St. George Orthodox Church of India, Sacramento, California

GROWING IN THE SAVIOR'S LOVE

All who receive Jesus as Savior can have a personal relationship with Him. This revolutionary thought has captivated the human mind for centuries and continues to separate Christianity from every other world religion. The God of all creation sent His son to be our atonement for sin. Through the Savior, we have access to the Heavenly Father and the experience intimacy with Him.

What does Scripture say about this bond between sinner and Savior ?

* Jesus came to reconcile the world to God. Not to condemn, but to save. Out of His great love for us, the Father provided the only path to His kingdom, through Christ. (John 3:17; 2 Cor. 5:19)

* Jesus completely paid the price for all sin with His one-time sacrifice on the cross. There is no need for a repeat performance or fresh offering. With His blood, He paid our price of admission into heaven (2 Cor 5:14-15).

* Jesus desires that we abide in His Word and in His love (John 15:1-11)

* A personal faith reveals itself through action. As we abide in Christ, we will bear fruit and thereby demonstrate our connection with the savior. (John 15 :4-5; Gal 5 :22-23)

* Jesus provided the perfect example of how to worship God and be in relationship with Him. He both taught and modeled the way to live a life of righteousness. (John 13:15; 1 John 2:6 ; Gal 2:20)

* Jesus' prayers reveal His heart. Just as He is one with the Father, He desires that we also be unified with God. (John 17:21)

A "personal relationship " implies intimacy and communication. Our intimacy with the Lord is shown in the substance of our prayer life, our involvement in God's Word, and the fruit that results as we live out our faith.

When you analyze your convictions, do you genuinely believe that Jesus is your personal Savior ? Do you sense a connection with God ?

In thinking about the "faith walk" of other believers, does anything about your fellowship with the Lord strike you as different ? What similarities do you see ?

How can you take intentional steps toward deeper intimacy with God ?

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