Truly Believe

                                                         Truly Believe 6.2024       

“Why are we here?”  God created man for a relationship with Him.

Romans 3:23 tells us  ”All men have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  So, to have a relationship with God, there needs to be a way to forgive our sins and wipe our slate clean.     John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Believe in, not just acknowledge, but place your confidence in, rely on, and believe with your heart.” 

 Another problem with sin:  it stands in the way of our Eternal Security. We have to put aside the life-long notion that our good works earn us entry into Heaven.  We’ve been taught that if we’re good--at least better than most people--we can earn favor with God.  But, Isaiah 64:6 says, “we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…”  They can’t begin to compare to Christ’s perfect work on the cross.    

 Something better was needed.  God’s plan of Salvation.  When we believe in God and confess that our sins stand in our way, God wipes our slate clean, takes care of the sin problem, and offers us salvation as a free gift.  Everyone must choose God’s plan of salvation for himself.   In their own time, for their own reason.  In John 6:44 Jesus tells us

This is the definition of being born again.  God comforts us and gives us proof and assurance of our salvation.  1John 5:12&13  ^“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

 This is the Gift of Salvation including spending eternity with Him in Heaven.  You can base your eternity on the fact that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die on the cross to pay the entire penalty for your sins. 

If you believe with all your heart that Christ died on the cross to provide the full and only way to Heaven, you can accept Jesus as your Savior.  I John 5:13 assures us: You will become a child of God and you will know, based on Christ’s sacrifice alone, that you have eternal life. 

 Have you heard the story of the thief on the cross at Jesus’ side? The thief listened, believed that Christ alone was the way to salvation.  He believed and accepted.  A simple decision.  There was nothing else the thief could do--he was nailed to a cross.  No church attendance, no tithes, no good works

 Yet, Jesus’ reply:  Verily, I say to you, “today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43, everyone’s desire. 

 You can do that right now.  Knowing that it’s the accepting that counts, and not the saying, tell God, “Father, I know and confess that I‘ve committed sins that keep me from you and I’m relying on Your gift of Salvation alone to pay for my sins and provide the bridge that brings me to you and your saving grace.”

 In John 6:44, Jesus tells us “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draws him: and I will raise him up at the last day”       Is God calling you?