Thursday, November 4, 2010

GOD WANTS YOU: He is not willing that any should perish.

God has a plan for you. His name is Jesus! Yes, that right. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that wosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

The Bible tells us that man is separated from God because of his sin. That's our sin not God's. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

And here is the bad news... "The wages of sin is death;"  (Romans 6:23a) Yes, there are consequences to sin just like there as consequences to everything else we do.

But here's the good news. We do not have to pay the consequences for our sin because "the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23b)

And here's more good news. We did not have to do anything for the free gift because, "God commendeth his love towards in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

So how can you receive this free gift of eternal life?

First, you must admit that you are a sinner. "If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

Second, you must repent of your sins. Repent means that you are truly sorry and you are making a complete turn around away from your sin. "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." (Acts 3:19) To be converted means that you are changed from something into something new or different. The Bible puts it this way, "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

But how do you complete this conversion process? Salvation, that is the act of being saved from the wages of sin, is available only through Jesus Christ. Here are three Bible verses that explain it better than I can, "Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the father but by me." (John 14:6) "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5) and "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Once you understand that you can only by saved through Jesus (this is the third step), you are now ready to move forward to the fourth step which is to accept the free gift of salvation in faith.

That's right dear friend, just knowing that Jesus can save you is not enough. You must believe it. Here are two passages of scripture that say it in no uncertain terms. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8-9) and "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God 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." (Romans 10:9-10)

So what are you waiting for? Do it now! "...behold, now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2). Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20)

Isn't it wonderful that God loves you, me, and everyone else on the planet? He wants to have a relationship with us that is so special it is as though each of us is the only one in the universe. So don't wait, in your own words, call on Jesus now! "For whsoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  (Romans 10:13)

To tell us your decision or for more information please leave a comment with your contact information or if you prefer you can contact Pastor Burns at broadmoorpastor@gmail.com