During Billy Graham’s landmark 1954 London Crusade, his team developed a simple system known as “Steps to Peace With God” to bring people to faith.
Since that time, and in various printed and electronic forms, this clear, succinct presentation of how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and experience peace with God has been translated into dozens of languages and shared with millions of people. “Steps to Peace With God” conveys God’s love, forgiveness and plan for each person’s life.
Step 1: God’s Purpose: Peace and Life
God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life—abundant and eternal.
The Bible says:
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
—Romans 5:1
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
—John 3:16
Why don’t most people have this peace and abundant life God planned for us?
Step 2: The Problem: Our Separation from God
God created us in His image. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him. God gave us a will and the freedom of choice; we choose to disobey Him and go our own willful way. This results in separation from God.
The Bible says:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
—Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
—Romans 6:23
People have tried many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God.
The Bible says:
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
—Proverbs 14:12
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
—Isaiah 59:2
No bridge reaches God … except one.
Step 3: God’s Bridge: The Cross
Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people.
The Bible says:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
—1 Timothy 2:5
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
—1 Peter 3:18
God has provided the only way. Each person must make a choice.
Step 4: Our Response: Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation.
The Bible says:
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
—John 1:12
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
—Romans 10:9
Which side are you on—the side with Christ or without Him?
Here is how you can receive Christ:
- Admit your need. (I am a sinner.)
- Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
- Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
- Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit (receive Him as Lord and Savior).
Prayer
How to pray:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name, amen.
God’s Assurance: His Word
If you prayed this prayer, the Bible says:
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
—Romans 10:13
Did you sincerely ask Jesus Christ to come into your life? The Bible says:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
—Ephesians 2:8–9
By receiving Christ, we are born into God’s family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer. This is called regeneration, or “new birth.”
This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship:
- Read your Bible every day to know Christ better.
- Talk to God in prayer every day.
- Tell others about Christ.
- Worship, fellowship and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.
- Demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.
