My friend, this worthy subject concerns the salvation of your soul. The Holy Scriptures reveal what you must do to have a place in God’s kingdom when you die. It is my sincere prayer you would take the time to read this detailed review on the matter of greatest importance in your life. I cannot make you believe the Bible. But at the end of this article, you will honestly be able to say you have read what the Bible teaches! Here is what it teaches:
1. You are a sinner.
All of us have broken the commandments of God at one time or another. Therefore, we are all sinners and are guilty before a supremely holy Creator.
“There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
When compared to God’s standard of goodness, nobody is good enough to inherit eternal life because everybody has sinned against God. We all fall short. The Bible reveals we have committed “many offences,” Romans 5:16, and “a multitude of sins,” James 5:20. That being said, it really only takes one sin to make us guilty of God’s entire law, thus forfeiting the kingdom of God.
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10)
To put it this way: You may only have a single link in a chain that is broken, but that means the chain is indeed broken! In order for a person to enter the kingdom of God, a person would have to be without sin. However, there remains a serious problem: Compared to God—
“There is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
“We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6)
Jesus taught we are all guilty of breaking God’s commandments within our own hearts alone.
“You have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22)
“You have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28)
In other words, there is no way around it: We are all guilty of violating God’s Law!
2. There is a penalty
on sin.
The Bible teaches us how sin entered into the world. It entered through one man named, Adam. Adam disobeyed God’s command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Because of Adam’s disobedience, sin entered into the world, See Genesis 2 & 3. Ever since then, sin has been passed on to every single person born into this world.
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
“The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
Because all have sinned, all are condemned to such horrible damnation.
“The Son of man [Jesus] shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity [sin]; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:41-42)
“The rich man also died and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments.” (Luke 16:22-23)
“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10)
3. Jesus paid the price for your sin.
So far we have covered the dreadful news. Now for the delightful news! The Bible reveals that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9. God has loved you and has provided the way for you to be saved! God sent his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to bear your sins upon his own body. Jesus died in your place, was buried, and rose again the third day as proof that he conquered sin and death for you.
“But God commendeth [proves] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2:24)
“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.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Jesus Christ is the only person to have lived a perfect,
sinless life. Therefore, Jesus can save anyone, even the vilest of sinners if
they truly and sincerely come to him by faith. For example, the dying thief — after
first insulting Jesus who was crucified right next to him — eventually
repented. The Savior saw his faith and forgave him despite the thief being a
great sinner. Think about it: The thief's hands were literally too tied up to
go to church, get baptized, or do anything else about his condition. Yet Jesus
saved him!
“And [the thief] said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)
4. Eternal life is a free gift from God.
Trying to pay for your sins is like trying to pay off the national debt all by yourself. While some certainly have more money than others, all still fall way short of paying the enormous balance. There simply is no way our good deeds can ever outweigh our bad deeds. As long as we continue trying to earn our way to heaven, we remain in debt.
“Now to him that worketh [trying to earn salvation] is the reward not reckoned [counted] of grace, but of debt.” (Romans 4:4)
This is a painful reality for people when they, for the first time ever, are confronted by the Biblical truth that their church, their denomination, their baptism, and all their good deeds are not good enough. This is precisely why Christ came to die on the cross — to pay for the very sins we could never pay for ourselves! It is a “free gift” God wants to give you, Romans 5:15. The Bible calls this benevolent act, the “grace of God,” Romans 5:15.
“The gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:15)
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Grace means receiving a benefit you did not deserve — out of pure, unconditional love. It is undeserved favor. Or as someone once wisely put it: it is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense! The Bible teaches that when someone thinks they can enter the kingdom of God because of their own goodness, they are essentially boasting in themselves, and not in God. Hence, God is greatly dishonored. Yet God commands us to honor him by going directly to Him — and no one else — to receive the free gift He has paid for.
“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
5. You must personally receive Christ as your Savior.
The gift of eternal life has been purchased for you by Christ. While God wants to give it to you, the gift is not yours until you take it. This is no different than when someone offers you a gift during the holidays or for your birthday for instance. You have to receive the gift personally. The question is simple: Will you receive it, or will you reject it?
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
The above verse is a wondrous promise from God that you can know for sure you have salvation. God desires for you to have this blessed assurance of salvation in your heart. He wants you to know you have this life. Hence, the following:
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
“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)
No, salvation isn’t just a “fire insurance policy,” and it certainly doesn’t mean living any way we want after we have supposedly been saved. A true salvation experience leads to developing a relationship with God. However, let’s be clear: A real relationship with God only begins at the moment you trust Christ! If you are still trying to earn your way into God’s kingdom, then you remain separated from God spiritually.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
If you realize you have sinned against a holy God, that you deserve hell as the payment for your sin, that Jesus died on the cross and paid for your sin, and that salvation is the free gift of God — then you must simply ask Jesus to forgive your sins and save your soul. The resurrected Savior is alive today in heaven and will gladly hear your sincere prayer. Receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart this very moment. Now is the accepted time because you do not know you have tomorrow.
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