Do you consider yourself to be a good person?
Almost everyone thinks they''''re a good person because of the way we like to compare ourselves to others. But the questions you should be asking is, “Am I good in God''''s eyes? Where will I spend my eternity in?” How would you know? A simple way to find out is to ask yourself if you have obeyed the Ten Commandments. God uses the Law (or the Ten Commandments) to determine who is good and who is not good. Most people would say, “Well, I’ve broken one or two, but nothing serious, like murder, etc.” So let’s go through a few of them. Make no mistake, I''''m not playing a holier-than-thou game here. I''''ve been on the same boat too and was saved by pure Grace.
The 9th commandment: Do not bear false witness; or, do not lie.
Have you ever told a lie? If you''''ve told a lie ever before, what would that make you? (Hint: if someone committed murder, they would be a murderer, right?) If you''''ve lied, even if it is a "white" life, you would be a liar.
The 8th commandment: You shall not steal.
Have you ever stolen anything (even if it was something small)? The value of the thing stolen does not matter. Petty theft is still theft. Have you ever taken anything that belonged to someone else (from the office, school, parents, music/software, etc.)? If you have ever stolen something, you would be a thief.
The 3rd commandment: You shall not take the name of God in vain
Have you ever used God’s name as a curse word? If you have, you’ve taken the Holy name of God – who gave you your life, your family, and everything precious to you – and used it as a filthy word. If you have used God’s Holy name in that manner, the Bible calls this blasphemy.
The 7th commandment: You shall not commit adultery.
Jesus warned, “You have heard…You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” (Matthew 5:28). Have you ever looked at another person with lust? If you have, Jesus calls this adultery.
The 6th commandment: You shall not murder.
Jesus warned, “Whoever is angry with his brother without cause, is in danger of judgment,” (Matthew 5:22) and the Bible says, “He who hates his brother is a murderer,” (1 John 3:15). God sees hatred in the heart to be as wicked as murder. We can violate His law by attitude and intent.
Have you ever hated?
Who of us can say we are not guilty of breaking these Commandments?
If you''''ve answered even the first four questions honestly, by your own admission you''''re saying that you''''re a lying, thieving, blaspheming, adulterer at heart. And that''''s only four of the Ten Commandments (continue on if need more convincing of your sinfulness). Again, you''''re not alone by the way, I have been there with you; however, that does not make it okay. This is what the Bible means when it says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23).
Can you see the hole that you are in? You are guilty of sinning against God Himself, and, because you have a conscience you have sinned “with knowledge”. Isn’t it true that every time you lied, stole, lusted, etc. you knew it was wrong?
The Bible says that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and that on judgment day, everyone will be judged according to His Law. You have admitted to breaking His Law, which makes you guilty. Now since your guilty of breaking the Law, if today was judgment day, you would go to hell because you''''ve consciously broken His Law, you''''re deserving of eternal life in hell.
God is HOLY (perfectly pure) and He does not allow ANY imperfection in heaven with Him (Habakkuk 1:13, Revelation 15:4, 1 Samuel 6:20). He calls for perfection: "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). He is the epitome of perfection.
But due to sin, the Bible says His wrath abides on you (John 3:36), and that you are an “enemy of God in your mind through your wicked works,” (Colossians 1:21).
Perhaps you think God is "good and forgiving" and because of His goodness He will overlook your sins? But if you knew of a human judge who turned a blind eye to a crime, would you describe him as a good judge? No. That would be a corrupt judge. But God is a just Judge. And because of His just nature, He will punish all the rapists, murderers, and thieves. He will also punish all liars, adulterers, blasphemers, and the idolaters. (
Revelation 21:8). As per justice, the place of eternal punishment for your offenses is rightfully in Hell.
Does this concern you?
If yes, here is the Good News! God does not want you to go to Hell for eternity. He is rich in mercy and compassion, and has provided a way for you to be forgiven. He has invited you to come to Him for a full pardon and receive the free gift of Eternal Life. You cannot earn it with your good works, no matter how sincere you are. It is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Imagine you are standing in front of a judge, guilty of multiple serious crimes. All the evidence has been presented and there is no doubt about your guilt. Your apologies and good works cannot erase your crimes; therefore you must be punished. The fine for your crime is $10 Million or 50 years imprisonment. But all you have in your wallet is dust. The judge is about to pass sentence when someone you don’t even know steps in and pays your fine for you! The court accepts the money and declares that you are free to go. The law has been satisfied, your debt has been paid in full, and the stranger’s sacrifice was a demonstration of his love for you. This, dear reader, is what God did for you 2000 years ago!
The Bible says that the God of the Universe became a man (Jesus Christ), suffered and died on the cross for the sins of the whole world with His shed Blood and He rose again on the third day defeating death - so that we could be set free. In other words, you broke the Law, and Jesus paid your fine! Jesus paid the price for the sins of the whole world with His precious Blood. People will go to hell because they reject the payment for their sins. They will go to hell because they refuse to receive Jesus Christ. If you don''''t receive Jesus as your Savior, you are rejecting the only payment available for your sins. There is no other way to the Father except through His Son. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6).
"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)
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” (Galatians 3:13)
Do you see God’s great love for you? Do you see your need for His forgiveness?
Then do what He commands - Repent (Luke 13:5). Repent means to turn back from your old ways and turn to God. Desire to have nothing to do with sin, and surrender your life to the One who can save you. If you will confess and forsake your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you can receive from God the already provided forgiveness and you will pass from eternal death to eternal life.
Trust in Jesus the same way you’d trust in a parachute if you had to jump 25,000 feet out of an airplane. You wouldn’t just analyze and debate whether you should wear the parachute; you would put it on! No one will have to compel you. In the same way, the Bible says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:11-14, Galatians 3:27) and you will be saved. Make no mistake - unless you put on the Savior, there will not be one person or a religion to save you from the eternal damnation - for in no other name you will find salvation (Acts 4:12).
Today, with all your heart – repent and surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Please do not put it off until later. You may die today and then it will be too late. You may not yet have all the answers to your questions, but isn''''t it better to put on the parachute first and then ask questions, than to pass through the door unprepared, grasping for the parachute when it is too late?
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7)
"That 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 with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
If you are not sure how to pray, read Psalm 51 and make it your prayer and invite Jesus to your heart and make Him your Lord and Savior.
If you have prayed that prayer from you heart, the shed Blood of Jesus has washed you from all of your sins. You have now become born again (John 3:3-7, John 1:12-13), in other words, spiritually re-birthed. The Bible says, you are now the child of the Most High God (John 1:12-13). Old things have passed away, you have become a new creation in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). You have escaped the eternal lake of fire. Sin, Sicknesses (no matter how small or terminal it is) or negative circumstances (does not matter how trivial or worse it is) can no longer have a hold on you. Through Jesus Christ you are an overcomer. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).
The goal of salvation is not just forgiveness of sins so that we can evade hell. Yes indeed, not ending up in hell is a very important result of it. But salvation is much more than that. The primary goal of salvation is to have eternal life with God. Jesus clearly defines eternal life in John 17:3 - “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Eternal life is to know God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ! ‘Knowing’ simply does not mean ‘know about’. We may say, ''''I know about this person at my work. This is much more than just a casual, intellectual knowledge about a person. Here Jesus is talking about an intimate relationship, now in this life. Eternal life begins right now.
. Read your Bible (KJV or King James Version - read on why I prefer this version) daily to get to know this Jesus better. Christian life is not about religion or rituals. It is a relationship with Jesus Christ (John 17:3). Bible is the food for our spiritual person. Devour it. Renew your mind with the new-creation reality (Romans 12:1-2). You are no longer the same person you were few minutes before (2 Corinthians 5:17). I''''d recommend starting to read with the fourth book of the New Testament, the Gospel of John, which gives you the message of who Jesus really is. Then continue reading till the Book of Revelation. Then of course, start from the beginning of the New Testament to read all of its 27 books.
. Talk to God in prayer daily (Matthew 21:22, Philippians 4:6, Mark 11:24, 1 Thessalonians 5:17). When you pray, focus on Jesus. He is your answer to whatever you seek. Pray to the Father in Jesus'''' Name.
. Be baptized, worship, fellowship and serve with Christians in a church (Matthew 28:19, Hebrews 10:25) where Jesus Christ is preached and Bible is the final authority (2 Timothy 3:16).
. Share the Good News about the Salvation in Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15-18, 1 Corinthians 9:16, Romans 1:16
).