I want to let you in on the greatest truth I know.
Everything I can say about real peace is centered in this fact. Without it, none of us can ever be genuinely at rest. This truth has transformed millions of people throughout the history of the world. It has made derelicts into saints, hypocrites into godly men and women, and sinners into children of God. It is the truth of salvation in Jesus Christ.
The greatest spiritual truth of all, is what God has done
to redeem us from our sin.
By giving His Son to die in our place, God has paid the price of our sin and
is able to save us from the bondage and dissatisfaction that comes with it.
Let me clearly say that I am not speaking of religion. Many people who are religious know nothing about salvation. Religion is of human origin, and it almost always requires that we do something.
God’s salvation, however, is entirely His work on our behalf. It requires absolutely nothing, since God has already accomplished all that is necessary. Our part is to simply accept it by faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.Yes, we all know people who are good, moral, honest, generous, thoughtful human beings. Surely they are not sinners — are they?
From God’s perspective, the answer is “yes.” Because His standard is absolute holiness — one hundred percent perfection — the issue is not how many sins we commit or what kind of sins we commit, but if we have sinned at all. And Scripture is clear that none of us can honestly say we have never chosen to do wrong: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
In the presence of absolute holiness, even the smallest sin is as offensive and out of place as the darkest, most heinous act of evil one can imagine. Because God is so completely holy and uncompromisingly righteous, He cannot permit sin to exist in His presence. And the only just penalty for sin is death, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). But just as God is holy, righteous, and just, Scripture also informs us that He is a God of mercy and love. Because of His great love for us, He does not wish to condemn us without mercy. Since in His righteousness He cannot simply overlook sin, He found a way that He could make us righteous without compromising His own holiness. However, it cost Him the sacrifice of His Son!Perhaps the most familiar verse in all of Scripture is John 3:16 “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.” That verse, more than any other, has opened people’s eyes to the truth of God’s salvation and the way to real satisfaction.
Because of God's deep love for you, he has already made all the necessary arrangements. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you can enjoy a personal relationship. Jesus made it possible to bridge this void which separates us from God.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10-13 For with thine heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
What this all means is that you do not have
to earn God’s approval. You do not have to work to make yourself righteous.
You do not have to become deserving of God’s grace. All the work has been
done by God Himself, and He offers His grace freely to those who will
receive it by
faith!
Nothing gives a greater sense of personal worth than the truth that God loves us so much that He gave His Son to pay the price for our sins. And nothing on earth brings more complete satisfaction than the confidence of knowing you are secure in God’s salvation. Jesus himself said in John 6:37 “him that cometh to me I will in no wise [for any reason] cast out.”
May I ask you some important personal questions?
What are you counting on to make yourself acceptable to God? If you were to stand before Him today and give an account of your life, what could you point to that might make you acceptable to Him?
Would it be your own works of righteousness? I hope not, because Isaiah 64:6 says, “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”
God cannot accept works of righteousness from
unrighteous people. Would you point to your heritage? Scripture is clear
that salvation is not anyone’s birthright. In fact, Jesus said, “Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”(John
3:3)
The only thing any of us can point to that makes us
acceptable to God is the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. We must simply
trust Him with childlike faith and receive His gift of eternal life.
Romans 8:6-8 The mind of
sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and
peace;
Romans 5:8 God
commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
1 Corinthians 15:3-6
Christ died for our sins... he was buried... he was raised on the third day
according to the scriptures... he appeared to Peter, then to the twelve.
After that he appeared to more than five hundred...
John 14:6 Jesus said to
him,
I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to
the Father but by me.
Romans 3:24-25
Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for
the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; then we can
know God personally and experience his love.
John 1:12 As many
as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even
to those who believe in his name.
Jesus Christ is waiting for an invitation to come in
to your life. In fact, he says, "Behold, I
stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I
will come in" (Revelation 3:20).
Perhaps you can sense Christ knocking at the door of
your heart. You can invite him in by faith right now. God knows your heart
so it doesn't matter exactly what words you use. Here's a suggestion:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. I Thank you for
coming to earth and dying on the cross to cover my sins. I open my door to you and
ask you to come into my life as my Lord and Savior. Please Lord, forgive
me of my sins. Have mercy upon me Lord, and I pray that you may find me
worthy to escape these things that shall come upon the earth and to stand
before you that coming day. Take control of my life. Guide me toward
the narrow path. Honor and glory be unto you Lord Jesus. In your name I pray.
Amen.
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart,
Jesus will come into your life just as he has promised!
Be aware, judgment will still come!
2Corinthians 5:10 For
we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ; that every one may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be
good or bad.
