1.  The Triune God created all people to live in a personal relationship with Him, now and forever.  1 Timothy 2:3-4   

·        He offers this relationship as His free gift to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior.

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

·        We can do nothing to earn or deserve this relationship with Him; it is a free and undeserved gift.

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

2.  We enter this world separated from God because of sin and in need of His help to bring us into this relationship with Him. John 10:10

·        We are born in need of a spiritual birth and new life.

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”  “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked.  “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”  Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth   to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  John 3:3-6

·        We are spiritually dead and cannot change our relationship with Him.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  Ephesians 2:1-2

3.  God reconciled us to Himself in His Son Jesus Christ, not counting our sins against us.  
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

·        Jesus is both God and man, the Savior God promised to send.

Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”  John 20:28

·         Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose from the dead to offer us a restored relationship with God.

 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:21-24

·         In Christ we become new people!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

4.  The Holy Spirit uses God’s Word and Baptism to bring us to faith in Christ and into a relationship with Him.  1 Peter 1:23 and Titus 3:5

·        The Spirit convicts us of our sinfulness.

When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.  John 16:8

·        The Spirit assures us of Christ’s forgiveness.

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:13-14

·         The Spirit moves us to trust in Jesus and restores our relationship with God.

Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is  Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:3

5.   The Holy Spirit gathers those who trust in Jesus into the fellowship of His Church.

·        The Spirit endows all believers with His gifts so they all can minister to one another and to others as they serve God.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  1 Corinthians 12:7

·         The Spirit transforms us as He leads and shapes us through His Word, Holy Communion, and prayer.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts. 2:42

·        The Spirit empowers and equips all Christians so that together they can build up the body of Christ.

It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Ephesians 4:11-13

·        The Spirit has called each of us at this time and place into a worshiping, serving, learning, and sharing community of believers called First Lutheran Church.

And He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  Acts 17:26b

First Lutheran Church, Hot Springs, Arkansas