Running Your Race to Win: Have You Entered the Race?
Hebrews 12:1-4 “Jesus, The Author and Finisher of Your Faith”

1st When Man Lost: Genesis 3:1-7

Man Created For One Purpose: Created In God’s Image to Reflect His Glory!

Genesis 1:27 God created man in His own Image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

The First Man and Wife Reject this Purpose: Genesis 3:1-7

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death spread to all men, because all sinned. 15…by the transgression of the one many died!

Realize and Confess that you are a sinner and that your sin has separated you forever, from Holy God.

Romans 3:10 There are none righteous, not even one. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sin – Disobedient to God and Choosing Your Own Way.
Lost – Separated from God, wandering from His presence.
Strongholds: Where certain sins are so prevalent, that you are essentially in bondage to that sin. And as much as you try, you can’t shake the chains.
Separated from God Forever:

2nd When God Won Man Back to Himself: 1 Corinthians 15:1-6

The Plan: restore man back to relationship with Him, to again share His glory.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall crush you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.

Realize that God has a Remedy for your sin: Jesus!

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love towards us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Have a godly sorrow over your sin, confessing that you are sinners and that without Christ we are separated from God forever.

Believe that Jesus Died on the Cross in your place as a sacrifice to God.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith – and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not as a result of works so that no one may boast.

Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised from the dead you will be saved.

Believe – To Trust And Rely On.
Conversion – Turning from living one way and choosing to live another.
Faith and Trust in Jesus – To believe in Jesus and His work on the cross and the grave. To believe and rely on what God promises His children.
Confess – To agree with God and to say what happened.
Repent and Surrender – To turn from one sinful, selfish living and to give up and turn your self over to.
To Be Saved – Rescued from sin and its power: To be delivered from something very bad.
Being Transformed – Being Conformed into the Image of Jesus.
Lord and Savior – Jesus is your Ruler and your deliverer.
Being Born Again – to choose to turn from sin and follow Christ. To receive a brand new life with a brand new nature.
Christian – The name a person who believes, obeys and follows Jesus. A person who has been born again and knows Jesus.

Here is a Good Confession:
Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you and am a sinner, separated from You. I know that on my own I could never live my life in a way that is Holy and pleasing to you. I could never be what you desire me to be. But I believe that 2,000 years ago, Jesus died on the cross in my place to forgive me for all my sins and to change me from the inside out in order that I might have a growing vibrant relationship with You. Lord thank You for loving me and dying for me in my place. I turn from my self-directed life to live for you. I ask you to come into my life and change me forever. I choose by your power to follow you and live for you the rest of may life. I believe that you have forgiven me. I believe that you have changed me! I believe that you will conform me into your image. In Jesus name, Amen.

What We All Need to Do After We Give our Lives to Christ.

Follow the Lord in Believer’s Baptism.
Seek to the Lord by reading the Bible and Praying daily.
Begin to share life with other believers in Worship and Fellowship
Begin to share with others what God is doing in your life.
Be led by the Holy Spirit, by obeying His initial promptings.
Always Believe that He is transforming you into His Image!