A Passion for God and Compassion for People

  (Click on the "play" button on the upper left hand corner of each section to hear an audio version of each message) 

When considering life after death, every person should ask two questions.

1. If you were to lose your life today, where will you spend eternity?
2. If you were to stand before the Lord and He were to ask you, "why should I let you into my heaven," what would you say?

If asking yourself these questions leave you unsure about where you would spend eternity, the Bible has great news for you! The Bible, God's physical message to you, says that you can know for sure!

Scripture says,
1John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

The following of is a detailed explanation of God's plan to offer eternal life to all people.

<> The Bible teaches us that “in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen.1:1). Think about all of the billions of stars, or even the amazing complexity of the human body – God created it all! Revelation 4:11 says, “for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Man was created specifically by God to honor, serve, and enjoy Him forever. This dynamic relationship with God is the only thing that brings real satisfaction in life.

But there’s a serious problem that has broken this relationship… you and I are sinners. The Bible says, “There is not a just [perfect] man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23). All of us have sinned against God by doing, saying, or thinking things that break His Law. God, who is absolutely just, must judge our sin. Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death.” In other words, the payment that you and I have earned for our sin is separation from God forever in a very real place called hell. The same Bible that teaches us about the glories of heaven also warns us about the horrors of hell. Jesus described hell as “an everlasting fire” (Matthew 18:8), a place of agonizing physical pain (Luke 16:24), and a place of “everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46).

Many have argued, “But I am not that bad… I’m a pretty good person. Surely, good people go to heaven!” God’s Word, however, demands absolute perfection, a standard that no one can reach. Consider what the Scriptures say. Galatians 3:10-11: “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Have you obeyed every one of God’s commands? Of course not! James 2:10 adds, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Even if you lived your entire life and only broke one of God’s laws, you are still equally as guilty and deserving of God’s eternal punishment as the person who has broken all of them. “But what about all of our good works” you may ask, “Don’t they somehow ‘outweigh’ all of our sin?” Isaiah 64:6 states that even our “righteousness [goodness] is as filthy rags.” Clearly, no one stands innocent and pure in the sight of a holy God in their sin, regardless of how religious or good they may appear.

Is there any hope? Friend, I have good news for you. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He did for you what religion or good works could never do. Christ fully paid the penalty of our sin debt through His death and resurrection. Our sin, as we have already seen, has to be punished by death. Christ shed His blood and died in our place, paying the price of our punishment in full on the cross so that we can be pardoned from our sin and brought back into a right relationship with God. He rose again three days later to prove that He is the one true God who has power over sin, death, and hell. Because of His finished work on our behalf, you and I do not have to face the penalty that we deserve for our sin. We can be forgiven, and receive His free gift of eternal life!

How can this good news be applied to you? The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. 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” (Acts 16:31, John 3:16). What does “believing in Jesus” mean? Many people “believe in Jesus,” but are still trusting in something other than Christ alone to somehow earn eternal life. True belief, or faith, is not Jesus plus baptism, church membership, good works, etc. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “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.” A saving faith in the Lord Jesus does not rely upon works to try to earn eternal life. Have you been relying upon your works, or something other than (or in addition to) Christ’s work for you on the cross, to try to earn God’s favor? If so, then your faith will not save you from your sin. You must stop depending upon your works and transfer your dependence upon Christ alone in order to receive His gift of everlasting life.

Do you desire to turn from your sin and self-dependence to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? If so, then you must agree with God that you are a sinner deserving eternal punishment, that Jesus died and rose again for your sin, and that Christ alone is the only way to eternal life. 2 Corinthians 6:2 warns us, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” He will save you from sin, if you will simply turn from your self-dependence to place your faith in Christ’s work for eternal life.  Romans 10:9,13: “For 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. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” If you truly and completely believe that Jesus died to take the punishment for you sin, won't you confirm that decision in your heart before the Lord in prayer?  Acknowledge to Him your sinfulness, your faith in Christ’s death and resurrection on your behalf, and your dependence now upon His work alone for forgiveness and everlasting life. Won’t you place your trust upon Christ, before it is eternally too late?

John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.” If you have received Christ today by placing your full dependence upon Him for eternal life and the forgiveness of sins, then you have been “born again” into God’s family! You have now begun an eternal relationship with the One who is preparing a home for you in His heaven. We at Faith Bible Church, would love to help you grow in your new walk with God. We would love to hear from you soon.

If you have any questions, please call us at 814-742-7710.