Salvation

Let's say you are walking along, phone in hand, texting your best bud. I am walking too and notice you are about to step into the street directly in the path of a speeding bus. You would want me to warn you, right? You’d want me to yell, “Watch out! Stop!”

 

You wouldn’t frown & say that I think I’m better than you because I believe I saw the bus and you didn’t. You wouldn’t grumble under your breath that I think I’m holier than thou because I believe the sidewalk is the best and only place to be but you have thought all along that you are fine right where you are. And you wouldn’t think that I hate you. In fact, you’d recognize that I cared enough to say something even though you might not believe me, like it, or listen. You'd know it comes from a heart of caring. Well I care, we care, and here is your warning:

 

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

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As in the scenario above, the warning is urgent. Everyone dies and no one knows when they will die. You may have years, hours, or only minutes. This literally could be your final warning. Do you want to go to Heaven when you die? There's only one requirement to enter the pearly gates- perfection.

 

It's very simple. You must be completely sinless. God will accept nothing less. And sinlessness goes beyond the absence of wrongdoing. It also means loving the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30, paraphrase). It is two sides of the same coin. 

 

So, are you perfect? Of course not. None of us are. "For all have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Even if all you ever did was tell one tiny white lie, it is a lie and you have broken a commandment and are guilty before God. "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (James 2:10). God is holy. He does not tolerate, excuse, or overlook sin. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). In other words, our sinful state earns nothing but death (utter separation from God). Upon physical death, people go to one of two places- Heaven, where God is, or Hell, where sinners await judgment. On Judgement Day, unrepentant sinners will be thrown into a place of everlasting torment known as the Lake of Fire. And there they will stay in agony and regret forever and ever. God doesn't want you there. He never meant for people to go there. The Bible tells us it was created for the devil & demons (fallen angels).

 

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

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So all of us are doomed because all of us are sinners. But there is a reason we screamed, "Stop! Watch out!" There is good news. God has made a way for you to choose which place you will go: Heaven or Hell. 

 

"For God so loved the world' (that's you & me) 'that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

 

Jesus willingly suffered & died on the cross for YOU. He died in YOUR place to pay the price for YOUR sins. The wages of sin is death. Christ's death paid the price, which was payment in full for every single sin- past, present, and future. 

 

Most people think that being a good person is the ticket to Heaven, but the Bible is very clear. No one is good enough except Jesus. because he was absolutely sinless. All the good you do does not matter because it is completely overshadowed by the bad. Being a good person or "doing the best you can" will not get you into Heaven because perfection is required and no one is perfect except Christ.

 

Jesus lived a perfectly sinless life and willingly went to the cross to die in our place. And as He hung on the cross, God placed every sin of every person, past, present, and future, on Christ's shoulders and separated Himself. Jesus bled and died. But this death, this sacrifice of himself, was accepted by God. We know this because He raised Jesus from the dead and restored their fellowship forever. Salvation is a free gift, but it came at a costly price. The good news is God loves you so much He literally sent Jesus to die for you so you can be with Him forever. And Jesus loves you so much He willing bore your sin so you could be forgiven. All you have to do is believe and receive it. It is a gift, but like all gifts, it benefits you nothing if you do not accept it.

 

Heaven or Hell. It’s your choice. Please, don't turn away. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Confess your sins and choose Jesus now while you still can because once you die your choice is your reality forever. Believe that He paid the price in full for your sins and receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. This is faith.

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The Warning: 

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“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18).

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The Way: 

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“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10).

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