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THE GOSPEL

There are big questions that haunt us: where we came from, why we are here, how we should live, and so on. The most important question, however, is personal: “If I were to die today, would I spend eternity in Heaven with God?” Most people assume such a question is impossible to answer with certainty. Yet, the apostle John insists that you can know that you have eternal life (1 Jn. 5:13). The simple truth is God wants you to know where you’re going! What are the facts?

GOD IS A LOVING CREATOR

Contemporary thinking says man is the unintended product of evolution. The Bible, however, says a loving God created us to know, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with Him. In John 1:3, the New Testament reveals it was Jesus Himself who created all things: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” As such, He also owns and rules everything. Psalm 103:19 reminds us that “his kingdom ruleth over all.” That means He has authority over our lives, and we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship.

GOD IS ALSO HOLY

Besides being a loving God, He is also perfectly holy. Even the angels of Heaven cry, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” (Is. 6:3). As a holy God, He cannot commit or approve of evil. Psalm 5:4 emphasizes this point, saying, “Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.” God’s holiness demands holiness of us as well. ”Be ye holy,” He insists, “for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16).

GOD’S HOLINESS DEMANDS SINLESS PERFECTION

Revelation 21:27 says, “And there shall in no wise enter into it [Heaven] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie…” In short, no unholy sinners can be in God’s presence. 1 Corinthians 15:50 states, “…that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” God’s dwelling is a place without sin; even a little corruption would ruin it.

GOD HOLDS US RESPONSIBLE FOR BREAKING HIS LAW AND FALLING SHORT OF HIS EXPECTATIONS

In Romans 3:23, we learn that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…”  Sin is an archery term. When an archer misses the bullseye, it is called a “sin.” We are not archers, but the same concept applies to our conduct before the Lord. God has set forth a standard of moral perfection for access into His presence, yet none of us can meet that standard or has even tried. We have deliberately rebelled against God’s righteous law and thus fallen short of His glory. Our sin has a consequence. Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death.” In this verse, death refers to an eternity separated from God in a horrendous place of punishment called Hell. Because we have willfully disobeyed God’s righteous standard, we deserve our spot in Hell.

GOD LOVES US AND SENT HIS SON TO PAY FOR OUR SINS

Nevertheless, despite our rebellion, John 3:16 tells us that “God … loved the world” and “that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God’s love for the world was expressed by sending His Son, Jesus, to accept the fate that we have earned. This truth is so essential it’s repeated in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth [i.e., proved] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God knew we were sinners; He knew that we could never meet His righteous demands on our own, yet He loved us so much that He left His throne in Heaven to live as a man and die in our place to be our Savior.

GOD EXPECTS REPENTANCE AND FAITH

To establish a new and permanent relationship with God to be enjoyed forever in Heaven, two things must happen. Acts 20:21 defines them as “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ. Paul praised his converts who “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9). To have faith in Christ is to put your trust in His death, burial, and resurrection as the sufficient payment to God [of the fine] for your sin. We must stop relying on ourselves, our works, and our religion and place our complete trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. Paul summarized it neatly in Romans 10:9-10: “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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

GOD’S PROMISE OFFERS ASSURANCE

Once you have come to God on His terms of repentance and faith, you can rest knowing that He guarantees eternal life to anyone who trusts in His Son. 1 John 5:13 is clear, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…” In Romans 10:13, the Bible says that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” That is a direct promise from God that if you trust in His Son, He will save you and give you eternal life.

MORE INFO

If you want to know more about this truth, contact us at (817) 594-3239 or at info@ssbcweatherford.com. We would love to answer any questions regarding salvation and help you understand what it takes to know God.