How Can I Have a Relationship with God?

Some relationships are warm and growing while others are cold and distant. How would you describe your relationship with God? To some people God seems distant or uninterested. Others may feel that they are too far away from God for hope. Still others may think they are alright just the way they are. Whoever you are and wherever you’ve been, God is personally interested in you and longs to share a close relationship with you. He has revealed Himself to you in the Bible so that you can know Him.
Close relationships are made by taking time to get to know each other. This page is designed to introduce you to God by showing you four of His characteristics. As you take time to investigate God’s amazing love, you can begin to know Him for yourself.

God is Holy and cannot tolerate our sin.

One Old Testament verse states that God is “of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness.” (Habakkuk 1:13) God’s law is a reflection of His holy nature, and every time we break one of His laws we offend Him. This puts us in a dilemma because “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God’s standard is perfection, and we all fall short of His perfect standard. Image two people trying to touch the top of a 40-foot flagpole. One might be able to jump higher than the other, but neither would be able to touch the top. The same is true about God’s holy standard. Some people may sin less than others, but no one is perfect and without sin. There is more, but if this were all we knew about God, who would be able to have a relationship with Him? – No one!

God is Just and cannot overlook our sin.

As the just judge of all the earth, God must judge all of us by the same standard. Romans 6:23 teaches that God’s standard judgment for sin is death. Jesus gave this picture of the judgment day, “”Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41) The Bible teaches that the destiny of all men apart from the hope found in God’s grace is eternity in hell. You may be thinking, “How can this be? I thought that God was a loving God.” Look at it this way. What would you think of a judge who let an obvious murderer go free? Would that be just? Now, if that murderer were the judge’s brother and he loved him more than any other man on earth, would it be just to let him go free? No! Love does not undo the necessity for judgement.

God is loving and has reached out to us.

God could not simply watch men die and go to hell without doing something about it. He has provided a way for us to be close to Him that satisfies His holy, just nature. John 3: 16 says, “”For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus was in heaven with God and came to earth in the form of a man. He came to give His life in exchange for ours. “Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,” (1 Peter 3:18) He paid the penalty for our sin when he died on the cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21 teaches that He completes the exchange by giving His perfect righteousness to us. Now God can give us a home with Him in heaven forever and still be just.

Imagine your name in the blank on the right. Now imagine crossing out your name and writing “Jesus” in its place. In the right column, cross out Jesus’ name and write your name. The reality is that Jesus offers to take our sin and offers us His perfect record in its place. He suffered as a lying, coveting thief in your place and offers you the ability to have a full relationship with God as your father, accepted by Him. Jesus delivered us from the penalty of sin when He defeated death and rose from the grave.

God is gracious and offers salvation as a gift.

John 1:12 promises “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” You can receive Jesus by believing that He died in your place and rose to defeat the penalty of death for you. He will give you a satisfying relationship with Him and an eternal home in Heaven.

What will you do with God’s offer? Do you believe that your sins keep you from having a relationship with God, and will you turn from your sin and receive God’s exchange for you? He wants to make you His child.

Jesus loves you and will save you from your sins and give you eternal life if you ask Him.
Are you willing to receive him right now?

Here is a sample prayer, but it’s not praying just the right words that saves you. Your choice to depend on Jesus alone is what saves you from sin and its penalty. You can just talk to Him from your heart. 

Dear Jesus,
I have sinned against you and deserve judgement in hell. I believe You love me enough to die in my place. Please forgive my sins, exchange my sinful record for Your holy one, and give me eternal life in heaven. Thank you, Jesus. Amen. 

If you have received Jesus as your personal Savior, I would love to meet you and help you grow in your new relationship with God. Please contact me here.
Pastor Ray Anderson