The Questions
Where will I spend eternity? Am I good enough to make it to heaven? If I am not, what then? Is there a way for me to be right with God? What do I need to do to be saved? What do I need to be saved from? Can I have assurance of my eternal destiny? These are all questions that we can find answers to in God’s word.
The Problem
Our problem is sin. Sin is simply disobedience to God and His ways. Sin is something that we all have. Whether it is sexual immorality, greed, gossip, coveting. Sin is not what we think should be right or wrong. God's ways and instructions are found in His word. And if we disobey His instruction, we are in sin.
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… Romans 3:23
God is without sin. It is His nature. So, like a judge who would punish the wrongdoing of a speeding ticket, rape, or murder, God is the righteous judge who must punish sin and deal with it. This is part of His goodness. Aren't we thankful a judge will address a crime, let's say against our children? Likewise we are judged for breaking God's law.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
So, we as sinners are condemned before a Holy God. The consequences of that sin is that we would be eternally separated from Him. The relationship between God and us was/is broken. There is a great chasm between us and Him.
What a dilemma! Yet it was always in God's heart to dwell with man. So with the nation of Israel, He made a way for them to have "right standing" before Him. This was a system of laws they had to keep and then there were sacrifices made when the law was broken in order to be forgiven by God. Yet the law was something that the people could never completely keep. Is there another answer?
The Answer
There is only one answer to our dilemma of sin. Only one answer that would fill the great chasm between us and God. Only one “once for all” sacrifice.
That answer is Jesus. He is the only MAN who has lived a sinless life. He was put to death on a cross. He took on the punishment for our sin. He was crucified, dead, and buried. Yet the grave could not hold Him. He rose back to life, resurrected with a new body. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-6)
When we put our trust in Jesus, fully believing on who He is and what has done for us, committing ourselves to Him forever, we are saved. He is the only way.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
You see, when we turn to the Lord, and accept His free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ and commit our way to follow Him, He actually becomes our advocate in heaven. He pleads our case before Father God. Instead of receiving God’s wrath, Jesus pleads the fact that His blood has covered and removed our sin. Then we are accepted in God’s presence and can come before His throne of grace.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:12
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
It’s not about what works we have done in order to earn salvation, not how good of a person we are. It says in His word, even while we are sinners, Christ died for us.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
When we receive Christ and His gift of salvation, we experience a NEW BIRTH (Read John 3:1-8).
Receiving Christ means we turn to God from ourselves (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives, to forgive our sins and make us what He wants us to be. It is not just agreeing in our minds that Jesus is the Son of God and died on the cross for our sins, nor is it enough to have an emotional experience but we receive Christ by an act of the will by faith.
How do I get it?
Pray right now (speak to Him) in your own words your desire to be saved. Express to God that you are turning from living for yourself and will allow him to direct your life. Ask for forgiveness of your sin and ask Him to save you.
If you mean it in your heart, you become born again in Him!
What does it all mean?
God’s original intention was to be in relationship with people. When you receive the gift of salvation in Christ, the relationship between you and God is repaired. You can come boldly before the throne of grace. You can come to Him and talk to Him!
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:6
You can know you are saved! He has promised eternal life in Jesus. You will spend eternity with Him.
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:11-13
Jesus will never leave you alone.
I am with you always, even to the end of the age Matthew 28:20
I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 5:13
Jesus desires not only to give us eternal life but the fullness of life in Him in this life.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10
What now?
It is important that you get in fellowship with other believers. Find a church that teaches and preaches the Bible and attend regularly.
Go to God in prayer daily. Prayer is just talking to God. Talk to Him and ask Him for His help. Pray about what is on your heart. Ask Him to help you live for Him and continue turning from sin.
Read your Bible. It is imperative that you read your Bible. People have all sorts of thoughts about who God is and what He does but the Scripture, God’s word, is the final authority on truth. We must grow in our knowledge of God.
Commit yourself to follow God each day and obey what he is instructing you to do.
Continue to trust God for everything.
I NEED HELP!
We can’t live the kind of life God desires for us in our own strength. We need the help the Holy Spirit gives. When Jesus ascended into heaven after He rose from the dead, He sent us His Holy Spirit to help us. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live fully for Christ and to be a witness for Him. Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit as our helper (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). The book of Acts describes many accounts of believers being filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Acts 9 contains the story of Paul encountering Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul also writes about being filled with the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5:18.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Jesus sent Him to be our guide.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13
STAY THE COURSE! Keep pursuing Jesus and he will come to your aid. He is so faithful to help us in our need.
Please feel free to contact us if you have questions. We would like to help you as we are able.
Where will I spend eternity? Am I good enough to make it to heaven? If I am not, what then? Is there a way for me to be right with God? What do I need to do to be saved? What do I need to be saved from? Can I have assurance of my eternal destiny? These are all questions that we can find answers to in God’s word.
The Problem
Our problem is sin. Sin is simply disobedience to God and His ways. Sin is something that we all have. Whether it is sexual immorality, greed, gossip, coveting. Sin is not what we think should be right or wrong. God's ways and instructions are found in His word. And if we disobey His instruction, we are in sin.
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… Romans 3:23
God is without sin. It is His nature. So, like a judge who would punish the wrongdoing of a speeding ticket, rape, or murder, God is the righteous judge who must punish sin and deal with it. This is part of His goodness. Aren't we thankful a judge will address a crime, let's say against our children? Likewise we are judged for breaking God's law.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
So, we as sinners are condemned before a Holy God. The consequences of that sin is that we would be eternally separated from Him. The relationship between God and us was/is broken. There is a great chasm between us and Him.
What a dilemma! Yet it was always in God's heart to dwell with man. So with the nation of Israel, He made a way for them to have "right standing" before Him. This was a system of laws they had to keep and then there were sacrifices made when the law was broken in order to be forgiven by God. Yet the law was something that the people could never completely keep. Is there another answer?
The Answer
There is only one answer to our dilemma of sin. Only one answer that would fill the great chasm between us and God. Only one “once for all” sacrifice.
That answer is Jesus. He is the only MAN who has lived a sinless life. He was put to death on a cross. He took on the punishment for our sin. He was crucified, dead, and buried. Yet the grave could not hold Him. He rose back to life, resurrected with a new body. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-6)
When we put our trust in Jesus, fully believing on who He is and what has done for us, committing ourselves to Him forever, we are saved. He is the only way.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
You see, when we turn to the Lord, and accept His free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ and commit our way to follow Him, He actually becomes our advocate in heaven. He pleads our case before Father God. Instead of receiving God’s wrath, Jesus pleads the fact that His blood has covered and removed our sin. Then we are accepted in God’s presence and can come before His throne of grace.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:12
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
It’s not about what works we have done in order to earn salvation, not how good of a person we are. It says in His word, even while we are sinners, Christ died for us.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
When we receive Christ and His gift of salvation, we experience a NEW BIRTH (Read John 3:1-8).
Receiving Christ means we turn to God from ourselves (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives, to forgive our sins and make us what He wants us to be. It is not just agreeing in our minds that Jesus is the Son of God and died on the cross for our sins, nor is it enough to have an emotional experience but we receive Christ by an act of the will by faith.
How do I get it?
Pray right now (speak to Him) in your own words your desire to be saved. Express to God that you are turning from living for yourself and will allow him to direct your life. Ask for forgiveness of your sin and ask Him to save you.
If you mean it in your heart, you become born again in Him!
What does it all mean?
God’s original intention was to be in relationship with people. When you receive the gift of salvation in Christ, the relationship between you and God is repaired. You can come boldly before the throne of grace. You can come to Him and talk to Him!
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:6
You can know you are saved! He has promised eternal life in Jesus. You will spend eternity with Him.
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:11-13
Jesus will never leave you alone.
I am with you always, even to the end of the age Matthew 28:20
I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 5:13
Jesus desires not only to give us eternal life but the fullness of life in Him in this life.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10
What now?
It is important that you get in fellowship with other believers. Find a church that teaches and preaches the Bible and attend regularly.
Go to God in prayer daily. Prayer is just talking to God. Talk to Him and ask Him for His help. Pray about what is on your heart. Ask Him to help you live for Him and continue turning from sin.
Read your Bible. It is imperative that you read your Bible. People have all sorts of thoughts about who God is and what He does but the Scripture, God’s word, is the final authority on truth. We must grow in our knowledge of God.
Commit yourself to follow God each day and obey what he is instructing you to do.
Continue to trust God for everything.
I NEED HELP!
We can’t live the kind of life God desires for us in our own strength. We need the help the Holy Spirit gives. When Jesus ascended into heaven after He rose from the dead, He sent us His Holy Spirit to help us. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live fully for Christ and to be a witness for Him. Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit as our helper (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). The book of Acts describes many accounts of believers being filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Acts 9 contains the story of Paul encountering Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul also writes about being filled with the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5:18.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Jesus sent Him to be our guide.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13
STAY THE COURSE! Keep pursuing Jesus and he will come to your aid. He is so faithful to help us in our need.
Please feel free to contact us if you have questions. We would like to help you as we are able.