Letters of Love
“Our faith becomes stronger as we express it; a growing faith is a sharing faith.” ~ Billy Graham
We created Letters of Love to inspire the spread of encouragement, thanks, and appreciation to those who have impacted our lives in positive ways. These letters can be sent to a former coach, an estranged best friend or a medical professional that was especially helpful in your time of need. Take some time and either write a letter, blog, tag, email, or text how your life was enhanced because of that someone special. Thank them for specific situations where they helped or kind words, they spoke that made a lasting impact on you.
This world can be cruel and debilitating. Sending out kind words can really have a positive influence in someone’s day, month, or year. Letting people know they are loved and appreciated is beautiful.
There is no greater love than the love God has so graciously shown us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ died for each of us so that the price of our sin could paid in full, allowing us to spend eternity with God in His Kingdom. Letters of Love joins our relationships with other people and the saving truth of the one true and living God.
"...Each day proclaim the good news that he saves."
The Epistles
Our Written Word is Powerful
Our Written Word is Powerful
Of the 27 books in the New Testament, 21 are epistles or letters. These are letters written by someone just like you that God used to further His Kingdom agenda. Their letters continue to impact believers to this day. Below is the list:
James
Titus
1 & 2 Timothy
Philemon
1 & 2 Thessalonians
Hebrews
1 & 2 Peter
1, 2 & 3 John
Jude
Romans
1 & 2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
Our Written Word is Powerful
Our Written Word is Powerful
Our Written Word is Powerful
In the New Testament alone there are 13 letters written by Paul. Paul was tasked with sharing the Gospel with non-Jewish people and Jews alike. Everywhere he traveled he established churches and taught those about Christ. After leaving, Paul would write each location to answer questions, reprimand them for sinful practices or praise them for their spiritual growth and actions.
The Holy Spirit guided Paul to write those letters and preserved 13 of them for us to have in our Bibles. Those letters are a gift to us two thousand years later.
Your letters
Our Written Word is Powerful
Your letters
What a fascinating thought, that your letter may impact someone's life for the better.
God has commanded us all share the saving truth of Jesus Christ. We have found that often people do not share just simply because they aren’t sure how to start. Many believers feel inferior in sharing due to checkered pasts or feelings of self-doubt.
We all have unsaved family, friends we’ve drifted from, former coworkers and acquaintances in which we want to share the saving truth of Jesus Christ. We pray that you let go and push past whatever reason is keeping you from sharing the gospel. To help we have created a gentle format to show appreciation and allow you to share the gospel.
How to start
Your Letter
We recommend simply composing your letter, text, blog you wish to send. Include your fond memories of experiences and/or encouraging words.
Example:
"Thank you for always being so positive at work. I always admired your sunny disposition."
exposing the need
It is imperative that you express why people need to be saved. People do not typically accept a remedy for ailments in which they are not plagued. This world has been lulled into thinking that everyone is good and most just have unpleasant habits that need to be stopped. This thinking is dangerous and wrong.
It is our duty as believers to explain to others that they are sinners (as are we) who will die and be sent by a just and righteous God to Hell. They are sinners not because they sin, their sin is just the effects of being a sinner. An apple tree is an apple tree whether it produces apples or not. However, the fact that the tree produces apples just proves that the tree is in fact an apple tree. If someone never broke any laws or commandments or committed any sin, they would still die and go to Hell. Personal sins will not prevent anyone from entering God’s kingdom. Just as personal righteousness will not place anyone into the Kingdom of God. Without acknowledging that they are a sinner, and that Christ paid the price of their sin, they will die and be eternally separated from God.
Adam’s one act of disobedience and rebellion in the Garden of Eden was imputed to and caused death upon the entire human family. Every person born since, carries within them, the sin of Adam and Eve. "When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned... For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:12,19 NLT
This is why we at the Garden of Eden and You Ministry are so focused on studying the doctrines of the Moral Inability of Man or the doctrine of Total Depravity. This doctrine is vital to people understanding who they are and how they are saved from eternal separation from God.
The Bible states that man is dead in sin (Eph. 2:1-3; Col. 2:13), represses the knowledge of God and creates idols (Rom. 1:18-25), does not do good according to God’s law, and does not seek for God apart from the work of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 3:9-12).
Due to the nature of man’s sin, for a person to come to Jesus for salvation, God must take the initiative. God’s divine initiative is the first step in anyone’s salvation. Understanding this strips all boasting and claims of self-righteousness from everyone. If you are in Christ, it is because God has shown you mercy and initiated your salvation.
The Transition
BELIEVERS & NON BELIEVERS
It can be challenging reaching out to share our faith to those we think are believers but are not sure. We understand that you do not want to offend anyone or have your sharing come off in a negative way. Below is a way to gingerly transition from your thankful letter to sharing your faith.
Example:
"I think we share similar beliefs about the afterlife and that you believe in the God of Isaac, Jacob and Abraham - the one true, living God. I am fairly sure that you are a believer that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for our sin and paid the price for our salvation and I look forward to spending eternity with you in God’s Kingdom! If I am wrong, I want to urge you to accept the free gift of Salvation."
Family and friends that we do not suspect are believers or have no idea about their beliefs can be just as challenging. People often are afraid to share with others who have firsthand knowledge of their own sinful and rebellions behaviors. It seems hypocritical and can be embarrassing but we have to get past those feeling. Remember, God does not require us to be perfect (present or past), but He does require us to be willing to be used for His glory. The bible is full of despicable and sometimes dangerous people that God used to bring glory to Himself. A few moments or even many moments of embarrassment are worth it if we share our faith and God leads them to Himself and spares them from eternal spiritual separation. Below is a way to gingerly transition to sharing your faith in your letter.
Example:
"I don’t know what your thoughts are on the afterlife or if you believe in the God of Isaac, Jacob and Abraham - the one true, living God. If you are a believer that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for our sin and paid the price for our salvation, then I look forward to spending eternity with you in God’s Kingdom! If not, I want to urge you to accept the free gift of Salvation."
Click below or the picture to be redirected to information the Plan of Salvation from our site.
Adding a biblical plan of salvation, rooted in scripture is key. Our loved ones need to understand why they need to be saved, what they need to be saved from and how to humbly accept God's free gift of salvation.
John 3:16 is very well known but there are other scriptures that can be used when sharing how to be saved.
Ephesians 1:13-14
Ephesians 2:8-10
John 1:12-13
John 3:3-6
Romans 10:9-10
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
Titus 2:11-14
Wraping up
We recommend expressing why you wanted to reach out to your recipient and initiate a way for them to respond to you if they wish. Leaving a phone number or email address may allow them to ask questions or open the door to a spiritual connection where you both grow in your relationship with Christ.
Please note that not all correspondences will be well received or appreciated. You may experience backlash. That’s ok too. The main thing is to spread thankfulness and the gospel. God does not expect us to save anyone, that is His job. He only wants us to share.
