Years ago, I was confronted with the question: Henry, if you were to die today, and you were to stand before God in heaven, the Judge of all the earth, and HE asked you, “Why should I let you into MY beautiful and perfect heaven,” what would you say? I didn’t have the answer. I didn’t even know that it was possible to know 100% for sure, without a shadow of doubt that you were a child of God and on your way to heaven. I believe that a lot of people are like I was back then, hoping to get to God by living a good life, and doing enough good to earn God’s love. But, the Bible shows us clearly that we can know that we are on our way to heaven, and do not have to doubt any longer.

I John 5:13 – “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…”

Let me walk you through the Gospel message of the Bible:

THE GRAVITY

Number one: the DESIRE for God is for all men to be saved (I Timothy 2:4 and II Peter 3:9). Unfortunately, the desire comes as a result of many being lost. Let me first define for you what it means to be lost according to the Scriptures, and by the conclusion, you will see what it means to be saved. A person is said to be lost when they have been separated from a destination or a person. The destination that we are separated from is heaven and the Person is God, the Lord Jesus Christ. We have only one life, and God desires for us to be saved in this lifetime so that we are not lost forever.

Number two: DEATH awaits every man. The Bible says that “it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).” How do we come to this judgment? It will be through the resurrection. John 5:28-29 says, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear HIS [Jesus’] voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

Number three: the two DESTINATIONS for any man is heaven or hell. God’s standard for heaven is perfection. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). The problem is that none of us are perfect. The Bible explains that we were born into sin. We are both sinners by nature, and sinners by practice. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

• Problem #1: God demands perfection for heaven and we are not perfect.

You cannot get there by keeping the law: “For by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in HIS sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20 and Galatians 2:16).

You cannot get there by your works, such as baptism, church membership, Lord’s Supper: “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 and Titus 3:5).

You cannot get there by doing good: “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” (Romans 10:3).

• Problem #2: We cannot get to heaven by our own means.

Number four: the DETERMINATION on if you go to heaven or hell is based on what you do with Christ. John 3:16-18 – “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. For God sent not HIS Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through HIM might be saved. He that believeth on HIM is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

THE GRACE

What did Jesus Christ do for us that we should believe in HIM? Once we figure that out, then we will know what grace means. I want you to notice three things about this grace that God gives:

Number one: Jesus Christ was SINLESS. The Bible says, concerning Jesus, the Son of God, that HE was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). The only way that Jesus could do that is because HE was God in the flesh. “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (II Corinthians 5:19). God wanted you to be saved so much that HE came to save you Himself.

Number two: Jesus Christ was our SUBSTITUTE. Our sins had a high price tag. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Jesus said, “If ye believe not that I am HE, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). The reason why we need to understand that Christ was our substitute is that there is a penalty for our sins, and only Christ could pay that penalty, and HE did.

Isaiah 53:4-5 – “Surely HE hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet did we esteem HIM stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But HE was wounded for our transgressions, HE was bruised for our iniquities: and the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM; and with HIS stripes we are healed.”

John the Baptist called Jesus, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Peter says concerning Jesus, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in HIS mouth: Who, when HE was reviled, reviled not again; when HE suffered, HE threatened not; but committed Himself to HIM that judgeth righteously: Who HIS own self bare our sins in HIS own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed” (I Peter 2:22-24).

Friend, Jesus Christ was tried scourged, beaten, and hung on an old rugged Roman cross for every one of your sins, past, present, and future. You need to understand that HE hung on that cross as a condemned criminal in YOUR place – HE was sinless, but we were not.

Number three: Jesus Christ SATISFIED the judgment of God for us all. HIS resurrection from the dead was proof of the satisfied payment for our sins (I Corinthians 15:1-6; Colossians 2:13-15). Ephesians 1:6-7 – “To the praise of the glory of HIS grace, wherein HE hath made us accepted in the beloved. In Whom we have redemption through HIS blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of HIS grace.”

THE GOOD NEWS

The Good News is that this salvation is available to anyone. Here is what you have to do:

Romans 10:9 – “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.” That is a promise of Scripture. Verse 10 says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you do that, my friend, the Bible calls you a child of God, and I welcome you into the family. “But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on HIS name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).

Contact us and tell us if you have made the decision to trust Christ alone, I would love to help you in your walk as a Christian.