God created man to glorify Him (Isaiah 43:7). He wanted man to love and obey Him, but to make it a meaningful love God gave man the free will to either accept or reject Him.

Before the fall (Genesis 3), man had a close fellowship and communion with God. When sin was introduced into the world through Adam's disobedience, a wedge was driven between them. Sinful man could no longer commune with his sinless God. Sin made man as an enemy of God, and God demands that a penalty be paid for sin:

Romans 6:23a The wages of sin is death;

Proverbs 8:36 He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Ezekiel 18:4b The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

The death spoken of in Ezekiel is an eternal separation from God in hell. Hell as a place of torment, a place of punishment that never ends. The Bible shows it is a real place, not just a figurative concept (Luke 16:19-31). The reality of hell should be taken as a warning, a sobering thought which should move a person to seriously consider his fate. It is a tragic mistake to rationalize away the existence of hell.

FACT OF SIN

If it were possible to lead a sinless life then we wouldn't need God's salvation. But the Bible teaches that, through Adam, we all have an inclination to sin. No one can truthfully say he or she leads a sinless life.

Romans 5:12 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 3:23 All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Isaiah 53:6a All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;

Ecclesiastes 7:20 There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Romans 3:10 There is none righteous, no, not one.

1 John 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

Some believe that a person's destiny is determined by the conduct of one's life, that living a "basically decent life" will pass the test. However, the Bible teaches that God will not judge man subjectively based on the degree of sin, or good works. The smallest sin is abhorrent to God, and "fails the test". James 2:10 says, "Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

Our God is holy, meaning He is absolutely, and completely without sin. God's righteous nature precludes Him from coexisting with sin in heaven. Heaven requires righteousness of those going there; a righteousness equal to God's righteousness.

We could logically conclude that since all have sinned we all await an eternal death in Hell. But God was not willing that this happen (II Peter 3:9). His love for man was so complete that he was willing to send a savior, his own son, to accept the punishment of Hell in our place.

John 3:16 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.

Jesus took our sins upon himself, suffered on the cross, and gave his life for us. The price demanded by sin was paid by the blood of Jesus Christ. He bore the consequences of our sins for us. Through Him we can now stand blameless in the sight of God. The standard of righteousness required to enter Heaven has been imputed to us by Christ. Through Jesus we have made peace with God, and are reconciled to Him.

Philippians 3:9 ... not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Romans 5:8-10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

1 John 1:7b And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

II Corinthians 5:21 God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God's goodness into us!

Isaiah 53:6b The Lord hath laid on him (himself) the iniquity of us all.

I John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

Salvation is available to everyone, yet many will never see Heaven. Salvation is a gift from God, but as a gift it must be consciously received (accepted) by us. God still does not force himself on us. As did Adam, we have the free will to accept or reject Him. We accept His gift by believing that Jesus Christ is God and that he has atoned for our sins through his death.

The Bible teaches clearly that salvation is given freely to all that accept it, but it can't be "earned" through good works, obtained through church membership, religious ritual, baptism, confession to priests (I Timothy 2:5), or any other human effort.

Ephesians 2:8-9 By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (A gift is not "earned".)

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.

Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. (No conditions, other than acceptance of Jesus Christ, are put on salvation.)

Romans 3:28 We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

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

Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 5:4-5 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Consider this logic offered in Galatians: If it were possible for a person to enter heaven through his or her own efforts then it would not have been necessary for Christ to suffer the pain and agony of the cross.

Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

A person may be sincerely "religious", and perhaps lead a morally decent life by the world's standards, but is still condemned to hell because of his sin, unless he has received Christ into his heart as his personal savior. The Bible speaks of a "rebirth" into God's family. Jesus says in John 3:3 that a person cannot see the kingdom of God without being born again.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

John 3:18 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.

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

God's gift of salvation must be accepted by faith. The word "believe" means more than an intellectual knowledge of the existence of Christ (even Satan believes Jesus exists -- James 2:19). "Believe" means to trust and rely on Christ totally, versus any other means of obtaining salvation.

Along with the "head" (intellectual) knowledge of God's plan of salvation, there must be true "heart" acceptance of Christ. A manifestation of this acceptance is sincere repentance of sin. The person who admits to God that he or she is a sinner deserving of Hell, and comes to Jesus with a humble spirit, truly repentant of sin, will be saved for all eternity.

Romans 10:9 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.

John 6:37 Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Romans 10:13 Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 11:25 I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

The decision for salvation is of eternal importance. Therefore, we must not misunderstand or be mislead about what the Word of God says about it, nor should we rely on explanations or interpretations of others without searching out God's plan of salvation directly from His Word.

The Bible tells us to "examine ourselves, to see whether we are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5). We may assure ourselves that we are in Christ's family (I John 5:10-13).

Jesus will not turn away any who come to him. He is waiting for us to open our hearts to him.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Revelation 3:20 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.

You are invited to contact any of the pastors if you have questions or desire additional information on what the Bible says about our need for salvation, or God's gracious gift to us.