In the beginning, God made the world, and it was perfect. Man walked and talked with Him on earth, and never died. However, God did not make us like robots. He gave us freedom to choose whether to obey Him.

Turning away from God meant that man drew further away from God’s presence, and lost his immortality. Today, many people don’t care about God and have little awareness of Him. Even religious people hardly know Him. It is our selfishness which is the problem. The Bible calls this “sin”. This represents anything that separates us from a perfect God - wrong actions, words and thoughts as well as things which we should do and say but fail to do. In fact no-one is perfect, or good enough to be with a perfect God in heaven. But God loves us so much that He has given us a way of reaching Him and overcoming our weaknesses and offences.

Jesus was, and is the answer. His story is told in the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. He worked as a carpenter for most of his life, but during his last three years on earth, he preached and performed many miracles. He taught that the world would one day come to an end and that God would judge everyone according to how they had lived, but despite the fact of sin and evil, there is a way in which people can know and be with God. He said that it was by his dying that we could reach God. His death would bridge the gap between man and God.

Ironically, the religious people of his time had Jesus put to death because they believed that only God could decide who could go to heaven. They did not believe that Jesus was God.

However outrageous such words might seem, Jesus proved them to be true by coming back to life again after his death on the cross. The tomb was empty - no one could produce a body. Over 500 people saw him on different occasions. From a small group of disillusioned disciples there sprang a world-wide movement which grew despite terrible persecution.

Christians believe that Jesus is still alive today and that he is our only way of knowing and being with God. He calls us to believe in Him and put our faith and trust in Him. The Bible speaks of Jesus’ sacrifice which takes away the sins of the people. But Jesus’ sacrifice never has to be repeated. His work has been completed. If we will trust in him, he will stay with us and will change us. We can talk to him through prayer.

Prayer may seem strange to us - it feels as if we are talking to ourselves, but when we pray, God is always there, and will answer us.

If you invite Jesus to take control of your life, you soon discover that life begins to change. As you learn more about him, by reading the Bible, meeting together for worship, and talking to him in prayer, you will begin to know him better, and discover that your faith is growing.

You will also experience a new power working within you, which the Bible calls “the Holy Spirit”. He continues to change you, helps you to understand the Bible, and gives a deeper relationship with God. As we allow the Spirit to change us, he also gives us special abilities to serve God and the church, and offers a guarantee of life with God, in heaven.

It is always the right time to respond to the message of God’s love. He calls us to invite Jesus Christ into our lives by praying to him.

Here is a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I am sorry that I have been going my own way instead of your way. Thank you for dying to take away my sin. Please come into my life and make me the person who you want me to be. Amen.

God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that all those who believe in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
( John 3 verse 16)

Faith in God grows as you learn to trust Him with every detail of your life. It is necessary to do four things in order to mature as Christians.

† Pray daily - by yourself, or with a friend.

† Read your Bible regularly.

† Meet with other believers for worship. We need the help and encouragement of one another.

† Find a church where you feel happy and can belong, and remember that is always with you. All that we have comes from Him. Give thanks to God at all times.

If you would like more help to understand what a Christian is, then please contact the Rev. Canon Chris Collins by clicking here