Steps to Peace With God

Step 1 god’s plan—peace and life

God loves you and wants you to experience His peace and life.
The Bible says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but
have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV).

Step 2 our problem—separation

Being at peace with God is not automatic, because by nature we are
separated from God. The Bible says: “For all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Step 3 god’s remedy—the cross

God’s love bridges the gap of separation between God and you.
When Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave, He
paid the penalty for your sins. The Bible says: “[Jesus] Himself bore
our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins,
might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed”
(1 Peter 2:24, NKJV).

Step 4 our response—receive christ

You cross the bridge into God’s family when you receive Christ by
personal invitation. The Bible says: “But as many as received Him,
to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who
believe in His name” (John 1:12, NKJV).

To receive Christ, you need to do four things:

1. Admit your spiritual need. “I am a sinner.”
2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose
from the grave.
4. Pray and invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life
through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as your Lord and Savior.)
When you make this commitment, you become a new creation in
Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and a part of His family (John 1:12).

Here is a suggested prayer: “O God, I am a sinner. I am sorry

for my sin. I am willing to turn from my sin. I receive Jesus as my
Savior; I confess Him as my Lord. From now on I want to follow Him
in the fellowship of His Church. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

If you’ve made a new commitment to Christ or would

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SER169

Learn the
secret of
contentment
and joy in
the midst
of suffering:
Look beyond the present
Find blessing in
the burden
Be counted worthy
to suffer
any people today are suffering as a
M result of natural catastrophes such as
tidal waves, hurricanes, earthquakes,
famines, etc.
Nowhere does the Bible teach that Christians are to
be exempt from the tribulations and natural
disasters that come upon the world. It does teach
that the Christian can face tribulation, crisis, calamity,
and personal suffering with a supernatural power
that is not available to the person outside of Christ.
Thousands of Christians have learned the secret of
contentment and joy in trial. Some of the happiest
Christians I have met have drunk the full cup of
trial and misfortune. Some have been life-long
sufferers. They have had every reason to sigh and
complain, being denied so many privileges and
pleasures that they see others enjoy, yet they have
found greater cause for gratitude and joy than many
who are prosperous, vigorous, and strong.
They have learned to give thanks “always for all things to
God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
(Ephesians 5:20, NKJV).
Christians can rejoice in tribulation because they
have eternity’s values in view. When the pressures
are on, they look beyond their present predicament
to the glories of heaven. The thought of the future
life with its prerogatives and joys helps to make the
trials of the present seem light and transient.
The early Christians were able to experience joy in
their hearts in the midst of trials, troubles, and
depression. They counted suffering for Christ not as
a burden or misfortune but as a great honor, as
evidence that Christ counted them worthy to
witness for Him through suffering. They never
forgot what Christ Himself had gone through for
their salvation, and to suffer for His name’s sake was
regarded as a gift rather than a cross.
He Made No False Promises
Jesus Christ spoke frankly to His disciples
concerning the future. He hid nothing from them.
No one could ever accuse Him of deception. No one
could accuse Him of securing allegiance by making
false promises.
In unmistakable language He told them that
discipleship meant a life of self-denial, and the
bearing of a cross. He asked them to count the cost
carefully, lest they should turn back when they met
with suffering and privation.
Jesus told His men that the world would hate them.
They would be “like sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16).
They would be arrested, scourged and brought
before governors and kings. Even their loved ones
would persecute them. As the world hated and
persecuted Him, so it would treat His servants. He
warned further, “They will put you out of the synagogue; in
fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is
offering a service to God” (John 16:2).
Christians can rejoice
in tribulation because
they have eternity’s
values in view.
Many of Christ’s followers were disappointed in
Him, for in spite of His warnings they expected
Him to subdue their enemies and to set up a world
political kingdom. When they came face to face with
reality, they “went back and walked with Him no more”
(John 6:66, NKJV). But the true disciples of Jesus
all suffered for their faith.
Tacitus, a Roman historian, writing of the early
Christian martyrs, said, “Mockery of every sort was
added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of
beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were
nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and
burnt, to serve as nightly illumination, when daylight
had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the
spectacle.” How true were the words of Paul to the
early Christians. “We must go through many hardships to
enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
Victory in the
Hour of Trial
We are told that the martyrs went rejoicing to their
deaths, as if they were going to a marriage feast.
They bathed their hands in the blaze kindled for
them, and shouted with gladness. One early
historian, witnessing their heroism, wrote, “When
the day of victory dawned, the Christians marched in
procession from the prison to the arena as if they
were marching to heaven, with joyous countenances
agitated by gladness rather than fear.”
We are not surprised that the early Christians
rejoiced in suffering, since they looked at it in the
light of eternity. The nearer death, the nearer a life
of eternal fellowship with Christ. When Ignatius was
about to die for his faith in 110 A.D., he cried out,
“Nearer the sword, then nearer to God. In company
with wild beasts, in company with God.”
Paul wrote from prison
at Rome, “What has
happened to me has
really served to
advance the gospel.”
The Christians of the early church believed that “the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with
the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18, NKJV).
Thus they could regard present difficulties as of
little consequence and could endure them with
patience and cheerfulness.
In all ages Christians have found it possible to
maintain the spirit of joy in the hour of trial. In
circumstances that would have felled most men,
they have so completely risen above them that they
actually have used the circumstances to serve and
glorify Christ. Paul wrote from prison at Rome,
“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has
really served to advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12).
In our day millions of Christians are suffering in
many parts of the world. More people died for
Christ in the last century than in any other century
in the history of the church.
Count It as a Favor
There is no doubt that the Bible teaches that every
believer who is faithful to Christ must be prepared
to suffer at the hands of those who are enemies of
the Gospel. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in
Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” said Paul (2 Timothy 3:12).
and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ”
(Acts 5:41–42).
As we read the book of Acts we soon realize that
suffering and death intensified the joy of the early
Christians. The apostle Paul could write, “In all our
troubles my joy knows no bounds” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
In all his sufferings and sorrows he experienced a
deep, abiding joy. He wrote of being “sorrowful, yet
always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). With sincerity
he declared that for Christ’s sake he was ‘‘delight[ed] in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Suffering and death
intensified the joy of
the early Christians.

However, Christ told His disciples that they were not to

count it a stroke of affliction when they were reviled and
I have found in my travels that those who keep
persecuted. Rather, they were to count it as a favor and a
heaven in view remain serene and cheerful in the
blessing. They were to “rejoice and be glad” (Matthew 5:12).
darkest day. If the glories of heaven were more real
Just as Jesus had overcome the world, so they through
to us, if we lived less for material things and more
His grace and strength would overcome the world.
for things eternal and spiritual, we would be less
Thus they were to be of good cheer.
easily disturbed by this present life.
They were to be “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37).
In these days of darkness and upheaval and
They were to rejoice in tribulation (Romans 5:3).
uncertainty, the trustful and forward-looking
When beaten and threatened with worse treatment
Christian remains optimistic and joyful, knowing
if they continued to preach Christ, Peter and John
that Christ must reign, and “if we endure, we will also
departed, “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of
reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:12).
suffering disgrace for the Name. ... They never stopped teaching
Put Your Trust in In the midst of it all there is the promise of victory.
Him Today Christ has overcome the world, and you by faith can
overcome the world through our Lord Jesus Christ
For all throughout the world who are suffering, (1 John 5:5).
our Lord has these words from the Sermon on the Put your trust in Him today. Repent of your sins.
Mount: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, Receive Him as your Savior and let His serenity,
and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice His joy, His peace, be yours in the midst of the hard
and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for realities of the life which you have to live wherever
so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” you are.
(Matthew 5:11–12, NKJV).
Speaking of our salvation, the apostle Peter said: ‘‘In
this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be,
you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of
your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes,
though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and
glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you
love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice
with joy inexpressible and full of glory”
(I Peter I:6–8, NKJV).

If the glories of heaven

were more real to us,
... we would be less
easily disturbed by
this present life.

Perhaps in your particular circumstances you are

undergoing psychological suffering, which is just
as real as physical suffering. It may be a suffering
that you cannot express even to your dearest
friend—an inward suffering, a heartrending,
heartbreaking suffering.

Moving Forward
Here’s how you can start
trusting Jesus Christ with
your cares and concerns:
1 A Right Focus
When troubles come your way, look beyond the
present. Focus on the promises God has for your
future, both on this earth and for eternity.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord,
‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 1:6).
2 An Opportunity to Grow
Accept your suffering as an opportunity to grow in
your faith. God can use your trials to teach you and to
make you a stronger Christian.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that
you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”
(James 1:2–4).
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on,
however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those
who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).
3 An Expectation of Suffering
Remember that Christ did not promise a life of
ease for those who follow Him; He told us that
as His true disciples, we would have to endure
hardship, persecution, and suffering. As the
disciples did, embrace suffering for Christ. An
eternity spent with Him is worth far more than
anything this fleeting life can offer.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have
peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”
(Romans 8:18).
4 Grow in Christ
Make sure you are not neglecting your daily
walk with Christ. This is essential to finding
peace, wisdom, and joy for the road ahead.
Spend time each day studying the Scriptures
and pouring out your heart to God in prayer.
Also, share your burdens with other believers
who can support you and pray with you.
“For everything that was written in the past was written to
teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement
of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
“Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart
before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8, NKJV).
All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless
otherwise noted. ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of
Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are
taken from the New King James Version. ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
©1967 (revised 2002, 2006)
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201
Printed in the U.S.A. 43594