This Book Came Too Late For Me Many young people will say, "I am not interested in this book. I have a relationship with a boyfriend (or girlfriend) and I am not going to break it off." Others may even be more honest and will say, "I cannot live without sex." Or they may say, "Why did I not know these things years ago? Why did my parents and church leaders not explain these things to me? Now it is too late. I am lost for ever!" But do not despair. We still have some good news for you. A famous Christian, Martin Luther, reminded us that the sexual instinct is as natural as the desire to eat, drink or sleep. We need sex nearly as much as we need food. Sex is not something bad in itself. Our problem is, however, that we are sinners. We rejected the love of God for us. Because we are sinners, sex is not only a gift of God to us, it may become our god. Sex is therefore not our main problem - it is sin, disobedience, the fact that we have "divorced" God, that we rejected His love for us. We are all sinners in need of salvation. All our sins have to be forgiven, if we are to be happy in this life and in eternity. Sin makes us selfish, even in our sex needs. And now the good news: Read Luke 19:10. For whom did Jesus come? Why? Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He lived a life of perfect obedience on our behalf. He was a perfect sacrifice for our sins on the cross. He has done everything necessary to save us. He certainly and assuredly saves those who turn to Him in faith and repentance. Here is what you should do: 1. Come to Jesus in prayer. Jesus promised that he will not drive away anyone who comes to him (John 6:37). Cast yourself on his mercy. He will hear you (Mark 10:46-52). 2. Confess your sins to him. He promises to forgive your sins if you confess them and give them up (1 John 1:9; 2:1; Proverbs 28:13). 3. Ask Jesus to become the Lord of your life. He promises to come in as soon as you open the door of your life (Revelation 3:20). Surrender your life to him (Romans 12:1-2). 4. Receive Jesus as your Saviour. By doing this, you will be a child of God (John 1:12). You can only receive him by faith, in prayer. Ask him to come into your life. 5. Thank him in faith that he did come in to change your life. He keeps his promises (Hebrews 11:6). 6. Tell others what you have done, and how your sins have been forgiven (Roman 10:9-10). 7. Start to live for Christ (Philippians 1:21; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15). God makes you a new person through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and this also includes your attitude towards sex. This will ask great courage and self-control from you and your best friend. Some people may even try to make fun of you. Be glad if they do (Matthew 5:11-12). God will be with you (Psalm 118:6). Your new way of living may seem foolishness to others, but only because they are eternally lost (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). Do not look back. With Jesus you receive: - forgiveness (Isaiah 1:18; Acts 10:43; 1 John 1:8-10; 2:12). - renewal (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17). - eternal salvation (1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 7:25; 9:26; 10:14). - a victorious life (Romans 8:28-39). Will I be able to keep standing as a Christian? Salvation is by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8) and therefore you must trust in God's gracious power to keep you. You (or any one of us) are not able to keep standing by yourself. But Jesus prays for us (Luke 22:31-32; John 10:27:29; 17:15-21; Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34). Read 7 Corinthians 70:73. God will help us when we are tempted, because - 1. He will not allow us to be tempted beyond ____________________; 2. Ne will also provide _________________________________________. (Complete the sentences.) And if you should sin again, you must not despair. God provides forgiveness in Christ (Ephesians 1:7, 13). Confess your sins to him and trust him to keep you from falling (1 John 1:9). If I become a Christian, must I marry my girl friend (or boy friend)? Marriage should be a free decision by both partners. Perhaps he or she does not want to marry you, or, perhaps he or she does not want to accept Christ as you have done. As marriage should be a life-long relationship of mutual trust and love, it is the best to marry a believer (2 Corinthians 6:14). A pre-marital sexual relationship does not necessarily force one to marry that person. Confess your sins to your partner and ask a trusted Christian leader to advise you about an honourable way to end a pre-marital sexual relationship. If you are already married and become a Christian, you may not leave your partner if he or she is not a believer (1 Corinthians 7:12-13). If the partner, however, does not want to stay with you, because you have become a Christian, you cannot force him or her to stay. If he or she leaves you permanently, you may give him or her a divorce (1 Corinthians 7:15). But you should in any case continue to pray and hope for his or her conversion to God, and to live in such a way that your life wins him or her to Christ (1 Peter 3:1-7). Prayer: Father thank you that I may call you Father because I have become  your child through Jesus Christ. Help me to live for you from now on. Amen. Questions to Discuss in the Group 1. Why should you not continue to sin now that you know the truth? (Hebrews  10:26-31.) 2. Why is the forgiveness of sins so important? 3. What good news and serious warning do we read in Mark 3:28-30? 4. What should a new Christian do with an existing pre-marital sexual relationship?