There is nothing more important than your eternal salvation, so I've gone into much detail here. I want very much for you to understand the message of the gospel, and act upon it.
First, some definitions:
SAVE: to preserve from final and everlasting destruction; to rescue from eternal death (1 Timothy 1:15) [American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster 1828]
SALVATION: the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him everlasting happiness [American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster 1828]
SALVATION: Salvation is the act or state of being delivered from the consequences of our sin against God [Source unknown]
Salvation is a gift from God.
Period.
The message of the gospel is both simple and profound: God has provided for us what we cannot provide for ourselves. The gospel the apostle Paul preached was "...repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:21) "How that Jesus died for our sins, according to the scriptures, And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)If you see yourself as a guilty sinner, look to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, mighty to save!
God tells us in Acts 16:31, "...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved....."
To believe on the Lord Jesus is to trust in him, to put your faith in him, and what he did for you on the cross: Jesus, the perfect Son of God, went to the cross to take the judgment & justice of God that we deserve, because of our sins. 1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God...."
If you will respond to God by trusting fully and solely in Jesus Christ, God will forgive all your sins (past, present, and future); you'll be born into God's family by the Holy Spirit, and be given the gift of eternal life. This is God's grace to sinful man: we don't get what we deserve. God gives us what we need, a Savior.
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
If you do not see your great need nor your terrible sin, look to the Moral Law of God, and fear. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, and a good long look should send you running to the cross of Jesus Christ.
Please take a few minutes and read through the rest of this post. You and I have a day coming in which we will give an account of our our lives to the God who created us. We want that day to go well for you!
May God give understanding of the gospel through his Holy Spirit, that you might look to the cross with saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, trusting in him as your Savior!
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We all have knowledge regarding the God of the Bible, for God has given all men everywhere light, both through the things He has made, and through our conscience - the law written upon our hearts.
Romans 1:18-20
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"
It's not that we don't have the information we need to know God exists, it's what we do with that information. And what we do is turn from the God we know exists. This is why we are without excuse, and why we need a Savior.
Romans 1:21
"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."
The Inescapable Moral Law
Most people consider themselves to be fairly good people. But we really need to judge ourselves by God's standard of "good" to understand what we look like to a Holy, Righteous, Almighty God. See if you've broken any of these laws, the 10 Commandments:
Exodus 20:1-17
"And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
(1) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
(2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
(3) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
(4) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
(5) Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
(6) Thou shalt not kill.
(7) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
(8) Thou shalt not steal.
(9) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
(10) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."
God has written His law in the hearts of all men: you have a conscience; you know right from wrong.
- If you've ever lied, you are a liar
- If you've ever stolen anything, you are a thief
- If you only look with lust, you are guilty of committing adultery, because God examines your thoughts and desires, not just your actions
- If you've been angry without a just cause, God sees you as a murderer
No one can escape the justice and judgment of God. Our Creator will hold each of us accountable for what is clearly seen and for what we truly do know, so that's why the above verse from Romans says you are without excuse.
The Wages of Sin
Like the rest of Adam's race, you have yielded to temptation in your life, and have willingly chosen to transgress God's moral law: you knew the right thing to do, but you did not do it. Time and time again. We've earned the eternal consequences for these choices. The judgment of God upon the guilty is a temporary stay in a real place called Hell, and then eventual separation forever from the love and mercy of God in a place described in the Book of Revelation as "the lake of fire."
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4,20)
"The wages of sin is death...." (Romans 6:23)
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;..." (Galatians 6:7,8)
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:14-15)
Time will not erase the guilt of our sin; there is no statute of limitations in the Court of Heaven, and all sin will be judged in absolute righteousness. God your Judge will not be weighing your "good works" against your "bad works." Your thoughts, words, and deeds will be thoroughly examined, and if there is any sin, you will be condemned, and the wrath of God will fall upon you in all of its severity: eternal torment in the lake of fire forever and ever and ever. The Bible says "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."(Hebrews 10:31) Jesus said, "And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him." (Luke 12:4-5)
K.P. Yohannan said it this way, when referring to those who reject the love & mercy of God and die in their sins:
"I tell you what, many years ago I went through a crisis in my life. The crisis was this – I wish I could believe there is no Hell. Because I was so getting desperate if Hell is real I must do something more than what I was doing with my life. But I tell you what – I went to the Bible, just like you read, and came to the conclusion Hell is real. There is a place, and Hell is not for a vacation for two years, ten years, like they put prisoners for murdering for ten years, twenty years.
No sir. Hell is forever! And after ten billion, trillion years, those in Hell will scream saying, “I want to die! I want to die!” That’s all. Not even for a drop of water. They just want to die. And the answer comes again and again and again :
“You shall never die, you will never die.”
That is the fate of multiplied billions on planet earth."
The consequences of sin are fearful!
When you reject the mercy of God, you are choosing the wrath & judgment of God instead.
So let's be brutally honest, okay? In light of the 10 Commandments, if you died today, would you be innocent or guilty of breaking God's law? Would Heaven or Hell be your eternal destination?
If you could find a way to change your eternal destination from Hell to Heaven, would that be Good News?
Well then, I have some very good news for you. The Bible says that God is rich in mercy, and that his mercy is toward them that fear him. Because God is good, he cannot overlook your sin, and he cannot be bribed with religious good works. So you cannot earn Heaven by good works. God must be absolutely just. But because he loves us, he created a way to be both just and merciful. Here's that Good News:
The Gospel
The word "gospel" means good news. As condemned criminals before our Creator, unable to do anything to merit God's favor, we are hopeless. You and I will never be good enough to go to Heaven; unless God himself steps in and does something, we would all be lost.
We need someone to step in and rescue us from the consequences of our sin against God. A perfect Someone who could stand in our place and would pay our fine...but who would love us that much?
1 Corinthians 15:1-5
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:"
According to the scriptures....You see, all of this was foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament. As soon as man turned away from God back in the Garden of Eden, God promised to send a Deliverer, a Savior who would rescue us from the consequences of our sin and redeem us back to God. Just as the prophets had written, just at the right time in history, about 2000 years ago, Jesus, the eternal Son of God, stepped out of Heaven and into this world, born of a virgin in the city of Bethlehem. Fully God and fully man, he lived a perfect life, fulfilling all the prophecies written of him in the holy scriptures. The Bible says that he was tempted in all things, like as we are, yet he was without sin. And when the time came, he laid down his life on Calvary's cross, paying the penalty for our sin with his own blood. Three days later, he arose from the dead, just as he promised, defeating death and Hell forever. God is now offering you and I forgiveness of sin and eternal life for anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior.
In the Bible, "trust", "belief", and "faith" have the same meaning: if you trust someone, you believe what they are telling you...you have faith in them. The Bible says "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...." (Acts 16:31). What must one do to be saved? The verse tells you: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; believe that he died on the cross for your sins against God; that he shed his blood to pay your debt. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
We could never earn eternal life: it is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. Remember that verse quoted above, about the wages of sin? Here's the whole verse:
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
You must receive forgiveness and eternal life as a gift from God. Jesus did all the work necessary, and some of the last words he said from the cross were: "It Is Finished!"
So here is your challenge:
- Will you believe? Will you take God at His word, and put your faith in Jesus Christ alone? Trust in Him for the forgiveness of your sins?
- Will you receive the gift of eternal life?
This is how a person may be born again; this is how to be saved from sin, death, and Hell, and become a child of God.
Our prayer is that you will do this today.
If you are interested, here's an historical account of a man by the name of Cornelius, and his friends and family, who did just that:
Acts 10:1-48
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them.
And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
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