Are You Saved?
Where Would You Spend Eternity?
If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity? Many people won't give heed to this thought, especially when life is going "well". It is, however, the most important question you can ask yourself. For many, the answer is something along the lines of "I hope Heaven"... For the Christian, the answer is "Without a doubt, Heaven!" (Luke 29:39-43)
Luke 23:39-43
39. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeeing thou art the same condemnation?
41. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Death is Inevitable for All
While eternity may feel far out of reach, and for some, it's not even a reality, we can all agree that death is inevitable for all (Romans 5:12). We may not like to think this is the case, but indeed it is, and when accepted, the opening question becomes that much more crucial. What happens after death for you? If you are unsure, I hope you can find solace in the wonderful answer that God wants to provide you with.
Romans 5:12
12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Salvation
Salvation, being saved, is the acceptance that you are a sinner in need of Jesus (Acts 4:12) to pay the price for your sins (Hebrews 9:28). Knowing that we would never be able to live the perfect life, God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to do just that (John 3:16). What makes Jesus worthy to pay this price? Jesus sacrificed His life by dying on the cross; He was buried and, three days later, rose again, conquering the inevitable death that we all face, as a recompence for our sin. NO one but Jesus has EVER conquered death, let alone, lived a perfect life with all the same temptations as everyone else!
Acts 4:12
12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Hebrews 9:28
28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
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.
We Are ALL Sinners
"But I'm a 'good' person. Why do I need Jesus?" Here lies something that people struggle to accept; we may all agree that we will one day face death, but no one wants to think of themselves as a sinner in need of "saving". Why can't we just live a good life, be a good person, save ourselves? There is no need to be offended by the word "sin" or "sinner" though many are. Even Christians are still sinners. They are no better a person than you or I (Romans 3:9-10). Being a sinner does not mean you are a good or bad person. People can sin and still be a good person, and they can sin and be a very bad person. The point at the end of the day is that if you've sinned, even once in your life, then you are a sinner. Much the same, if you've received a traffic ticket for "California Rolling" through a stop sign, you are a law breaker; you may be a great person, but you are still a law-breaker.
Romans 3:9-10
9. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Your "Good Works" Resume
Why is sin the decision-making point for our eternal fate of Heaven or Hell? What if I've done everything else "right" in my life? We would expect any Judge to heed to the law by appropriating a penalty worthy of the crime committed. A Judge isn't meant to analyze your case based on the merit of your "good works" resume. A Judge looks at the facts concerning the crime and makes a judgement based off that; did you break the law or didn't you? Why would we expect God, the righteous Judge of all the earth, to do any different (Romans 3:20, 23)? Yet, the difference is this, God is the ONLY person that fulfilled the law by condemning sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3) and conquering death. A Judge on earth is NOT above the law, BUT God is! He fulfilled the law, and that is WHY we need Him. He conquered death, He lived a perfect life, He did what WE can NOT do! And He did it because He doesn't want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9); Jesus wants everyone to accept His offer of eternal life by simply accepting that He paid the penalty for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
Romans 3:20, 23
20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 8:3
3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
2 Peter 3:9
9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Why Do You "Need" Jesus?
Just as we shouldn't feel offended by acknowledging that we are sinners, we shouldn't feel offended or ashamed by admitting our need of Jesus. We need the law here on earth as a means to keep "sin" in check. Yet in regards to eternity, sin, and our undeniable tendency to heed to it, is meant to be a tangible example of our need for someone that is above it. Sin cannot have a relationship with Jesus, much like crime cannot have a relationship with the law. The wages of our sin is death (Romans 6:23), just like the wages of a crime committed are jail time, tickets, or fines. Thank God that He fulfilled the law for us in an attempt to reach out and provide a way to restore a relationship with Him (Hebrews 9:27-28); He wiped our record clean (Isaiah 1:18)!
Romans 6:23
23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hebrews 9:27-28
27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Isaiah 1:18
18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Will You Still Sin After Salvation?
Will you still sin after getting saved? Yes, you will still sin. Sin will always be here to tempt us while on earth, but once you are saved, the penalty for your sins (past, present, and future) will have been paid for with the blood of Christ. Accepting God's gift of salvation doesn't change who you are morally; you will still be you, but without the wages of sin looming over you (your "criminal" record has been wiped clean forever!). Salvation doesn't give you a rite of passage to sin, but you will still on many occasions fail (Romans 5:20-21). A heart focus on the Lord after salvation will help you come to a better understanding of who you are and just how awesome God is, even in the presence of sin itself. That focus is what we wish to help all come to a greater understanding of once accepting Jesus as their Savior.
Romans 5:20-21
20. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
It's About A Relationship...with Jesus
At the end of the day, it's about a relationship with Jesus. He wants to get to know you. He wants to have fellowship with you and shower you with His love. God loves us so much that He created us with a free-will choice to accept His offer. He will not force you, but He will forever, until the day you die, be freely extending His offer of eternal life, through the love He demonstrated on the cross, to you. I hope that you make the choice to accept His offer before "death does you part" (John 15:13).
John 15:13
13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.