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The Bible makes clear that there is only one way to have a relationship with God. It is greatly encouraged that you read through the entire document printed below. If you want to see where these truths come from, you can click on the reference and this will take you to where you can read the reference highlighted. Each reference will open in a new window. If you have any questions, please use the email below to contact one of our pastors.


You need it... The Reason for Having Fellowship with God

Even now, you might be asking yourself "Why?... Why do I need a relationship with God?"

In our culture today, we have placed such an emphasis upon self, and going after whatever it is that will please self, that one can be distracted from what one really needs (Romans 1:18-32; Romans 8:5-8). What we need more than anything else is life, and only God can give us true life (Matthew 7:13-14; Mark 8:35-36). True life is having fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son (John 6:47-48; John 17:3).


Sin marred it... The Cause for Separation from God

God is holy (Leviticus 11:45; Psalm 99). He is the polar opposite of sin. In fact, In him there is no sin (1 John 1:5-7). Just like you can't mix light with darkness you can's mix a holy God (light) with sin (darkness).

In fact, what the sin in our life leads to death and we all are sinners (1 John 1:8-10; Romans 3:21-23). The concept of death not only means complete separation from God, but death apart from God leads to an everlasting punishment that is rightfully deserved because of our sin (Romans 5:12; John 3:17-19; 2 Peter 2:4-10).

If you are not convinced that you are a sinner, click here.


Christ did it... The Way to Reconciliation with God

Since the foundation of the world, God had a plan to deal with our problem of sin (2 Timothy 1:8-10; Ephesians 1:3-10). His answer was His very own Son (Acts 4:10-12; John 14:6). God so loved us, that he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice so that we would receive His salvation from death (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Since the beginning of time, God continually pointed to Jesus Christ as the answer (Luke 24:26-27; Acts 10:43).

Throughout the Old Testament, God's answer, the Messiah-King, is foretold in prophetic statements. Jesus fulfilled every last one of the prophecies that pointed to the Messiah-King and His life confirmed that He was in fact fully God and fully man, therefore being the perfect answer for our problem. Keep in mind, hundreds of years separate the prophecies about Christ and the actual fulfillment of these prophecies in Christ, and the overwhelming majority of them He had no control over.

Jesus's birth and life were truly miraculous... but it is his death and resurrection that solve our problem of sin (Acts 2:22-36; Romans 6:3-10). Jesus was obedient to God's plan and was willing to die on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8). He was willing to take the full brunt of the penalty for sin upon Himself for our sake (Romans 3:25). Since He was fully God, He had no sin. Since He was also fully man, He could take our place for the punishment we deserve (Hebrews 2:9-18). But death was only part of the problem.

We need life. Apart from God, we are spiritually dead inside and this means we are separated and alienated from God . To solve this problem, by God's power, Jesus Christ rose from the dead (Ephesians 2:1-5). An empty tomb stands as the validation that He indeed is risen and alive (Luke 24:1-6; Matthew 28:1-9). Therefore it is only in the person and work of Jesus that our dual problem of sin and death can be settled and we receive the blessings that flow from His death and life (Acts 4:10-12; 1 Timothy 2:4-6).

You can receive it... The Benefits of Having Fellowship with God

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God grants phenomenal blessings upon those who believe and trust in Jesus. It is through the death of Jesus that our sins can be forgiven. We can be cleansed and purified only one way... and Jesus is that way (Titus 2:11-14)! Since God is holy and in Him there is no sin, our sin must be cleansed and we must be purified to enter into His presence and have fellowship with Him (1 John 1:5-9).

It is through the resurrection of Jesus that we receive newness of life (Romans 6:4). Jesus conquered sin and death and all those that are in fellowship with Him become a new creation (1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Colossians 2:8-14). Eternal life is not just a destination, it is actually a way of living. To have eternal life is to abide in, or to have fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son (John 17:3). The more we follow Jesus and walk in obedience in the way He lived His life, the more we will experience eternal life now... that is, we will enjoy the abundant life of fellowship with the Living God (1 John 1:1-3).

This truly is good news. God loves us. His very Son, Jesus Christ, came to die so that our sins may be forgiven and then rose again to give us new life... eternal life... a life of fellowship with God enjoying His blessings forever. But there is one more thing... you must make a decision...

You decide it... The Response to God's Salvation

This is good news indeed. The question that remains is: "How will you respond?" There is only one way to receive the gift of life. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." There is no other way to enter fellowship with God.

So how do you respond? (Acts 2:37-39). First, you must repent of sin. Repent means to turn or change your mind about something. You must change your mind about how you view sin and view yourself (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10). You must recognize that sin is detestable before the sight of God and that He cannot and will not tolerate sin in His presence (2 Peter 3:9). You must also recognize that you are a sinner and therefore, on your own, cannot enter into the presence of God (Acts 5:30-32).

Secondly, you must by faith believe in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:6). This is not just giving intellectual acknowledgement that He exists. This means that you recognize that Jesus is the only one who can save and that He is Lord of all. Therefore, to believe means that you are willing to surrender your life under His lordship, obeying His commands. It means you recognize that your way is worthless and that the only way to true life is being connected to Christ and therefore willingly obeying and living life His way (1 John 2:3-6).

Now Abide in it... The Call to Live in Fellowship with God

If you recognize your need for God, pray right now, repenting of your sin and believing in Jesus as Lord. If you have just believed in Christ as Savior and Lord of your life... congratulations... you are part of the family of God (1 John 3:1-3; 1 Peter 1:3-5) . You are now a new creation in which the Spirit of God lives in you and will never leave you (2 Corinthians 5:17). You have received the promise of eternal life (1 John 2:25).

Instead of the journey to God being over... it is just beginning (Colossians 2:6-7). Every day you have the responsibility and the opportunity to grow more and more into the same likeness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:17-18), reflecting the same kind of holiness and righteousness in your life and thereby enjoying deeper and more intimate fellowship with God (Ephesians 4:20-24; 2 Corinthians 7:1). This can be tough on your own, that is why God instructs those that have believed and trusted in Christ as Lord to meet together to encourage and build one another up in what it means to live like and walk like Christ (Hebrews 10:19-25).

Therefore, we would like to support you in this new life you have entered. Please contact us by either phone (215-249-0879) or by email ( ). Also contact us if you have more questions about what it means to enter into relationship with God.