Christianity is not just a religion. It’s a personal relationship with Jesus. That is what sets it apart from all the religions of the world. God sent Jesus to die for our sins so that whoever decides to believe can be reconciled to God to become His sons and daughters. God wants to be in a relationship with each of us. That is why He created us. We don’t have just a set of beliefs to guide our lives. We have the living God who is our heavenly Father.
God has done the hard part by sending His son Jesus to pay the price for our sins. All we have to do is believe and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. God wants you to come as you are, but He won’t leave you that way. He wants you to spend time with Him so He can change and mold you, but you have to cooperate with Him because He will not force His will on you. You have to want to spend time with Him and allow Him to change you.
You can’t do anything or be good enough to deserve or earn salvation. It’s a free gift from God because He loves each of us. Everyone has the opportunity to be saved. It doesn’t matter how bad your sins are. God will forgive those with a repentant heart. Don’t be afraid to repent. He already knows your sins, but you have to confess to God that you are a sinner and that you need Him to forgive and save you. Those who accept and put their trust in Jesus will be saved.
This is the true Gospel. It is the true meaning and reason why we celebrate Christmas. God sent His Son to Earth as a baby born to a virgin to grow up and live among mankind to reveal the Kingdom of God and pay the full penalty of our sins. He did that so we could be cleansed of our sins and become justified and righteous before God.
It is also the reason we celebrate Easter, better known by Christians as Resurrection Sunday, because Jesus did not stay dead. He rose in total victory and triumph over death, hell, and the grave. One day, God will raise the true believers in Jesus Christ from the dead to be with Him forever. Our victory is in Christ. We serve a living God. He is risen and sits at the right hand of the Father. He is our advocate who intercedes for us in Heaven before the Father. He is our peace, comforter, and healer. He is the Prince of Peace. He is the Holy one of Israel, the root of David and the Son of Man. He will return one day to judge, rule, and reign. Are you ready to meet Him? Do you look forward to His coming? Are you eager to meet the one who loves you so much that He died for you and forgave you of all of your sins? Will you meet Him with anticipation or shame, dread, and great fear?
Get your house in order. Turn your heart to God to accept Jesus today. Time is short. Nothing in this world is worth holding on to. It will all be destroyed by God. The only thing eternal is your relationship with God. Those who have a relationship with God will enjoy eternal life with Him. Those who don’t will suffer greatly for eternity with no hope of repentance or redemption in Hell, then after God’s judgment, the lake of fire. Salvation is for the living. Choose this day who you will serve. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Get ready and be ready to meet Jesus!
Romans 10:9 NIV
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Scripture References:
Isaiah 9:6 NIV
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
John 1:1-3,14 NIV
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in the beginning. [3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. [14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Matthew 10:37-39 NIV
[37] “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. [38] Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [39] Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 7:21 NIV
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Luke 9:23-26 NIV
[23] Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. [25] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? [26] Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
1 Peter 2:24 NIV
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
2 Peter 3:9 NIV
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Hebrews 7:24-25 NIV
[24] but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. [25] Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
1 John 2:1-2 NIV
[1] My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. [2] He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Romans 8:33-34 NIV
[33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV
[8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Peter 3:7 NIV
By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Revelation 1:18 NIV
I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Revelation 22:16 NIV
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
Revelation 20:15 NIV
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Deborah K. Givens, Admin
