How to Get Right with God

In the beginning, God created the entire universe. He made everything out of nothing, all by himself. He made all the stars and galaxies. He also made the sun and moon, as well as all the plants and animals on earth. He is the reason everything exists, and there is no god besides him.

He made humans to have love and connection with him, and worship him forever. However, every single one of us has rebelled against him. We began worshiping statues, money, sex, career, or family instead of the only true God. Furthermore, no matter how good we try to be, we still do things that we know are wrong.

But God still loves us and wants to make everything right. In the Jewish holy books, God promised to send a king that would rule the entire world in peace and righteousness. This king, called the Messiah, would be a righteous judge and wage war against wicked people.

Yet two thousand years ago, the Messiah finally arrived. This man, named Jesus, began telling everyone in Israel about God’s kingdom. He began healing people of their sicknesses and casting out evil spirits. He called himself the Son of God and Son of Man, both of which mean he is the promised king of the world.

Because of this, His followers were excitedly waiting for him to take the throne. But the religious leaders of his time hated Jesus. As a result, they handed him over to the Romans, to be executed. They did this by nailing him to a wooden cross, hanging him there until he died.

After he died, his followers took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. All hope was lost. The Jewish Scriptures are very clear that the Messiah is a living, human king who rules the entire world. Jesus certainly couldn’t do that if he was dead!

But on the third day, he arose from the dead. He ate and drank with his followers, who were surprised and relieved that he was alive again! He appeared to them many times over the course of many days, showing them that he was really alive. After this, he ascended to heaven, where he sits next to God the Father.

Only after his resurrection did the disciples finally understand the purpose of his death. As one of the Jewish prophets says:

"But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

Instead of God punishing us for our sins, Jesus took that punishment on himself. As a result, everyone who puts their trust in this Jesus is forgiven for every wrong thing they have ever done.

In addition, God’s Spirit comes to live inside of every person who believes in him. The Spirit of God helps his people live a life that is honoring to Jesus.

As the Son of God, Jesus is both God and man. As the Jewish Scriptures say:

"For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

Everyone who trusts in Jesus will live forever. Even though they die, they will rise again when Jesus comes again to set up his eternal kingdom. As Jesus himself says:

“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)

The choice is yours.