• What does it mean to know Jesus personally?

• How do you know if you have this relationship with Jesus?

• Wasn't Jesus just a good moral teacher?

• Is it possible to know an historic figure? 

• Do Jesus and Christianity have any relevance for life today? 

The following links can help you better understand who Jesus is and why it is important to know him personally. 

Jesus' Story

To learn more about Jesus’ life, claims, and impact go to http://www.ccci.org/wij/index.html

To answer questions about the crucifixion, resurrection, miracles, life and words of Jesus, and if Jesus is God, go to http://www.allaboutgod.com/is-jesus-god.htm

Are Jesus' claims to be God true?  http://www.everystudent.com/features/faith.html

Tough Questions

Jesus welcomed tough questions, and so do we!  We believe that, after examining the evidence, you will want to know more about Jesus.  Please don't hesitate to contact us by email to globalmin followed by @efree.org, or phone 636-779-2185.  Also, refer to  http://www.greatcom.org/resources/toughquestions

How Jesus’ Story relates to you.

Knowing information about Jesus does not give you a relationship with him.  His story needs to intersect with your story.  So what do you need to do in order to know Jesus personally? Here is God’s basic message to you found in the bible.

God made you uniquely and He loves you.  He created you to have eternal life in relationship with Him.  God is perfect and holy.  He cannot tolerate anything that isn't perfect and holy - this includes people, because we are not perfect.    (Think about your response to the person who cut you off in traffic!)  The consequence of sin, not living the way God intended, is separation from the God who loves us and created us.  This separation results in eternal death.  While this situation is tragic, God did not leave this relationship un-mended.  He created a way to bridge the gap and remove the penalty caused by sin. 

Man was not able to mend the relationship by trying to be good, by religion, psychology, or any other means.  God himself intervened.  Restoring our relationship with Him and removing the penalty of death, required a payment by someone without sin.  Since there is no man without sin, God sent Jesus, the sinless one, to take the penalty and bridge the gap between God and man, making eternal life available to all.

Understand the Five Key Elements of the Gospel

1. Everyone has fallen short of God’s standard and needs a Savior (Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 3:23)

2. There are eternal consequences of unbelief (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, Revelation 20:12-15)

3. No one can save himself/herself (Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9)

4. Only God provides the means to be saved (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, 1 Timothy 2:5-6)

5. Faith in God’s grace through the work and person of Jesus is all that is necessary for salvation (Romans 4:5, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:1)

Faith is not an intellectual assent, but requires trusting Jesus, the Savior, as God’s only means to restore your relationship with God.  You can express faith in Jesus through telling God of your decision to believe in His finished work on the cross on your behalf.

Some resources that further outline how to know Jesus personally:
http://www.greatcom.org/laws/languages.html and http://www.everystudent.com/features/gettingconnected.html

Now What?  How do I Grow with God?

Now that you have entered into a relationship with Jesus, you're probably asking how to grow in that relationship.  In some ways, this is similar to getting to know a new friend.  It takes spending time together - communicating, getting to know the characteristics of the person, knowing the person’s likes and dislikes, living life together. 

Ways to know Jesus better include: reading what he says in the bible, acting on what he says is best, talking with him (prayer), reflecting on life together in quiet moments, giving yourself to him and others, all in the community of others who believe in Jesus.  We would love to be that community in which you experience growth in these areas!  For more information, e-mail us at globalmin followed by the @efree.org.

Jesus wants your relationship with him to grow and gives you the Holy Spirit in your life to help you.  While your sins are now forgiven, Jesus wants you to see how he is able to continue to work in your everyday life through relying on him for your needs.  The more you interact with him, the more you can become like him.

How to be sure you are a Christian
http://www.transferableconcepts.com/transconcepts/english/christian/index.html

How to be filled with the Spirit
http://www.greatcom.org/spirit/english/