In a letter to believers in the early days of the church, Jesus’ brother, James, wrote, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder.”
A Christian is more than a person who believes in God. He is a person who trusts in Jesus Christ for all things including his own future life in heaven. To have life after death with God requires that we be holy and perfect because He is holy and perfect. And we can never do that on our own. We need God’s help.
The Bible teaches that as descendants of Adam, none of us is perfect. As imperfect people, we all sin … even Mother Teresa sinned. There is nothing we can do on our own that could save us from hell because no matter how much we improve, we can never be totally perfect. To live with God after we leave this world, we must be found perfect – that means without any sin, no matter how small, because God is holy and cannot live with any sin.
The “Good News” is that God no longer sees anyone’s sin after they accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Why? Because God sent His Son Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, to shed His blood to save us – a momentous event foreshadowed in Egypt when the Lord passed over each Israelite home that had the blood of an unblemished lamb on the doorway, saving their first-born from death. God the Father had Jesus Christ (God the Son), the perfect Lamb of God, crucified on a cross, one time, for all of our sins, past, present and future so that we may be saved from paying the penalty for any of our sins.
The penalty for unforgiven sin is eternity in hell, which is eternal separation from God. Frankly, eternity in heaven with God is the only rational choice, wouldn’t you say?
God’s plan for our salvation is found throughout the Bible in the Old Testament, by events like the Exodus, as well as in the New Testament, where it is explained in detail by Jesus, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul and others. Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6).
God does not save me because I live a good life, or go to confession, or am baptized, or sing in the choir, or teach Sunday school. Instead I am saved by God’s grace through my faith. The Bible’s Book of Hebrews tells us that Abraham was saved only by faith and all who came after him were saved only by God’s grace through their faith. And we are saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8,9), when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. For “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6). Check out Romans 10:9, 10 and John 3:36, as well. Read His Word; be blessed!
Are you saved? Ask Christ to become your Lord and Savior now – you’ll be glad you did – eternally!
