The Road to Eternal Life
Gorilla Gospel
At the very heart of everything the Gorillas stand for and try to represent, is the desire that every one that participates in any type of Gorilla event knows God and is rightly related to Him. This is critically important...it is a matter of FIRST PRIORITY! If you have never reflected on the claims of the gospel or if you are not certain that you have the right relationship with the Lord, read on...our prayer is that God will speak to you through these simple words.
There are four steps to understanding God's plan
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1) God's nature is love...
With all the pain, suffering and violence in our world, sometimes it is hard to believe that God is a loving God. Yet scripture clearly proves that God loves us uniquely and completely and has promised us life...
Eternal life
Abundant lifeFor God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16 (NIV)
I have come that they may have life, and they might have it abundantly —John 10:10
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2) Our nature is sin...
However, our very nature is sinful, and because of that sin, we cannot experience God's love for us or the life He wants to provide.
All men are considered sinnersFor all have sinned and come short of the glory of God... —Romans 3:23 (NIV)
Our sinful nature is repulsive to God, and that sin separates us from His presence, His love and the life. This separation is referred to as death in the Bible.
Our sin separates us from God's loveFor the wages of sin is death... —Romans 6:23 (NIV)
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3) God's response to our sin...
But God loved us enough to provide a solution for our sin problem. He sent His only son, Jesus, to pay the penalty of our sins and to show us the way to eternal life.
Christ paid the price for our sins But God demonstrated His own love for us in this
Christ showed us the way to eternal life — Jesus answered...While we were sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8 (NIV)
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" —John 14:6 (NIV)
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4) Our response to God's love...
You must choose to respond to God's offer of love. You must choose to accept God's plan and follow His way. Two things are involved, repentance and receiving.
You must first choose to repent of your sins, ask Christ to forgive them.
Repentance involves confession—being sorry for our sins If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.—1 John 1:9 (NIV)
Repentance involves conversion...a change or turning away from sin. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out... —Acts 3:19 (NIV)
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Then you must receive God's free gift of life.
Accept Him by faith...trust Him For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
Commit your life to Him...make Him Lord or boss of your life.
Everyone must choose to accept or to reject God's love. Are you willing to make the choice? Christ will listen if you will call out to Him-Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13 (NIV) He is waiting for your response right now- Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in...Revelation 3:20 (NIV) If you have not done so, pray this prayer....That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.—Romans 10:9 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive my sins and come into my life. I trust you as my savior, and will follow you as my Lord. Thank you for sharing your love and providing me with life. Amen.