Really, what I believe is irrelevant. We can all believe different things. But what is true? The Bible tells us what is true. And here is what it says about you and me.
1. We fall short of God’s requirement for perfection. {Romans 3:23, James 2:10}
All of us sin. {We often do wrong when we should do right, and we don’t do right when we should.}
God is Holy. He requires absolute and complete perfection in order to live with Him in Heaven. Simply put, our “good” will never be good enough. Perfection is the requirement. We don’t stand a chance.
2. The payment for sin is death. {Romans 6:23a}
Essentially, the fruit of our sin is death. Death here on earth as well as eternal death, separated from God. Because God is holy, sin has to be judged.
3. God desires to be our Father instead of our Judge. {Romans 6:23b, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16}
God wants us to be His children*, but He knew we could never be good enough to fulfill the requirements of His holiness. In order to do this, we must be perfect. Absolutely perfect, which no one can do.
*Note: God doesn’t need us, but He desires that none should perish.
Instead of just throwing His Hands up and saying, “Oh well,” God sent Jesus to die and pay for our sin problem. Jesus lived the perfect life {that we could never live} and died the perfect death. He conquered death by rising again on the third day. Hallelujah!
Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of perfection, which satisfied God’s holiness. All of this is a FREE GIFT for you and me.
4. Each us can accept His FREE gift. {Romans 10:9-10, 1 John 1:8-9, Colossians 1:21-22}
No one can make this decision for you. Not your parents. Not your spouse. God wants us each to come to a place where we realize who God is, what Jesus has done {lived, died, and rose again}, and that our sin has made us enemies of God.
In faith, we repent and confess our sins. We humble ourselves before a holy God. We stop making ourselves the god of our lives, and ask God to live through us.
5. We can be sure of eternal life. {Romans 10:13, Colossians 1:21-22}
Anyone who calls on the Name of the Lord is saved. In faith, we confess our sin to Him, ask forgiveness, and accept the FREE gift of Jesus. God is faithful to forgive us, and we become friends and children of the Living God! Praise His Name!
If you read this page and have honest questions about what it means to follow Jesus, please feel free to email me. I welcome honest questions {not arguments and hateful emails}.
~Becky