Am I a Christian? What will happen when I die? Will I go to heaven? Ever ask yourself questions like these? Or maybe these . . . Am I doing enough good things to become a Christian? Have I done too many bad things to be a Christian? Here is the question you should be asking: What is my relationship with Jesus Christ? Faith is Jesus is the only way to become a Christian. Here is why . . .
All have sinned:
"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Romans 3:23
"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth." 1 John 1:8
Sin means death, eternally:
"For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23
No one who has sinned can stand in the presence of Holy God. And the only way our sin can be forgiven is through the shedding of blood:
"Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22
Because of his great love for us, God has made a way. His Son, Jesus, came to earth. After about thirty-three years of ministry, Jesus, who never sinned, died an agonizing death on a cross to pay the penalty for everyone's sin. Yours. Mine. Everyone who has ever lived or ever will live. On the third day after death, Jesus rose from the dead.
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love--not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." 1 John 4:9-10
Jesus has paid the price for our sins. He offers us forgiveness and eternity in heaven as a gift. But each of us needs to reach out and take that gift. To accept his love and forgiveness. To commit to following him.
"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 it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved." Romans 10:9-10
"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. Romans 3:22-25
There is no other way to be forgiven. There is no other path to eternal life.
"Whoever believes the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." Words of Jesus in John 3:36
"God our Savior . . . wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone." 1 Timothy 2:3-6
Are you ready to choose forgiveness? To choose eternal life? To choose Jesus? I encourage you, wherever you are, to talk to him. He loves you--no matter what you have done. He is waiting with open arms for you to come to him. Don't wait. In your own words, tell him what you are feeling and ask his forgiveness. Commit to putting him first in your life. You will never regret it.
All have sinned:
"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Romans 3:23
"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth." 1 John 1:8
Sin means death, eternally:
"For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23
No one who has sinned can stand in the presence of Holy God. And the only way our sin can be forgiven is through the shedding of blood:
"Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22
Because of his great love for us, God has made a way. His Son, Jesus, came to earth. After about thirty-three years of ministry, Jesus, who never sinned, died an agonizing death on a cross to pay the penalty for everyone's sin. Yours. Mine. Everyone who has ever lived or ever will live. On the third day after death, Jesus rose from the dead.
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love--not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." 1 John 4:9-10
Jesus has paid the price for our sins. He offers us forgiveness and eternity in heaven as a gift. But each of us needs to reach out and take that gift. To accept his love and forgiveness. To commit to following him.
"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 it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved." Romans 10:9-10
"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. Romans 3:22-25
There is no other way to be forgiven. There is no other path to eternal life.
"Whoever believes the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." Words of Jesus in John 3:36
"God our Savior . . . wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone." 1 Timothy 2:3-6
Are you ready to choose forgiveness? To choose eternal life? To choose Jesus? I encourage you, wherever you are, to talk to him. He loves you--no matter what you have done. He is waiting with open arms for you to come to him. Don't wait. In your own words, tell him what you are feeling and ask his forgiveness. Commit to putting him first in your life. You will never regret it.
What next?
If you have decided to follow Jesus, you may be wondering, What should I do now? www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/first-steps-in-the-christian-life/This article offers some helpful guidelines.
