THE SAVING GOSPEL FROM A TO Z

It is a horrible thought that anyone might be separated from God forever...a thought that brings tears to my eyes.  His love for us is beyond our human understanding, and because of that great love, He has provided a way for all to spend eternity with Him if they choose to believe.

Old Testament saints and New Testament saints who died prior to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross became worthy in the eyes of God by a believing faith in the future coming of the promised Messiah...by obedience with animal blood sacrifices...and by keeping the Law.  However, in the New Testament when Messiah Jesus, the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God, paid the ultimate price for all the sins of the whole world on the Cross of Calvary, a new blood covenant for mankind was established for salvation.  The age of Grace began at that time.  Also, having conquered death and the grave He made it possible for believing mankind to have life through Him.

Because Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and fall into sin in the Garden of Eden, all of humanity was then cursed with an inborn sin nature separating them from God.  The result of that separation is eternal spiritual death.  We are all guilty of sin, and there is nothing we can do within ourselves to close the separation gap.

Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God."

We are not worthy of God's grace, and we all must realize that we are lost sinners in need of a Savior and His forgiveness.

Romans 5:8
"But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

In His infinite wisdom, God provided a way for us to be saved from our sins.  God showed us His love by allowing us to choose eternal life through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ."
 
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

If we remain as un-forgiven sinners, we will die spiritually.  However, if we choose to accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, and repent of our sins, we will have eternal life.  It is not enough to simply believe that he existed as a man, or that He was a great teacher.  Many people believe those things, but without declaring Him as their personal Savior and Lord with a repentant faith, all hope will be lost for them.

Romans 10:9-10
"That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Romans 10:13
"For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

There are no religious formulas or rituals required.  If a “righteous life” is lived using the understanding of man, but without the Lord as Savior, then, that life will count for nothing.  It is all about faith and trust in Him.  Just confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved.  Jesus is the only bridge spanning the spiritual separation between God and man.  He stated in John 14:6 that He is the only Way...the only Truth...and the only Life.

There is so much more than simply believing that Jesus existed and that He was a brilliant man.  He is Almighty God with all power, glory, and majesty...and there is none other.  Jesus as the second Person of the Trinity has always existed as God from eternity past.  During His brief thirty three years here on earth, He was God manifest in human flesh...fully God and fully man.  He came here to fulfill His plan of offering salvation to all who would believe and receive Him into their life.
 
It is not His will that any should perish, but that all would choose to follow Him.  Jesus is reaching out for you to receive Him into your life.  If you have been convicted of your spiritually lost condition and have a heartfelt desire to follow Him, then, you might pray something like this:

"Oh God, help me!  I need You in my life.  I’m so sorry for the things I’ve done.  I'm sorry I had turned my back on You for so long.  I can't go on without You.  I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died for me, in my place, for all my sin.  I believe that He rose from the dead and is in heaven today preparing a place for me.  Oh God, forgive all my sins.  By faith alone I now accept Jesus Christ as my Savior, and confess that He is Lord over all.  Come into my heart and life now, today, and help me to live a life that's pleasing and honoring to You.  Thank You in Jesus' Name - Amen!”

If you sincerely prayed a prayer like that, then, as He has promised, He will hear your prayer.  Your salvation through Him becomes instantly sealed forever...giving you the assurance that you are a heaven-bound child of God and a rightful heir to His kingdom.  Only those who have placed their faith and trust in Him alone can be called sons and daughters of the most-high Almighty God.

The day is surely coming soon when all believers will see Him face to face, and will fall on their knees before Him.  Then, they will hear Jesus say, "My child, I have redeemed you, your sins once as scarlet are whiter than snow - you are Mine forever!"
 
Oh, what wonderful words of life...eternal life!


Don

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

There are only two kinds of people in this world.  They are those who are heaven bound...and those who won't be going there.  Heaven is a very special place that requires an advance reservation.  It is a prepared place for a prepared people.  Heaven is not a place where one can just show up at the gate following death, and then, try to make a case for admission.  In fact, without that reservation, no one will even catch a glimpse of heaven’s gate, but instead, they will be immediately carried away to await the final judgment for unbelievers at the Great White Throne.

The absurd notion of St. Peter standing at the heavenly gate with a clipboard in hand, asking those standing in line whether they have been bad or good, is a worldly fairy tale.  Although it has been the subject of many jokes, some people actually believe it.  The truth is, however, that story is a mockery of the Word of God.

The cost of the reservation was paid by Jesus' shed blood and death on the cross where He suffered and died in our place to purchase our redemption.  He took all the sin of the world upon Himself, including yours and mine, and paid sin's full price for us in our place.  Then, by His resurrection, He was victorious over death and the grave, that all who believe might have eternal life through Him.

His sacrifice is a free gift offered to all who would humbly reach out to accept it.  We must believe in our heart that He paid the sin penalty in full for you and me...that we are forever lost without Him...and that anything we attempt to do of ourselves to earn salvation, or to make ourselves more worthy in the eyes of God, is all for nothing.

His salvation offer requires that we place our complete faith and trust in Him alone...that we ask forgiveness and repent of our sin-filled life...and that we invite Him into our life, changing us into the person He would have us be.  Finally, we must boldly declare before others that Jesus is Lord of all.

Jesus said that He is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life.  He alone holds heaven’s reservation for you and me, but we must deliberately reach out to receive it.  Without it, no one will enter through heaven's gate.
 
Are you absolutely certain you have your reservation?  You must be very sure!

Don