First of all, you must realize the Bible has both good news and bad news for you. We'll start with the bad news. The bad news is that what is blocking your relationship with God is your sin. The Bible says, "There is none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10). It goes on to say, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The Bible also says, "For the penalty of sin is death…" (Romans 6:23). The bad news is that we have all sinned and are therefore separated from God. Because of our sin, we deserve to be punished. According to God, this punishment is death! Because we have an eternal soul, the word "death" in Romans 6:23 refers not only to physical death, but also to spiritual death, or eternal separation from God. The place where unforgiven people go after death is called "hell" in the Bible.

Aren't you glad there's good news? The good news is that God loves you and doesn't want to be separated from you! The Bible says that He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, the Father sent His Son into the world to make a way for you to be saved from your sins. Peter tells us, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). Because of His love for you, God became a Man, lived a sinless life, and went to a Roman cross, where He bled and died in your place! He did this to pay for your sins! Can you imagine the Son of God bleeding and dying for you? After paying for your sins on the cross, 3 days later, Christ rose from the dead! He is now victorious over sin and death! God has provided a way for you to escape the judgment of your sins. He will now accept you if you will repent and receive His Son.

You must repent. The word "repent" literally means, "To think differently; to change one's mind." Jesus warned, "Unless you repent, you too will all perish." (Luke 13:3). Peter said to those who had not accepted Christ, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out..." (Acts 3:19). Paul said, "...God commands all people everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). Repentance does not mean you have to stop sinning and start doing good works before God will accept you. We know this because Paul also said, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2: 8-9). Repentance is not a work we do to earn salvation. Rather, it is a change of mind concerning our Sin (it's wrong and I need to turn from it), concerning Self (I can't save myself by good works), and concerning the Savior (only Jesus can save me).

You must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior! John said, "But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). By receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are acknowledging two things. You are acknowledging that Jesus is now the LORD of your life and that as your SAVIOR, He will forgive all your sins (past, present, and future). Repenting and receiving Jesus is how you go from knowing about Him to knowing Him!