Chapter 1

Getting Started

There are many major decisions in life that we are called upon to make. Decisions such as whom do we marry, what occupation do we want to pursue, what kind of house do we buy, etc. The greatest decision you will ever make is that which this book is all about, receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. This decision will not only determine what your life here will be like, it also determines your eternal destiny. That’s why what I’m about to share is such good news.

Many of the Bible verses I wish to share with you are found in the Gospels, which are the first four books of the New Testament. The Bible is divided into what we know as the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the time before the birth of Christ and the New Testament is the time during and after the birth of Christ. The term Gospel, means good news. According to the dictionary, it also means “teachings of vital importance.” In the following chapters, I want to help you understand why these definitions are so true. The Gospels are writings describing the events and teachings of Christ during His life and ministry here on earth.

We are living in a world of bad news. We hear of wars, violence, crime, sickness and suffering. Every time you turn on the evening news, you hear more bad news. The source of all the bad news is sin. Adam and Eve were the first people God created. Everything went great until Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. This disobedience was called sin. Their sin brought suffering into the world including sickness. God had intended man to live a healthy sinless life. He however did not want to make man into robots. He gave man a free will to choose right from wrong. The garden of Eden was filled with wonderful trees of delicious fruit. All that man needed to make him happy was there for the taking. Only one tree was forbidden. Since the day they took of the forbidden fruit, sorrow engulfed the world. Man sold his soul to the devil for a taste of the forbidden fruit. The only way for God to bring us back, is to redeem us or buy us back. Until that could be accomplished, man was driven out of the garden and out of the presence of God.

1. What is sin according to the above paragraph?

2. What does our sin or iniquity do to our relationship with God? Isaiah 59:2

3. Who does the Bible say is guilty of sin? Romans 3:23.

4. Are there any exceptions to this verse? Romans 3:10, 12

5. What does sin do to our reputation? Proverbs 14:34

6. Since God is holy, He cannot allow sin into Heaven. The price for sin must therefore be paid. What is the penalty for sin? Romans 6:23

7. Jeremiah the prophet was praying for God’s grace for the people of Israel . According to his prayer in Jeremiah 14:20, what did he do or admit to God?

8. Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, says we must do two things to get rid of the sin in our lives. What are these two things? Acts 3:19

9. In your own words, what does it mean to repent?

10. What does it mean to be converted?

11. According to Acts 3:19, what is the result of true repentance?