with Christ?

Well, it beings with the understanding that, everyone has sinned and come short of the Glory (RIGHTOUSNESS) of God.

ROMANS 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Because we sin, we have to face the penalty of that sin.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Because we sin, we need a Savior.

John 3:16 For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who-so-ever believeth in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life.

God provided us a Savior by sending His Son Jesus to die for our sins.

We can receive God's forgiveness and Jesus as our Savior by trusting in Jesus, and deciding to live our life for Him.

Then, with a honest and sincere heart ask Jesus to be your personal Savior.

Throughout the Bible God is defined by love, and love is defined by God.

1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Therefore Love is God.

Ephesians 1 says that God forgives us of our sins, because he is a gracious God.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Therefore, we can receive his love because he forgave us of our sins and DIED for us.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own Love towards us, in that while we are still sinners, Christ died for us.

In Proverbs Love is defined as a deep affection or devotion that covers all sin.

It says: Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, but Love covers all sins.

1 John also refers to God's Love.

1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

What is Everlasting Life?

Everlasting Life is a gift that GOD gives those that choose to dedicate their life to GOD and serve Him. Many refer to the passage in Matthew where Jesus calls to the people to take up their cross and follow him. Matthew 16:24 reads - Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. The gift of Everlasting life is given to those who choose to deni their sinful desires and follow Christ.

The gift of Everlasting Life is "spiritual life after a physical death".

Physical death is when the body, flesh, dies. Those that do not choose to follow the will of God and have faced physical death also face a spiritual death. The spirit of those that do not choose to follow the Lord are cast into the Lake of Fire, Hell, to be ultimately destroyed.(For more information on Hell check out HELL.)

Those that choose to abide by the will of God and follow Him, and have faced physical death do not face a spiritual death. Their soul, or spirit enters into the Courts of Heaven and sit at the feet of God for Eternity.

Those that follow the will of God have an enternal peace, and goodness and mercy fills their life.

Psalms 23:6 - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

This does not mean that life will be any easier (read Battle), but getting through life is easier knowing that you are saved by the Grace of God!

As mentioned earlier, the first step in receiving God's forgiveness and Jesus as your Savior is to trust in Jesus, and to decide to live your life for Him.

Then, with a honest and sincere heart ask Jesus to be your personal Savior. To ask God to be our personal Lord and Savior turn to God in prayer and specifically call out to Him.

Pray: Dear Holy God, I am a sinner in need of a savior, in need of You. Thank you for giving Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for my sins against You. Thank you for providing a way to atone my sins. I pray to You now to ask for Your forgiveness of my sins. I want You to be my personal Lord and Savior, my Protector and Master. I give everything over to You, take control of my life so that I can truly serve You. By Your name a claim victory over sin and know that it does not have any control in my life. I know that you have washed away my sin and created in me a new spirit of severanthood towards You. Thank you, God for being a loving, compasionate, forgiving Lord. Thank you for being my Savior. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer or another prayer similar to this one with sencerity in your heart, then you are now saved by the grace of God. Please, go to a local church and share with them the good news. Get invovled in a Bible study and continuously pray to God and worship Him!