“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, and that ye may
believe on the name of the Son of God.”
1 John 5:13
How do we define a Christian?
Is it someone who:
1.
Believes in Jesus?
2.
Believes in the Bible?
3.
Goes to church?
4.
Gives their tithe?
5.
Is an American?
The most popular reason for making it to heaven is, “I’m a good person.”
Sin separates us from God
Everyone is
guilty
“All we like sheep have gone
astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid
on him the iniquity of us all.”
(Isa. 53:6)
“For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God;”
(Rom. 3:23)
All wrongdoing is sin
“For whosoever shall keep the
whole law, and yet offend in one point,
he is guilty of all.” (James
2:10)
Heaven is God’s gift to you!!
“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)
The translation and definition for grace by Strong’s concordance is:
5485 charis {khar'-ece}
from 5463; TDNT - 9:372,1298; n f
AV - grace 130, favour 6, thanks 4, thank 4, thank + 2192 3, pleasure
2, misc 7; 156
1) grace 1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness,
charm, loveliness: grace of speech 2) good will, loving-kindness, favour
2a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence
upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in
Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise
of the Christian virtues 3) what is due to grace 3a) the spiritual
condition of one governed by the power of divine grace 3b) the token or
proof of grace, benefit 3b1) a gift of grace 3b2) benefit, bounty 4)
thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward.
“For the wages of sin
is death; but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
God loves you unconditionally!!
“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.” (John 3:16)
“Greater love
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
(John 15:13)
“For when we were yet without
strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
(Rom. 5:6)
Who is Jesus?
“In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.” (John 1:1)
“And the Word was made flesh,
and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
(John 1:14)
“And Thomas answered and said
unto him, My LORD and my God.”
(John 20:28)
“Looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ;” (Tit. 2:13)
What He did
Paid for my sins:
“But he
was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon
him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
(Isa. 5:33)
Offers me eternal life:
“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.”
(John 3:16)
Offers me abundant life here:
“The thief cometh not, but for
to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have
life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
(John 10:10)
Offers me fellowship:
“Behold, I stand at the door,
and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in
to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
(Rev. 3:21)
“Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
(Matt. 28:20)
Completed His Father’s work:
“When Jesus therefore had
received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head,
and gave up the ghost.” (John
19:30)
We are saved by faith!
For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:”
(Eph. 2:8)
“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.”
(Heb. 11:6)
“And they said, Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
(Acts 16:31)
We are encouraged to:
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Cor. 13:5)
Food for thought
Can you remember back to when you accepted God’s gift, Jesus, as your
personal Lord and Savior?
Do you remember what life was like before you came to know Him?
Have you had the opportunity to know someone, before and after their
conversion, and the life changing power of Christ in their life?