Transcription
The word of God says in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Sin is defined as the transgression or breaking of God's law. Any honest person must admit that they have sinned, do sin, and inevitably will sin in thought, word, and deed. The Bible says, "There is not a just man upon Earth, notice this, that doeth good, and sinneth not." According to the word of God, none of us are righteous, none of us are good. We are all guilty before God and condemned already.
You see, my friend, you may desire to go to heaven, but the truth is, you deserve to go to hell. Revelation 21:8 says, "And all liars, not some liars, not many liars, all liars shall have their part where? In the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." No amount of self-reformation, human effort, or good works can ever satisfy the demands set forth by the law. In other words, a partial obedience is insufficient; a perfect obedience is necessary. James chapter 2:1 says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, don't miss this, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." The law of God demands perfection. None of us are perfect. It is here that we find ourselves helpless, hopeless, and hellbound, in need of a savior who can both pay sin's penalty and provide perfect righteousness.
Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, watch this, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." The sinless Son of God, the Savior of the world, God manifest in the flesh, Jesus Christ the righteous, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. The word of God says that He, by the grace of God, notice this, "should taste death for every man."
Now, though Jesus died for every man, every man does not go to heaven. Why? Because there's something we must do in response to what He has done. The question was put forth in Acts chapter 16, "What must I do to be saved?" To which they replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Period. Notice no mention of water baptism, turning from sins, church attendance, praying a prayer, or doing good works. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
There is only one acceptable and appropriate response to this good news, and that is placing your faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, the sole condition for salvation from sin's penalty. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace are ye saved, how? Through faith." One condition, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Salvation is God's gift to give, not our reward to earn. Verse 19 says, "Not of works, lest any man should boast." If I told you that I'm going to heaven because I'm a good person, I go to church, I pray every day, I try my best to obey God's law, I turn from my sins, would you say that my faith is on Jesus and what He did for me, or I'm trusting in myself? If you are trusting in yourself, you are trusting in a sinner who deserves hell. And if you are trusting in a sinner who deserves hell to go to heaven, mark my words, you will not enter.
Jesus said in John 3:18, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already; why? Because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 1:12 says, "But as many as received him, referring to Christ, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
At the moment of salvation, an instantaneous event occurs with eternal implications. A new birth establishes a bond that cannot be broken. We are born again into the family of God, thus becoming a child of God, a son of God, by grace through faith alone. Watch this: once you are a son, you are always a son. Once you are a child of God, you are always a child of God. Once you are saved, you are always saved, despite your failures, despite your faults. God will never leave thee nor forsake thee. You are eternally secure and safe in His hand.
Jesus said in John 5:4, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, notice this, hath present tense possession everlasting life or life that will last forever and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." Jesus said in John 10:28, "And I give unto them temporary life? No. Probationary life? No. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
Salvation from hell is available to all sinners who simply accept His payment for their sins freely by faith, right now. God is offering you the forgiveness of sins and eternal life if you'll simply take Him at His word. I encourage you, wherever you are, whatever time it is, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, trust Him alone. And if you've done that, then you can confidently declare, "I am saved. I am a child of God. I am forgiven. I am on my way to heaven." Take a moment to thank God for saving you and giving you eternal life.