God's Free Gift - The Creation of the Universe

<body background="_images/stonbk.jpg" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000" link="#993300" vlink="#CC6633" alink="#660000"> <p>This page uses frames, but your browser doesn't support them.  <p align="center" style="margin-top: 10; margin-bottom: 10"> <font color="#000000" size="7"> <b>The Creation of the Universe</b> </font> </p> <p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font color="#000000" size="5"> <b>Have you ever wondered..... How did it all begin, and ..... Why?</b> </font> </p> <p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <font color="#000000" size="3"> &nbsp </font> </p>   <center> <hr> <table border="0" cellspacing="1" width="625"> <tr> <td width="215"> <img border="0" src="images/sunset.gif" width="200" height="302"> </td> <td width="410"> <p align="left" style="line-height: 175%"> <font size="4"> A long time ago, the God of the Universe created this beautiful world.  As the world was formed, He separated the light from the dark, the waters above from the waters below, and the dry land from the seas.  God then created the stars in the heavens and all of life, plants, animals, and finally, mankind.  Man is the only part of creation that is created in God's own image - that's you and me!  When the creation was complete, God declared "It is very good." </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#1" title=" Genesis 1 thru 3 tells the creation story in detail. " target="_self"> <sub>[1]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <hr> </center> <h3 align="left" style="margin-top: 20; margin-bottom: 20"> <b>Why did God create man?</b> </h3> <ul> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> God created man as an eternal being, with whom He wanted to have fellowship. </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> God's standard for fellowship with Him is perfection. </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Man is not able to achieve perfection apart from God. </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> God's perfect creation was soon corrupted by the sin of mankind. </font> </p> </li> </ul> <h3 align="left" style="margin-top: 20; margin-bottom: 20"> <b>The Bad News:</b> </h3> <ul> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> God loves man however, man has rejected God and embraced sin. </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#2" title=" Genesis 3 tells the story of man's fall and separation from God. " target="_self"> <sub>[2]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> You and I are sinners - all mankind is a sinner. </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#3" title=" All of us are sinners in God's eyes. " target="_self"> <sub>[3]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Many of us are good people, doing good deeds, but we are all still sinners. </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#4" title=" Our best good deeds are worthless in God's eyes. " target="_self"> <sub>[4]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Our sin separates us from fellowship with God. </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#5" title=" We are separated from God by our sins. " target="_self"> <sub>[5]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> </ul> <h3 align="left" style="margin-top: 20; margin-bottom: 20"> <b>God is Just:</b> </h3> <ul> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> A just God cannot look upon our sin. </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Consider, even man's courts require payment for sins (e.g. traffic fines, murder, etc.). </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> God's just law demands death of the sinner. </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#5" title=" We are dead spiritually, separated from God by our sins. " target="_self"> <sub>[5]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> This death is eternal separation from God in the "lake of fire" (also known as Hell). </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#6" title=" We shall all be judged by a holy God. " target="_self"> <sub>[6]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> </ul> <h3 align="left" style="margin-top: 20; margin-bottom: 20"> <b>The Good News - God Solves Man's Problem:</b> </h3> <ul> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Before you and I were born, God devised a plan to reconcile sinful man to a Holy God. </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> God came to Earth as the man, Jesus Christ. This Jesus was 100% God, and 100% man. </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#7" title=" God came to dwell among us. " target="_self"> <sub>[7]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Jesus died to pay the debt for your sins and for my sins; a debt which none of us could pay through any amount of good deeds we might do. </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#8" title=" Jesus paid the penalty for all of our sins. " target="_self"> <sub>[8]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Jesus then arose from the grave and ascended to Heaven to intercede before God, on our behalf, to grant us forgiveness of sin. </font> </p> </li> </ul> <h3 align="left" style="margin-top: 20; margin-bottom: 20"> <b>What Must I Do Now?</b> </h3> <ul> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> We must confess our sin to God.  There is no deed we can do to deserve Jesus' payment for our sin - it is a free gift to us from God. </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#9" title=" This is the fre gift from God, that Jesus died on our behalf. " target="_self"> <sub>[9]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> You and I can receive this free gift only by faith in Jesus Christ. </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#10" title=" Will you accept this free gift from God? " target="_self"> <sub>[10]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Our faith in Jesus means that we are trusting in, and depending upon, Jesus alone for our salvation. </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#11" title=" God promises to forgive us no matter what we have done. " target="_self"> <sub>[11]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> There is nothing else we can do to achieve reconciliation with God, and thereby have eternal fellowship with God in Heaven. </font> <font size="2"> <a href="#12" title=" All we must do is believe in Jesus Christ. " target="_self"> <sub>[12]</sub> </a> </font> </p> </li> </ul> <h3 align="left" style="margin-top: 20; margin-bottom: 20"> <b>When Can I Do This?</b> </h3> <ul> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> You can, and should, receive this free gift from God right now. </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> When you are ready to receive God's free gift to you, you need to let Him know by a simple prayer. </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Prayer is simply talking to God, therefore it is not as important what you say as it is what you truly believe. </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> The prayer itself does not save you - ONLY faith in Jesus and the payment He made for your sin will save you. </font> </p> </li> </ul> <h3 align="left" style="margin-top: 20; margin-bottom: 20"> <b>A Sample Prayer:</b> </h3> <p align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> "Dear Lord Jesus, </font> </p> <p align="left" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> I know that I am a sinner and I deserve to be eternally separated from God for my sin.  Although I do not fully understand, I believe that you love me and that you died for me in order to pay for my sins. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for paying my sin debt for me.  Right now, to the best I know how, I am trusting in you as my Lord and Saviour.  From this day forward, I will depend solely upon you for forgiving my sins and giving me a home in Heaven.  Thank you for this free gift!" </font> </p> <h3 align="left" style="margin-top: 20; margin-bottom: 20"> <b>What now?</b> </h3> <ul> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Find a local Christian church that teaches God's truth directly from the Bible. </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Find a copy of the Bible and read it.  You can begin in the New Testament Book of John to learn more about the Lord Jesus you are now trusting for salvation. </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Ask a Pastor to help you find a Christian to mentor you in your new faith. </font> </p> </li> <li> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 5; margin-bottom: 5"> <font size="4"> Email me so that I may rejoice with you and pray for you. Mail to: <a href="mailto:godsfreegift@godsfreegift.com" target="_self">(godsfreegift@godsfreegift.com)</a> </font> </p> </li> </ul> <hr> <p align="left"> Note:  This page may be freely distributed in whatever way you wish. </p> <p align="left" class="Footnotes"> <b>Footnotes:</b><br> <font size="2"> <a name="1" target="_self"> [1]   Genesis 1 - The entire creation story is told in Genesis 1 thru 3.<br> </a> <a name="2" target="_self"> [2]   Genesis 3 - The fall of man and separation from God's fellowship.<br> </a> <a name="3" target="_self"> [3]   Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."<br> </a> <a name="4" target="_self"> [4]   Romans 3:10 "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one." <br> </a> <a name="5" target="_self"> [5]   Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death..."<br>        Ezekiel 18:4 "The soul that sins, it shall die."<br> </a> <a name="6" target="_self"> [6]   Revelation 20:12-15 "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life.<br>        The dead were judged ... if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."<br> </a> <a name="7" target="_self"> [7]   John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."<br> </a> <a name="8" target="_self"> [8]   John 3:16 "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."<br> </a> <a name="9" target="_self"> [9]   Romans 6:23 "... but, the free gift of god is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."<br> </a> <a name="10" target="_self"> [10]  John 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name."<br> </a> <a name="12" target="_self"> [11]  I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."<br> </a> <a name="12" target="_self"> [12]  John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." </a> </font> </p> <br> <center> <hr> <p style="margin-top: 0"> <font size="2"> <a href="mailto:swyncoop@earthlink.net" target="_self"><b>Copyright <font FACE="Symbol">ã</font> 2000-2007 S & K Enterprises</b></a> </font> </p> </center>  </body>