Gospel Truth
January 4th, 2008
Sol
“Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit” - 1 Peter 3:18
God is the Creator and Sustainer of everything in the universe. He is eternally powerful and infinitely wise. We were created by God and for God (Genesis 1:27). Being made in His image, we are designed to have fellowship with Him. But there is one problem – one BIG problem.
Sin restricts us from having a relationship with God, which is what we were created to do. Being sinners by nature, we all sin all the time. YOU have sinned, and so have I. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). When we die, we will reap our due reward. As a worker deserves his wages, so the sinner deserves eternal separation from God in hell. That is very bad news. Hell is real, and it is a terrible place.
God does not desire that this happen, so He became a man in Jesus Christ. In the greatest display of love in all of history, Jesus took on the punishment we were to receive by dying a painful death on the cross. “He Himself bore our sins” (1 Peter 2:24). In essence, God punished Jesus instead of punishing us. Three days after His death, He rose from the grave, proving His victory over sin and death, and securing the way of salvation.
Salvation, however, is not guaranteed to everyone. Jesus told people that they must “Repent and believe the good news” in order to be saved (Mark 1:15). You must turn from sin and run to God to receive His free gift of salvation. Then, He will grant you forgiveness and the unspeakable joy of being in a right relationship with Himself. God’s grace through Jesus Christ is not just a ticket to heaven; it is an ability to defeat the power of sin, and ultimately to be with God for all eternity. True and everlasting joy is only found in God through Jesus Christ. This is the good news. Repent and trust Christ today!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:42 am
I quote what you have spoken, “Salvation, however, is not guaranteed to everyone. Jesus told people that they must “Repent and believe the good news” in order to be saved (Mark 1:15). You must turn from sin and run to God to receive His free gift of salvation. Then, He will grant you forgiveness and the unspeakable joy of being in a right relationship with Himself.”
But I ask, how is it that we, who are slaves to sin, can turn from sin, without God Himself turning us first? Is this turning from sin a work done by us of our now ability, or the result of God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. It is written,” For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil , that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth”
What does this mean?
Look many will proclaim that God simply looks down through History to see what we will choose. But Scripture speaks differently! And if the later was true my friend if God bases our salvation on the fact of foreseeing our choice, between good ( Salvation ) and evil (sin) God would see nothing more then all humanity choosing sin. How can we who are carnal, sold under sin, enmity against God, choose to turn from sin and run to God to receive Salvation? Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? Christ raises Lazarus is a wonderful picture of one receiving Salvation. Lazarus, come forth! Surely it is of Him that calleth”
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
What did Lazarus do? Lazarus is a wonderful picture of the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, of which has been revealed to us in this,” All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me.”
Read the Word of God seriously without partiality, and the Lord give you understanding in all things. For now is your time!