Acceptors and Rejectors

 

All of humanity can be placed into one of two camps, Acceptors or Rejectors. There are only two. We either ACCEPT the forgiveness of God, or we REJECT his forgiveness. There is no in-between. As sinners, we all fall short of God’s glory. And with any sin, there are consequences. But God, through his never-ending grace, mercy and love, gives us a clear path for redemption.

The Biblical Account of the Two Thieves

Jesus took his cross willingly and traveled to the top of Calvary to be crucified. That was the purpose of his life, to drink of the cup and bear all the sins of the world. His cross was placed in the center of two men that were also being crucified for thievery. They are famously known as the “two thieves.” Both were criminals that deserved to die upon their crosses based upon the law of their day. Neither man was “good” or “righteous.” The day they were nailed to their crosses, was the last day they were going to spend on earth, facing death in their sins.

But as they hung upon their crosses, agonizing in horrible, unimaginable pain, they still were given one final choice to make. Staring at death, looking it square in the eye, one thief mocked Jesus, joining in with the crowd below, who were screaming things like, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” This unrepentant criminal angrily said to Jesus, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” The other thief, knowing that Jesus was an innocent man rebuked the other by saying, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” He then cried out to the Lord, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Two men, facing death, had one final choice to make. One had hatred in his heart and was unrepentant for his crimes to the very end. The other knew he was a sinful man, committed crimes that warranted death, but was repentant and had faith in his heart that Jesus was the final judge of his eternal soul. Until that moment, neither man was worthy of forgiveness. They were criminals that could never do anything through their own works to get to heaven and abide forever with God. But through faith in God’s promise, he sent his Son to take our place on a cross to wipe away every sin for those who are repentant and accept him as Lord and Savior.

We Are the Same

Each and every one of us cannot do enough good works in our lives to earn our way into heaven. We are exactly the same as the two thieves, unrighteous and unworthy. God’s Word tells us that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags,” (Isaiah 64:6). The apostle Paul explained that we cannot do anything to save ourselves, but our salvation comes only as a result of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8–9). Then he proclaimed that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10; see also 2 Corinthians 3:5).

So please remember, as we travel through this life, there is always a choice given to us by God. Through his immense Grace, Love and Mercy, he gave us the one, true way to abide with him forever…through his perfect, sinless Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus went willingly to his cross and shed his blood for every one of us. He made the payment, in full! But we need to accept that sacrifice, with our own free will and repent of our sins. What is stopping you from coming to the Savior? I pray that you listen for God’s small, quiet but powerful voice in your heart today. He is calling you in love!

Has God Revealed Himself to the World?

“If there really is a God, why doesn’t he just show himself clearly and prove to everyone that he is real?”

Have you ever heard this question? Or, have you uttered it yourself?

This and similar questions have been asked by millions of people throughout the ages. It is a valid, important question that should be asked. If God were actually real, wouldn’t he show himself to the world? And wouldn’t he give us answers about the meaning of life?

Shockingly to many…he has shown himself to us, with perfect clarity. God has clearly communicated his deity to us and we have refutable evidence of the one, true God. While the Christian faith is indeed a belief through faith, it is not a blind faith. God rewards our faith with a knowledge and understanding of his being. Our faith begins with God’s calling. Every human being has been designed to feel God’s calling in our soul. And we are to seek him. But there is the key, “have we seeked him?” The Bible tells us that he calls on each and every one of us. “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Matthew 7:8 “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

In this article, it is my hope and prayer that I can clearly show you how God has revealed himself through his creation (our universe) and his unchanging Holy Word (The Bible). He tells us who he is and seals any doubt through fulfilled prophecy. As to the WHY God shows himself to his creation through these somewhat mysterious means? I believe it is our gift of freewill. God gives us absolute freedom to either choose him or not. He wants us to come to him in Faith, freely. We are not programmed robots. Each and every one of us is called upon, and it is up to us whether we seek and follow him, or not. And through faith, he opens up the knowledge of his perfect will and love.

Part 1 – The Universe Itself is Evidence of Design

Look around you. Now look at yourself, closely. Do you believe you are just an accident and have no purpose? That somehow you evolved from a sea sponge over millions of years (with not one shred of evidence)? And everything that sustains you and all life is nothing but a random act? With just a few illustrations we can begin to see proof of a wonderful, all-powerful creator.

Illustration 1: If the Earth were much smaller, its atmosphere would be impossible to sustain life (e.g. Mercury and the moon); if much larger the atmosphere would contain free hydrogen (e.g. Jupiter and Saturn). Its distance from the sun is correct—even a small change would make it too hot or too cold. Our moon, probably responsible for the continents and ocean basins, is unique in our solar system and seems to have originated in a way quite different from the other relatively much smaller moons. The tilt of the [earth’s] axis insures the seasons, and so on.

Illustration 2: Our DNA code informs and programs our cells behavior. All instruction, teaching and training comes with intent. Someone who writes an instruction manual does so with purpose. Did you know that in every cell of our bodies there exists a very detailed instruction code, much like a miniature computer program? As you may know, a computer program is made up of ones and zeros, like this: 110010101011000. The way they are arranged tell the computer program what to do. The DNA code in each of our cells is very similar. It’s made up of four chemicals that scientists abbreviate as A, T, G, and C. These are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on. There are three billion of these letters in every human cell!

Well, just like you can program your phone to beep for specific reasons, DNA instructs the cell. DNA is a three-billion-lettered program telling the cell to act in a certain way. It is a full instruction manual. Why is this so amazing? One has to ask….how did this information program wind up in each human cell? These are not just chemicals. These are chemicals that instruct, that code in a very detailed way exactly how the person’s body should develop.

Natural, biological causes are completely lacking as an explanation when programmed information is involved. You cannot find instruction, precise information like this, without someone intentionally constructing it.

Illustration 3: A stone wall. Rocks falling in a landslide never form a properly placed, neat, uniform stone wall. Rather, such a stone wall proves design and a designer. So the world, in all its perfection and design, must have had a Designer. Stated in the form of syllogism the argument is as follows:

• Major Premise: Design presupposes an intelligent architect.
• Minor Premise: The world shows evidence of design in every part.
• Therefore: The world has a designer or intelligent architect, who is God

There is beauty in the universe and human beings have a unique ability to appreciate it. From whence comes this correspondence between the beauty in creation and the ability of man to appreciate it? This indicates design, intelligence, personality, and so, God.

Part 2 – The Biblical Evidence

Perhaps because it is so evident everywhere, no writer of Scripture, Old or New Testament, attempts to set down arguments for the existence of God. It is a fact taken for granted. The Bible simply begins with “In the beginning God” (Gen. 1:1), and nowhere is His existence argued. Why? Because of the abundant evidence in the universe for the existence of God (Psalm 19:1-4), and because they that come to God must believe that He is. God is perceived primarily by faith as a result of positive choice (see John 18:37; 7:17; Jer. 29:13).

Heb. 11:6  “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

The Testimony of Jesus Christ

The strongest evidence for God’s existence in the Bible comes from Jesus Christ Himself. Let it be stated clearly, to deny the existence of the God of the Bible is to repudiate the Christ of Scripture. In the Word of God we are told of His Son who came to reveal God to men, John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” And Jesus does state clearly throughout scripture that he and God the Father are One: John 6:37-40; John 10:24-30; John 4:25-26; John 8:56-58; Matthew 16:15-17; Matthew 26:63-64; Luke 22:70; John 10:36-38.

Jesus tells his apostles in John, Chapter 14, “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” Philip not quite understanding the amazing revelation Jesus just gave them then asks: “Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” Jesus answers, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

What an incredible revelation! In reading about the life of Christ (and we have four, full, perfect accounts), every action he takes, every  miracle he performs, every Word he speaks, is of God. We see exactly how God thinks, acts, and loves. We can understand fully what God wants from us. There is no doubt or fuzziness in what God wants form all of us, his creation. Jesus (who is God himself) is very clear and very precise with God’s plan.

Why is the Word of Jesus to be believed? He did what people can’t do. Jesus performed miracles. He healed people…blind, crippled, deaf, even raised a couple of people from the dead. He had power over objects…created food out of thin air, enough to feed crowds of several thousand people. He performed miracles over nature…walked on top of a lake, commanding a raging storm to stop for some friends. People everywhere followed Jesus, because he constantly met their needs, doing the miraculous. He said if you do not want to believe what I’m telling you, you should at least believe in me based on the miracles you’re seeing. And if that was not enough, he rose from the dead as he claimed he would…and over 500 people were witness to his risen body.

God’s Promises

Looking at the Scriptures, we see that God has been eager to show that he is real and we can rely 100% on him.

Genesis 3: God issues the first promise to rescue the drowning human race.

Genesis 6: God promises to save Noah from the calamity to come… and does.

… God saves Joseph.

… God saves the entire Jewish people from slavery to Egypt through a powerful demonstration.

… God saves Jerusalem from Assyria.

… God returns the Jews from captivity.

There are many more instances where God makes a promise to save and then keeps it. He makes promises about many things, and keeps them, to show that when Jesus- having demonstrated that he is God himself- makes the promise to save, he not only intends to keep that promise, but has the power to do so.  This is emphatically demonstrated one more time by the resurrection from the dead. Christian faith is a trust in God and his character, which he has documented for us over the eons.

The Miraculous Fulfillment of Prophecy

The Word of God is the most unique book ever written. It accurately foretells specific events in detail, many years and sometimes centuries before they happen. Over 2,500 prophecies appear in the Bible with more than 2,000 of them being fulfilled to the letter with no errors. The odds for all these prophecies having been fulfilled by chance without error is less than one in 10²⁰⁰⁰ (that is 1 with 2,000 zeros written after it)!

Specific prophesies are conspicuously absent from the 26 other religious books that claim to be scripture, including the Muslim’s Koran, the Book of Mormon, the Hindu Vedas, and Buddhist writings. This in itself should be a major eye-opener to the honest skeptic. God through the prophet Isaiah once challenged the pagan idolaters of that time to “tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods (Isaiah 41:23).”

Here are just a few of the prophecies that have been fulfilled:

1) Daniel’s Prophecy of the Messiah

Some time before 500 BC, the prophet Daniel proclaimed that Israel’s long-awaited Messiah would begin his public ministry 483 years after the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25-26). He further predicted that the Messiah would be “cut off,” killed, and that this event would take place prior to a second destruction of Jerusalem. Abundant documentation shows that these prophecies were perfectly fulfilled in the life (and crucifixion) of Jesus Christ. The decree regarding the restoration of Jerusalem was issued by Persia’s King Artaxerxes to the Hebrew priest Ezra in 458 BC, 483 years later the ministry of Jesus Christ began in Galilee. (Remember that due to calendar changes, the date for the start of Christ’s ministry is set by most historians at about AD 26. Also note that from 1 BC to AD 1 is just one year.) Jesus’ crucifixion occurred only a few years later, and about four decades later, in AD 70 came the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus. Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 10⁵

2) The Birthplace of the Messiah

In approximately 700 BC, the prophet Micah named the tiny village of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Israel’s Messiah (Micah 5:2). The fulfillment of this prophecy in the birth of Christ is one of the most widely known and widely celebrated facts in history. Probability of chance fulfillment = 1 in 10⁵

3) The Messiah’s Death by Crucifixion

Some 400 years before crucifixion was invented, both Israel’s King David and the prophet Zechariah described the Messiah’s death in words that perfectly depict that mode of execution. Further, they said that the body would be pierced and that none of the bones would be broken, contrary to customary procedure in cases of crucifixion (Psalm 22 and 34:20; Zechariah 12:10). Again, historians and New Testament writers confirm the fulfillment: Jesus of Nazareth died on a Roman cross, and his extraordinarily quick death eliminated the need for the usual breaking of bones. A spear was thrust into his side to verify that he was, indeed, dead.

4) Elijah’s Departure

The day of Elijah’s supernatural departure from Earth was predicted unanimously—and accurately, according to the eye-witness account—by a group of fifty prophets (2 Kings 2:3-11).

5) Prophecy of Jericho

Joshua prophesied that Jericho would be rebuilt by one man. He also said that the man’s eldest son would die when the reconstruction began and that his youngest son would die when the work reached completion (Joshua 6:26). About five centuries later this prophecy found its fulfillment in the life and family of a man named Hiel (1 Kings 16:33-34).

6) Israel Will Once Again Become a Nation and the Jews will Return Back to Jerusalem

The rebirth of Israel as a nation-state is the most tangible piece of evidence today that God exists and is faithful to His promises. In Isaiah 43:5-6, the prophet Isaiah said that the Jews would return to their homeland from the east, the west, the north and the south. Isaiah lived about 2700 years ago. At that time, the Assyrians had forced many Jews in the northern kingdom of Israel into exile. Those Jews were taken to other areas in the Middle East. Then, about 1900 years ago, the Romans destroyed the city of Jerusalem and killed and exiled hundreds of thousands of Jews. Since then, the Jews have been scattered to virtually every country in the world. But, during the past century, millions of Jews have returned to Israel, from the east, the west, the north and the south.

In Zechariah 8:7-8, the prophet said God would bring the Jews back from the east and the west to their homeland (Israel) and that they would be able to live in the city of Jerusalem again. This prophecy has been fulfilled more than once. About 2600 years ago, Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and took many Jews as captives to Babylon. But many Jews later returned from Babylon. The Jews rebuilt Jerusalem but the city was destroyed about 1900 years ago by the Romans. The Romans killed more than 1 million Jews and forced many more into exile. The Jews did not have control of Jerusalem again until 1967 when the Jews recaptured the city during the Six Day War.

These are just 6 prophecies that have been fulfilled. Out of over 200! There are dozens more that have YET to be fulfilled. And as of this writing, we are in smack dab in the middle of a handful of biblical prophecies that are unfolding and being fulfilled right now! (I’ll touch them in a later entry)

Part 3 – An Important Decision

If you are still one that claims God does not exist because there just isn’t any evidence…please look deeper. Have you made a purposeful decision not to seek him? If you did search for him with an honest and longing heart, he will reveal himself to you. God does not hide his truth from anyone. His desire is that ALL will one day be with him.

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-4).

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

The majority of people that run from God are very afraid that they will loose everything they THINK is important in their life…sex, booze, money, drugs, gambling, etc. Is this you?  The sobering reality is this, you will be gaining everything that is meaningful and important not only in this life, but for all eternity the moment you accept Jesus Christ into your heart. We are sinners by nature. We desire sinful things like money, pornography, zero accountability… Why do we constantly desire the things that ruin our lives? Short term pleasures that eventually lead to divorce, bankruptcy, losing our children…so many roads lead to destruction. Evil is very real in our world and it wants to take us very far away from the love, light and truth of the universe.

Are you are tired of that endless road to nowhere? Has sin encompassed everything that you are? Are you finally ready to say, ENOUGH! I cannot go on this way another day. Are you afraid of death and the unknown…where will you go if you died tomorrow? You will die one day. I was there myself, tired of living in sin and being let down by one thing after another in this life. Are you ready to be set free of your bondage in sin? There is a way.

The Bible tells us that we are all sinners in need of repentance and that we all fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). And our good deeds will not save us (Eph 2:8-9). But there is a clear path that God has given us. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” AMEN!  Jesus tells us, John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus also comforts those that come to him in Faith: Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light”

Jesus Christ is the one, true way to a happy, fulfilling  life and the assurance that you are going to heaven. The Bible shows us the steps that we must take for that assurance. May I encourage you to purchase (or even borrow) a Bible (preferably a King James Version), and read the Gospel of John and the Book of Romans. Allow the words to sink into your heart. You will see and feel God pulling and guiding you in love. When you are ready to accept Jesus as your Savior, and it has to come from your heart, get down on your knees follow these important life changing steps:

1. Realize that you are a sinner and fall short of God’s glory, and you are in need of a Savior. (see Romans 3:23).
2. Recognized that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. (see Romans 5:8).
3. Repent in your heart and turn away from your sins. (see Acts 3:19).
4. Receive Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. (see Revelation 3:20).

God Bless You!

If you need encouragement and prayer, please leave a request in the box below.

Why Go to Church?

Biblical and Practical Reasons to Go to Church

Warren Mueller examines many of the excuses why people don’t go to church , and answers each with biblical and practical reasons in favor of going to church.

Why Go To Church?

Every Sunday many people go to church while others are sleeping or engaged in other weekend activities. Since our weekends are limited, should we spend part of it in church? Let’s look at some of the popular reasons for not going first.

Excuse:  Church is boring.
“It is repetitious, predictable and a meaningless ritual. I would rather sleep in. I work hard all week and I deserve it!”

Answer:  Church is repetitious but so is life. The days of our lives are structured around cycles of work, eating, family and recreation times. Any of these activities can become boring if we don’t strive to find something interesting or enjoyable about them. Sunday mornings at church are a time to make new friends and renew old ones; to learn about the Bible and share problems as well as to thank God for another week of life.

The objective in going to church is to seek to build our relationship with God and others. Many people go to church to fulfill an obligation through some ritual and so are reduced to actions without meaning. Church worship is all about an encounter with God and others that changes who we are. Not going to church on a Sunday morning because you deserve a sleep-in does not explain why you miss church on Saturday or Sunday night. The problem is much deeper than the time of the day – it is a matter of selfishness.

Excuse: Why bother going to church when all they want is money!?

Answer:  If you choose to get involved in any kind of group, be it the PTA, Boy Scouts or whatever, it will cost you in time and money. It is true that, if you don’t get involved in anything, you will have maximum control of your time and money. However, you will miss friendships and opportunities to be a good influence in the lives of others. Each of us decides where to spend our time and money. Each of us will either invest it in some purpose or waste it on the pleasures of the moment. Jesus said that there is an eternal investment that will not fade, rust or decay when we do good works that show our love for God and others (Matthew 6:19-20).

Ponder this! You do not control your life. You cannot guarantee that you will be alive the next week, day, hour or moment. Human life is a gift from God and He controls the measure of it (Psalm 139:16). Our intelligence, talents and appearance are largely determined by genetics (which is to say by God who made us individually unique). Therefore, who we are, when and where we are born, how long we live, etc., are all gifts from God. Is it unreasonable for God to ask for a portion of it to acknowledge Him and His sovereignty?

Excuse: Church is unnecessary since private prayer and Bible study can be done without others.

Answer:  The Bible says that believers must not keep apart from other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). It is true that we are influenced and become like the people we associate with. Also, by getting together, common beliefs are affirmed and ways to overcome problems are shared. There are three spiritual pillars to have a strong Christian life: personal prayer, Bible study and fellow believers. To rely on less than all three is like trying to sit on a one or two-legged stool. Three legs are needed for a firm foundation and proper function.

Excuse: Churches impose a bunch of rules and then make you feel guilty if you don’t measure up.

Answer:  One of the biggest reasons for the breakdown of families is the lack of moral standards. Most people who call themselves Christians cannot even say the Ten Commandments much less live by them. Without moral standards, it is easier to do your own thing and not feel guilty about it. Guilt is part of our conscience and is a gift from God to help us do good.

It is true that sometimes people make us feel guilty. During these times it is important to seek God’s view through prayer and reading the Bible. This means it is necessary to be familiar with the Bible enough to discern whether others are making us feel guilty or if God is trying to get our attention. I am convinced that there are many Christians who are doing good works out of guilt rather than because they want to love and serve God.

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20

In closing, attending church is a vital part of nourishing your spiritual self which brings you closer to God and closer to living the life that God desires for you. Have you ever walked out of a church service and felt as if it was a mistake? Of course not, it is just the opposite. Your spiritual battery is recharged and your walk with Jesus Christ is strengthened tenfold. God bless!

The Five Facts Of Your Life

Written and contributed by George J. Rovnan Jr.

 

Fact #1: You Are A Sinner

The first fact that you need to realize in life is that you are a natural-born sinner, a natural transgress or against God:

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

“As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5)

Most people have the false idea that we all LEARN to be sinners as we grow older and are influenced by evil, but this isn’t true. God’s word declares that we are all sinners by nature. We are all transgressors against God.

Fact #2: You Are Going to Die

Death isn’t a very popular subject, but it is certainly a very REAL subject. Sooner or later, your heart will beat for the last time, your loved ones will mourn over your passing, and your body will be laid to rest in a grave. It’s a fact of life. People die, and the Bible tells us WHY:

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Why do people die? People die because people are SINNERS. Do you remember the story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden? It wasn’t until AFTER they had sinned that they were subject unto death. God told them in Genesis 2:17 that they would “die” when they ate of the forbidden fruit. Before man had sinned, he was ABOVE death, not subject unto it. Today, however, we are all sinners, because we have all inheirted our sin nature from Adam. We must all die, just as Adam died (Genesis 5:5).

Fact #3: You Will Be Judged

God is the All-powerful Creator, the Supreme Commander of the Universe. He is in complete control of all people, places, and things, so no one should think it unreasonable that God intends to judge all men. We must all give account to our Maker.

“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

It may be a terrifying thought, but it is still the truth: YOU will stand before God and you will be judged by Him. Every sin that you have ever committed will be revealed–EVERY SECRET SIN! You may have managed to hide many things from your fellow man, but you have hid NOTHING from God. He knows all things, and He will hold you accountable. You WILL be judged.

Fact #4: You Cannot Save Yourself

When God judges this world, millions upon millions of people are going to be absolutely SHOCKED to find out that NO ONE–ABSOLUTELY NO ONE–was able to earn their way into Heaven. People have the false idea that they’ll be permitted to enter Heaven as long as they “do more good works than bad.” The word of God tells us just the opposite:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:5)

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

The “good works” that you do are only good in YOUR eyes. In God’s sight, you are a hopeless sinner, and your works are totally unacceptable. If you are counting on your own righteousness to save you, then you are setting yourself up for a very big disappointment.

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 10:3-4)

The Bible clearly states that we are all cursed with sin, and that we are all totally incapable of earning our salvation by our own righteousness. Friend, unless your SINS are removed, God will NOT accept you. You are hopeless.

Fact #5: Your Only Hope Is The Lord Jesus Christ

When you are ready to accept the fact that you are a lost and dying sinner and that your “good works” are unacceptable to God, then you can begin to see your need for Jesus Christ. He came into this world to lay down His sinless life for YOU — to pay for your sins, because you couldn’t. Jesus is your only hope for salvation. Only by receiving Him as your Savior can you enter the gates of Heaven. There is no other way.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6)

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

The Lord Jesus Christ has come and PAID for your sins by shedding His own Blood on Calvary. By receiving Him as your Savior, you can be WASHED from all your sins in His precious Blood (Rev. 1:5; Col. 1:14; Acts 20:28; I Pet. 1:18-19)

Notice these important words from Romans 5:8-9:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Jesus PAID your way to Heaven for you! By receiving Him as your Savior, you will be receiving God’s ONLY means of Salvation for you. Are you willing to forsake YOUR righteousness and receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, your ONLY HOPE for Salvation?

Romans 10:13 says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Are you willing to forsake your own righteousness, and ask Jesus Christ to save you? Why not pray right now and ask the Lord to come into your heart and cleanse you from all sin. He will save you just as He promised. That’s a fact. Why not receive Him today?

Why is Jesus the Only Way?

I get this question and other similar questions asked from time to time…from Christians, other religious denominations, atheists, agnostics, etc. “Why is Jesus the only way to heaven?” “Why are Christians so conceited that they believe out of the all the religions in the world, they have found the one true religion?”  These are great questions. And they are very important to ask. Did you know that God actually wants us to ask these questions? And that he wants us to seek those answers? He created us to seek the truth. He desires for us to seek it and to not blindly follow others. Christianity is all about faith, but it is not a blind faith.

Jesus Claimed He Was the Son of God

There is a big misconception in the world from people that firmly believe Jesus Christ lived at one point, but they do not believe he was/is the Son of God. I read and hear statements like these fairly often: “He was just a great, moral teacher.” or “Jesus was all about love and was just a good man, nothing more.” In his famous book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis makes this statement, “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg–or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.

So please take note, from the very start, Jesus Christ makes the claim that he is indeed the Son of God. We relate his claim and the claim of the New Testament writers. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6, NASB) and, “For unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins” (John 8:24, NASB). No other world religious leader, such as Buddha, Confucius, or Mohammed ever made this claim.

The Real, Tangible, Penalty of Sin

Let us look again at these words spoken by Jesus, “For unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins.”

What are these sins he speaks of? Are you a sinner? I know it is hard to admit for many, but if you were to be completely honest, you would say yes. But for those that say, I never killed anyone, I never cheated on my wife or husband, I’m a good person and I love my friends and family…hold on a second. Most people,  especially here in America think of themselves as generally good. And we like to compare ourselves to those that do terrible crimes. Murderers, bank robbers, terrorists, rapists…sure, we look pretty peachy next to these folks. And boy, do we like to strut around in all our pride knowing this.

But let’s dig a little deeper. Maybe we haven’t commited a major crime, but what about all the smaller offences that we keep in secret. Things that other people know nothing about. Have you ever stolen a pen from work or cheated a little on your tax return? That would make you a thief. If you are a married person, have you ever looked with lust upon another individual? That would make you an adulterer. Have you ever envied a neighbor, family member or friend that has a brand new sports car or a bigger house, or anything that was nicer than what you posess? That would make you a coveter. Get the picture? These are all sins. We all sin because we are not perfect in any way. And according to the Bible, our sins keep us from living eternally with God, who is perfect. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 5:12)

This is where Jesus Christ enters the picture and why he desires to enter your life. Jesus had one mission…to free every person from their sins. In order to do this he had to live as a man, suffer as a man, die as a man, and raise from the dead…as God. He was perfect, and only a perfect sacrifice can atone for us and stand in for our sinful ways. His life, suffering, death and ressurection were witnessed by hundreds and hundreds of people. His mission, as radical as it was to the Jewish people, was taught perfectly and revealed precisely to God’s plan so that the Gospel message would be able to reach everyone.  Paul writes: “3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” (Corinthians 15:3-8)

The Witnesses

Please notice what Paul has written. Christ not only appeared to the apostles, but to over 500 bretheren at once. This must be taken into serious account. Christianity is still alive and well 2000 years later because of the power of the Holy Spirit which led the first Christians (and all Christians since then) to spread the Gospel of truth during a time of tremendous fear and persecution. Look at the amazing change in the disciples who not long before “all forsook Him, and fled” (Mark 14:50), which is quite the impregnable evidence for His resurrection. The disciples and many other believers had actually seen and touched and eaten with Him so they knew He was alive, and their testimony had converted many. Most convincing of all, perhaps, was the fact of the empty tomb and the complete inability of the authorities to locate the supposedly dead body. They had tried everything else to stop the preaching of His resurrection, whereas simply displaying His body would have been enough. But this they could not do—Jesus was alive and at the right hand of God in heaven!

John writes in his Gospel: “24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:24-25)

We cannot wave our hand at the testimonies of the first disciples of Christ and simply make them go away by calling them a bunch of fairy tales. We need to actually take into account these first-hand eye-witnesses, and we have to fully understand that many of them were martyred and severely persecuted for their testimony and zealousness for wanting to spread the truth, as they were commanded by Christ himself. Remember, the Romans, the Greeks, etc. had their gods, which were backed by huge armies of that time period. Where are those gods today? How is it even possible that a humble man from Nazareth were to emerge from all of that and not be stifled. There were many, many men that claimed to be the Messiah of the Jewish Tanakh (the Old testament) in those days. They came and went. Only one man fulfilled over 350 of the prophecies, exactly, Jesus Christ.

Christianity versus all other religions

Christianity clearly separates itself from every other religion (as truth separates itself from a multitude of lies). It is separated because of one, simple difference…you cannot attain eternity with God through your own actions and deeds. And that it is only possible through faith and a personal belief that Jesus Christ died for our sins and is the one, true way to heaven. Every other religion requires you to do something. That your good deeds will somehow outweigh your bad deeds. But how can you possibly know when you lived a life “good enough” to please God? And to make things more confusing, because the morals of mankind are relative, how do we even know right from wrong? One person’s sin is another person’s right, for example: abortion. Ask yourself, can I do enough good deeds in my life to actually please a perfect, loving God? Are my daily action and deeds perfect?

Thankfully, God explains to us our sinful nature and how each and every sin can be washed away: “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) There is no mere “religion” in all the world like this. Our actions do not save us, but our faith and belief in Jesus Christ as the one, true Son of God will!

The Revelation of God through his Word

Please ask these questions to yourself, “If there is a God of the universe, wouldn’t he give us a sign or a clue as to who and what he is?” “Why would he keep himself a mystery?” God is not a mystery and he has clearly revealed himself to us. The Old Testament and the New Testament were written by 40 authors over a period of 1500 years. It is inspired by God himself so that we can understand his purpose and our purpose. When the apostles asked Jesus about God the father, Jesus explained to them that if they know him (Jesus) they will know the Father. “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” (John 14:7) Christ tells us how to find God the Father, and it is through his Holy Word.

If you are earnestly seeking the truth, I encourage you to read the words of Christ himself. Pick up a Bible (preferably a King James Version) and start with the Gospel of John. If you are earnest, I know God will open up his truth to your heart. And his truth will be your salvation! God wants you to seek him. God wants you to find him. Please study and read the history on all those “other religions” in the world and compare them to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It will be as clear as the difference between light and darkness.

If you have any questions about this article, or would love to get more information on how you can have true salvation through Jesus Christ, please leave your email in the comments box below. God Bless!