Salvation

You cannot appreciate the Good News, until you know the bad news.

The Bad News

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . .” Romans 3:23 (NIV)
“For the wages of sin is death . . .” Romans 6:23 (NIV)

When we compare ourselves to others, we may feel satisfied with our standards of behavior. But when we measure our conduct by the commandments of God, we do not come close to meeting His righteous standards.

In fact, the evil we see so clearly in the world is simply an amplification of the sin that resides in each one of us. There is something desperately wrong with our nature, and if we leave this life in such a state, we face an eternity without God, the very source of all good.

The Good News!

“But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
Romans 6:23 (NIV)

There is nothing we can do to change our sinful nature or undo our sins. God sent His Son into the world to do what we could never do. Jesus lived a perfect life, offered Himself upon the cross as a perfect sacrifice for sin, taking upon Himself the punishment due for every person who will repent of sin and believe in Him.

When we come to Christ we not only have our sins forgiven, but we experience God Himself working in us through His Holy Spirit, continually molding us into the people He wants us to be. We will find help and strength for living and have assurance of eternal life.

If you know you are a sinner and desire God’s forgiveness and presence in your life, call upon Jesus, confess to Him your sin, ask Him to forgive you and be your Savior. He will certainly answer. Having done this, you should read your Bible beginning with the gospel of John. Speak to God in prayer every day. Find a church to attend that holds the Bible to be its final authority and preaches salvation by faith alone, in Christ alone.

“For 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 (NIV)

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
John 6:37 (NIV)