Pastor Cliff Bergman – Pinawa Alliance Church

Life can be very unsettling, particularly in these days of COVID-19, economic uncertainty and volatility in so many places. The future seems scary at times. Perhaps some who visit our website are struggling  and searching for meaning.  You may have questions about where is God in this and how you might have a relationship with Him.

The key message of the Bible is hope. God desires to have a relationship with us and has provided the way to make it possible. The reason God initiated a relationship with us is because of His love for us and without His intervention, we would remain without hope. He invites people to place their faith and trust in Him. You see, the Bible makes it clear that all people are sinners

Romans 3:23 (ESV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

As a result of that, if left to ourselves and our own resources we would all perish in a Godless eternity which the Bible describes as hell. Unfortunately, no matter how good we try to be, or how many commendable qualities we have, no one is able to remove their sins or pay the penalty for them. We need help!

The Gospel, or Good News, is that God does not wish “that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3.7). In order to make that possible, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to leave the glories of heaven to come to earth where He clothed Himself with humanity when He was born at Bethlehem. Jesus came for the specific purpose of paying the price for people’s sins when He was crucified on a cross at Calvary.

John 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Salvation from our sins is not automatic nor is it gained by participation in a religious ritual, we need to admit we are sinners in need of a Savior. We need to ask God for forgiveness for our sins, and when we do, He promises to forgive us.

1 John 1:9 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Those who place their faith in Jesus Christ and trust in His provision for our salvation are promised eternal life.

John 5:24 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

No wonder the Gospel is Good News!

We cannot earn our salvation for it is a gift Jesus offers to all; He invites people, irrespective of their social standing, ethnicity, religious background, level of education, gender, or how good they are, to accept His offer of forgiveness and eternal life.  Salvation is a free gift from God available to everyone.

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

People are saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone.

Consider God’s promise to those who are trusting in Jesus for their salvation,

Romans 10:13 (ESV) For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Those who place their faith in Jesus for their salvation are born-again, the Bible describes it as being made a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

When a person is saved they are made spiritually alive and able to commune with God. It is no wonder that they will have the desire to worship Him individually and desire to become part of a Bible-believing Church where they can worship God corporately, hear from Him through His Word, and fellowship with, and minister to, other believers. Being a part of an evangelical Church is vital for your growth as a Christian.

If you desire to begin a personal relationship with God, I invite you to pray a prayer to Him. In that prayer, admit you are a sinner, ask God for forgiveness based on Jesus’s death on the cross for your sins. Tell God that you place your trust, or belief, in His Son Jesus Christ for your salvation. Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and ask Him to guide you and enable you to live in a manner that please Him.

One of the many privileges of followers of Jesus Christ is ready access to the God of this universe. He invites His children to turn to Him in times of need.

Hebrews 4.16 (ESV) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Begin a regular practice of reading your Bible. A good place to begin is with the Gospel of John. If you do not have a Bible, we can provide you with one.

If you wish to explore elsewhere what others say about how to have peace with God, click on the link below to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association where the Gospel is clearly explained.

If you have accepted Jesus’ forgiveness and placed your faith in Him for your salvation, please let us know; send us an email or call.