How to Have A Full and Meaningful Life
1. God loves you, and he offers you a full and meaningful life.
God showed his love for us by sending “his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11).
This full and meaningful life…
is abundant.
Jesus said: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
is everlasting.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Jesus Christ can change your whole life and give you joy and peace now and forever.
2. This life is made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) .
“Christ was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25).
This full and meaningful life includes…
Forgiveness of sin
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
Fellowship in the family of God
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:17).
Strength for daily living
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
3. You enter this life through a “spiritual birth”.
Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
Nicodemus, a member of the strictest religious group of his time, was a highly educated man. He came to Jesus seeking a more meaningful life. Jesus explained that without a complete change in his life no man could understand or enter the kingdom of God. Jesus called this change a spiritual birth. (Summary of John 3:1-8)
The spiritual birth is…
More than accepting facts
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19).
More than doing good works
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
Spiritual birth takes place when you turn your life over to Jesus Christ.
4. Failure to turn yourself over to Jesus Christ is sin.
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).
Sin is called many things—missing the mark, rebelling, living independently of God. Sin is being or doing wrong against God, others, or yourself. You can sin in your thoughts as well as your actions.
The greatest sin is failure to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Apart from Jesus Christ you are separated from God, and cannot have eternal life.
You are a sinner by nature. You remain an unforgiven sinner by choice, for God offers forgiveness of sin and eternal life through Jesus Christ.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
5. This life becomes yours when you turn from sin and accept Christ as your Lord and Savior.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
To receive Jesus Christ, you need to…
Admit that you need Christ—that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself.
Be willing to turn from your sins.
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
Ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and take control of your life.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9, 10).
You become a Christian and possess this full and meaningful life at the moment when by faith you turn to God through Christ.
The choice is yours.
God offers you this full and meaningful life now.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Is there any reason why you cannot accept his offer now? Does this prayer say what you want to say?
Dear Lord, I know I have done wrong and need forgiveness. Thank you for dying for my sins and for offering me eternal life. Please forgive my sins and help me turn from them. I now confess you as my Lord and receive you as my Savior. Take control of my life and make it full and meaningful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Will you pray this prayer or express your thoughts in your own words? As you ask him, Jesus Christ will become your Lord and Savior and give you a full and meaningful life.
You can know that you possess a full and meaningful life in Christ…
Because of Christ’s promise
“He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
Because of your commitment
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Did you call upon him? He will keep his promise.
Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit
“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:13). “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).
You can grow in this full and meaningful life in Jesus Christ if you will…
Let the Holy Spirit fill your life and give you power. Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16
Show your love in baptism and church membership. Matthew 3:15-17; Acts 2:41
Study the Scriptures and pray every day. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Be a faithful manager of the gifts God has given you. 1 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Peter 4:10
Share your faith in Christ through your life and words. Acts 1:8; Luke 24:45-48
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