SALVATION
The Question
Are you good enough to get into Heaven? Most people say 'yes'. But are you really? Did you know that the Bible gives us the standard by which we can determine whether or not we are good enough? That standard is Jesus Christ and the Ten Commandments. Let's look at a few of the commandments given to us, just to see if you are good enough for Heaven.
▪ One of the most commonly referenced commandment says that we should not lie (Exodus 20:16).
Have you ever told a lie (so-called “white lies” included)?
▪ We are also told not to steal (Exodus 20:15).
Have you ever taken anything that does not belong to you, regardless of its value?
▪ Taking the life of another human being is universally recognized as being wrong (Exodus 20:13). Although the vast majority of people have never killed someone, Christ tells us in Matthew 5:22 that whoever is angered without cause (hatred) is just as guilty.
Have you ever been angry (hated) without just cause?
▪ We are told not to commit adultery (Exodus 20:14), yet Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 that even looking with lust causes adultery in the heart.
Have you ever looked at a person with lust?
Perhaps you have not done all of the above, but God tells us in James 2:10 that whoever breaks the law in one point, “is guilty of all.”
The Standard
God says, “Be ye holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). He then gives us the Ten Commandments as His standard of Holiness. To be holy means to be without sin. By now, you may be thinking that these commandments are impossible to keep, and you are exactly right! God provided us with this standard so that we could clearly see how badly we have failed to be holy. As Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The commandments serve to show us how Holy God is and how sinful we are.
The Price
Our sin has consequences. Just as you expect a wage (paycheck) for your work, sin also has a wage. Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death...” Because we have rebelled against God, we all deserve death. Hell is not a place of consigned torture, but rather a place of deserved punishment. Our sin brings us death.
The Plan
Despite the fact that we truly deserve death and Hell, the Bible tells us that God is Love. But how can a God of love consign millions to Hell? The truth is, He doesn't. God loves us so much that He provided a way of escape for us. If you die in your sins and go to Hell, it is because you rejected God's way of escape, not because He forced you there. John 3:16 says, “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.” Romans 5:8 tells us, "But God commendeth(demonstrates) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
The Action
The only way that our sin's wages can be paid is by death. Yet God loved us enough to sacrifice His only Son in our place that we might escape that death. But what can you do to accept this sacrifice? Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.” You must:
1. Acknowledge that you have broken God's Law and must pay sin's price.
2. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and paid that price for you.
3. Confess your sins and ask Him to forgive you and save you.
The Life
If you confess your sins to Christ, and ask Him to save you, 1 John 1:9 tells us, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When you make Jesus the Lord over your life, He will make a change in your life. More than just saving you from Hell, He seeks a personal relationship with you. What are you waiting for? Ask Christ to save you today!
If you would like more information, or would like help with making this decision, please contact our church office at 919-742-4821.
The Question
Are you good enough to get into Heaven? Most people say 'yes'. But are you really? Did you know that the Bible gives us the standard by which we can determine whether or not we are good enough? That standard is Jesus Christ and the Ten Commandments. Let's look at a few of the commandments given to us, just to see if you are good enough for Heaven.
▪ One of the most commonly referenced commandment says that we should not lie (Exodus 20:16).
Have you ever told a lie (so-called “white lies” included)?
▪ We are also told not to steal (Exodus 20:15).
Have you ever taken anything that does not belong to you, regardless of its value?
▪ Taking the life of another human being is universally recognized as being wrong (Exodus 20:13). Although the vast majority of people have never killed someone, Christ tells us in Matthew 5:22 that whoever is angered without cause (hatred) is just as guilty.
Have you ever been angry (hated) without just cause?
▪ We are told not to commit adultery (Exodus 20:14), yet Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 that even looking with lust causes adultery in the heart.
Have you ever looked at a person with lust?
Perhaps you have not done all of the above, but God tells us in James 2:10 that whoever breaks the law in one point, “is guilty of all.”
The Standard
God says, “Be ye holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). He then gives us the Ten Commandments as His standard of Holiness. To be holy means to be without sin. By now, you may be thinking that these commandments are impossible to keep, and you are exactly right! God provided us with this standard so that we could clearly see how badly we have failed to be holy. As Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The commandments serve to show us how Holy God is and how sinful we are.
The Price
Our sin has consequences. Just as you expect a wage (paycheck) for your work, sin also has a wage. Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death...” Because we have rebelled against God, we all deserve death. Hell is not a place of consigned torture, but rather a place of deserved punishment. Our sin brings us death.
The Plan
Despite the fact that we truly deserve death and Hell, the Bible tells us that God is Love. But how can a God of love consign millions to Hell? The truth is, He doesn't. God loves us so much that He provided a way of escape for us. If you die in your sins and go to Hell, it is because you rejected God's way of escape, not because He forced you there. John 3:16 says, “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.” Romans 5:8 tells us, "But God commendeth(demonstrates) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
The Action
The only way that our sin's wages can be paid is by death. Yet God loved us enough to sacrifice His only Son in our place that we might escape that death. But what can you do to accept this sacrifice? Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.” You must:
1. Acknowledge that you have broken God's Law and must pay sin's price.
2. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and paid that price for you.
3. Confess your sins and ask Him to forgive you and save you.
The Life
If you confess your sins to Christ, and ask Him to save you, 1 John 1:9 tells us, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When you make Jesus the Lord over your life, He will make a change in your life. More than just saving you from Hell, He seeks a personal relationship with you. What are you waiting for? Ask Christ to save you today!
If you would like more information, or would like help with making this decision, please contact our church office at 919-742-4821.