"How Can I Know God?"

No one can enjoy the blessings of God, nor go to Heaven without being saved. Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:7, "You must be born again." God gives us in His Word the sole plan for Salvation.  (No other plan offers a means of being completely forgiven--past, present, and future--for your sins.)

First, you must realize that you are a sinner, as are all people.  
"There is none righteous, no, not one." "For there is no difference: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10, 22, 23).

There is no chance to be saved unless you come to realize that you are a sinner.

Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to die.  
"For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). 
"Sin... brings forth death" (James 1:15)

This means separation from God, in hell, forever. But God loved you so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as your substitute, who bore your sin and died in your place. 
"He hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). 
"Who His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes we are healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

Jesus had to die. He had to shed His blood. 
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). 
"Without the shedding of blood there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22).

Now we cannot understand how our sin was laid upon Jesus, but God says in His Word that is was. So your sin, was laid upon Jesus and He died in your place. It is true. God cannot lie.

The Phillippian jailor asked the Apostle Paul and Silas, "What must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house" (Acts 16:31).

Simply believe on Him as the One who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried and was raised for your justification. Now call upon Him. 
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).

The first prayer for a sinner to pray is given in Luke 19:13: "God be merciful to me a sinner."

All people are sinners, you and I included. Right now, wherever you are, lift your heart to God in prayer. It does not take a long, loud prayer, for God is anxious to save you. Just say, "Oh, God, I am a sinner. I am sorry, I repent: have mercy upon me, and save me for Jesus' sake." Now just take Him at His Word. 
"For whosoever (that includes you) shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). Whosoever.... shall be saved (not might nor can) but shall be saved.

Just take God at His Word. When you have done what He has asked, claim salvation by faith, according to His Word. Believe and you shall be saved. No church, no good works, only Jesus alone can save you.

The simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner, and because you are a sinner, you must die or else believe on Christ, who was your substitute, who died in your place, and who was buried and raised again. Just call upon God, realizing that you are a sinner and ask Him to have mercy upon you and save you. Then just take Him at His Word by faith.

You say, "Surely that is not all it takes to be saved." Yes, it is. absolutely all. Thank God many have been won to Christ by this simple plan. It is Scriptural. It is God's plan. My friend, believe it and follow it today. Now is the time - today is the day. 
"Behold, now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). 
"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1).

If it is not perfectly clear, read it over and over until you understand it. Do not walk away until you do. Your soul is worth more than all the world. 
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36, 27).

Be sure you are saved. You need salvation above everything else. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven and lose all.

After you are saved, please do these things daily: 
Pray - talk to God. 
Read your Bible - God talks to you. 
Tell others- you talk for God. 
Then you should be baptized and unite with a Bible-believing church. 
"Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, Him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven" (Matthew 10:32).

Pastor Michael would love to talk with you as well. 
Please email him at gmpatrick2@comcast.net or call him at 303.870.1861.