All of us have received some good news in our life. Maybe somebody you care for told you they loved you. Maybe your test results came back negative. Maybe you received that promotion at work. Maybe you were approved for a home loan. Regardless of the situation, we all love to receive good news.
The news we are going to share with you is greater than any good news we possibly could receive. This news has eternal ramifications where as most of the good news we receive is temporary. For example, a person may tell us they love us and another day that person tells us they no longer love us. Maybe we received negative test results but somewhere in the future our health takes a decline. Maybe we received that promotion, but the company is struggling and has layoffs. Maybe we had the best intention of buying that new home, but we get hit with hardship and no longer can afford the mortgage payments.
However, the Bible offers each one of us the Gospel which means “Good News”. The reason the Bible is good news is because there is bad news. We all have been born into this world as sinners. A person who sins has missed the mark of Holy perfection. You don’t have to teach a child to lie. They lie on their own accord. You don’t have to teach a child to be selfish, they come out screaming, “that is mine”. From the very beginning with Adam and Eve, humans have wanted to be independent of God. We all like to try to take control of our lives. We want to call the shots. The apostle Paul had a great understanding of our Human Nature. He concluded: “For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, within my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand” (Romans 7:18).
You might be thinking I am better than this person who has done this or that. Or generally speaking I am a good person. The problem is that we cannot measure how good we are or create a standard for what good is. (It would be an imperfect person creating such a standard) And how many elderly women would you have to walk across the street to be considered good? The Bible says if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8) Sin brings death. It may bring a physical death but definitely brings a spiritual death. The Bible tells us, “The wages of sin is death”.(Romans 6:23)
But the 2nd part of the verse gives us a glimpse into God’s heart. The 2nd half states, “but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ”. God being our creator knows us better than anyone. And the great news is that God loves us! The bible states, “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God knew that we were sinners and decided to conquer that sin so we could be in right relationship with him. “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16) Jesus was the only human to live a sinless life. Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for our sin. “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the Righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) At the cross, where Jesus was crucified, His blood was shed to atone for our sins. Jesus was the last sacrifice. His love didn’t stop there because Jesus was resurrected three days later so that we may live with him forever.
Life is not about us. Our life is a vapor. Life can be short and uncertain. But we can be certain of where we will go when we die. Life is about Jesus and our relationship with him. Jesus is the only God to claim, “That he is truth, the way, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him (John 14:6) God offers us the free gift of Eternal Life. You don’t have to jump through all these hoops to get to Heaven. You don’t have to try to be perfect. Come as you are. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) You just need to believe and receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Do you hear God knocking on the door of your heart?
Here is a prayer you can say unto the Lord:
Dear Jesus,
There is so much I don’t know about you. I admit and know that I am a sinner. I have wanted to go my own way in life and I am sorry for that. Thank you for dieing on the cross for me and please forgive me for my sins that you took on at the cross. I believe who you say are. I believe that you are God. And I choose to accept you as my Lord & Savior. Please come into my life and show me through the power of your spirit how to live a life that you intended for me to live. Amen
Congratulations if you prayed the most important prayer of your life. The Bible says that the Heaven is celebrating over your decision. (Luke 15:7) If you made this decision to follow Jesus, we suggest you don’t hold it in.
Tell someone who also is a Christian
Read the Bible, God’s love letter to you! (Maybe start with the book of John)
Get plugged into a Church
Please let us know as well! We can help you get started with your journey.
Blessings,
RTJ