Do you ever wonder what life is about?
Is there more to existence than life and death?
Is there something after this life?
The Seven Spiritual Truths will answer these profound questions.
Truth 1
SOURCE
God is the source of all good things and the greatest of these is His personal love for each one of us.
"You have formed my inmost being; you knit me
together in my mother’s womb. I am wonderfully made."
(Psalm 139:13-14)
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1 )
God also has a wonderful plan in mind for each one of us.
"‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans
for your welfare, not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope.’" (Jeremiah 29:11)
"I came so that they might have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)
Why don’t we experience this plan?
Truth 2
SIN & SEPARATION
Our sin ruins God’s original plan for us. In particular, our sin separates us from God.
"But your iniquities have separated you from
your God; your sins have hidden his face from
you, so that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:2
The above diagram illustrates the unspannable gulf created by our sin and the resulting separation from God.
Sin is when we chose to turn away from God and go our own way. The result is eternal death.
"For the wages of sin is death."
Romans 6:23
Our Attempts to Reach God
People have tried in many ways to bridge this gap between
themselves and God...
The Bible says...
"There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to
death." Proverbs 14:12
Are we then doomed to an eternal death?
Truth 3
SACRIFICE
Jesus served the penalty for our sins when He sacrificed Himself on the cross.
"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for
our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace
was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
Isaiah 53:5
"But God demonstrates his own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
Jesus’ death restores our relationship with God. He alone bridges the gap that separates us from God.
"I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men."
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Truth 4
SALVATION
Jesus offers us eternal salvation - heaven - as a gift.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
As with any gift, salvation is not ours until we accept it. To do so we must decide to receive Jesus into our lives by faith and take action by leading a good life.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8
"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17
How do we receive Jesus into our lives?
RECEIVING CHRIST
The three circles represent three kinds of lives.
The first circle shows a self-directed life. Self is on the throne and Christ is outside the life. Interests and activities are directed by self.
The second circle is also a self-directed life, but Christ is now an interest. Note that self is still on the throne.
The third circle represents a Christ-directed life. Christ is on the throne and self yields to Christ. Now interests and activities are directed by Christ.
Each circle can be further understood by the following analogy. The person in the first circle is single; there is no relationship with Christ and no commitment. The second person is dating Christ; there is some relationship but very low commitment. Finally, the person in the third circle is married to Christ; there is a strong relationship and high commitment.
Which circle best represents your life?
Which circle would you like to have represent your life?
How do I get a Christ-directed life?
CHRIST-DIRECTED LIFE
Getting a Christ-directed life is simple, much like exchanging marriage vows. You simply say "yes" or "I do" to Jesus and commit yourself to Him by asking Him to be a part of your life, in good times and in bad.
You can make that commitment to Jesus right now.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me."
Revelation 3:20
Jesus knows your heart and is not concerned with your words, or if you have been good or bad in the past. What counts for Him is the present attitude of your heart, like the following prayer.
"Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. I admit that I have sinned and done what is wrong.
Thank you for dying for my sins so that I could have eternal life. I open the door of my heart and
receive you as my Saviour and Lord. Direct my life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.
Amen."
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?
If it does, pray the prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life.
Now that Jesus is in your life, He will nurture your new-found relationship with Him.
Truth 5
SACRAMENTS
To strengthen our faith and support us in our Christian walk, God has given us the Sacraments of the Church:
Baptism, Confirmation, Confession, Eucharist, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick.
As food is to the body, so the Sacraments are to the soul.
"I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life,
and I will raise him up on the last day."
[The Sacrament of Eucharist]
John 6:53-54
The Sacraments are not just symbols. God actually touches us and strengthens us spiritually.
Truth 6
SAFETY
Jesus gives us spiritual safety in the Catholic Church. He instituted it and gave authority to its leaders to proclaim the truth.
"I tell you the truth that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell
will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth
will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Matthew 16:18-19
Jesus is the head of the Church and He continues to direct us through the leadership and teachings of the Catholic Church.
"You will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the
church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."
1 Timothy 3:15
Truth 7
Send
Jesus sends us out to share these Spiritual Truths with others. The gifts of faith and eternal life are not just for ourselves; we are sent as ambassadors to share the Good News with others.
"We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making
his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf. Be reconciled to God."
2 Corinthians 5:20
Jesus has commissioned us to proclaim the Gospel: that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead to offer everyone eternal life.
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
Matthew 28:19-20
GOING FROM HERE
Like any relationship, ours with Jesus will take time and effort to develop. Jesus offers us a lifetime of faithful companionship and by the power of His Holy Spirit, transforms us into better people. He will be with us in our troubles, forgive us when we sin, and train us in the way of righteousness.
Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus Christ. "The righteous man shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11). A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly with every detail of your life, and to practice the following we need to go:
T
rust in God’s provision for your life (1 Peter 5:7)
H
oly Spirit - allow Him to control and empower your daily life and witness (Gal 5:16,17; Acts 1:8).
G
o to God in prayer every day (John 15:7)
"He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,
that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe
in the name of the Son of God."
1 John 5:12-13
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