I. ETERNAL LIFE IS A FREE GIFT.
The Bible says ,
"...the GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." [Romans 6:23b]
And because eternal life is a gift like any other genuine gift...
IT IS NOT EARNED OR DESERVED.
Therefore, NO amount of personal effort, good works, or religious deeds can earn a place in God's eternal kingdom for you.
The Bible says,
"By Grace you are saved through Faith, and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the GIFT of
God. NOT OF WORKS, so that no one can boast." [Ephesians 2:8-9]
WHY is it that no one can
earn eternal life?
Because....
II. MAN IS A SINNER.
The Bible Says,
"ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." [Romans 3:23]
Sin is transgressing God's law and includes such things as lying, lust, cheating, anger, evil thoughts, immoral behavior, and more. And because of this....
MAN CANNOT
SAVE HIMSELF.
If you wanted to save yourself by good deeds, do you know how good you
would have to be?
The Bible says that you
would have to be PERFECT.
"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your father in heaven is perfect."
[Matthew 5:48]
With such a high standard,
no one can save themselves for God also says,
"Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of
all." [James 2:10]
In spite of our sin, however..
III. GOD IS MERCIFUL and therefore DOESN'T WANT TO PUNISH US.
This is because...
"God is love...[1John 4:8b] and He says,
"I have loved you with an everlasting love." [Jeremiah 31:3b]
But the same Bible that
tells us that God loves us also tells us that ...
GOD IS JUST, and therefore MUST PUNISH SIN.
He says... "...I will by no means clear the guilty..." [Exodus 34:7b] and
"The soul who sins shall die." [Ezekiel 18:4]
We therefore have a problem;
we have ALL sinned.
The penalty for sin is death [physical death and later separation from God].
Each day our bodies grow older and someday they will perish but our souls are Eternal and
will go to one of two places for Eternity.
To have Eternal Life in the
presence of God, we need forgiveness so that we can have a right relationship with God.
God solved this problem for us in the person of...
IV. JESUS CHRIST
Who exactly would you say Jesus Christ is?
The Bible tells us clearly
that He is the infinite GOD-MAN.
"In the beginning was the Word [Jesus]...and the Word [Jesus] was God. ...
and the Word [Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among us..." [John 1:1,14]
Jesus Christ came to earth
and lived a sinless life, but while on earth...
WHAT DID HE DO?
He died on
the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and rose from
the grave to purchase a place for us in eternity.
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all." [Isaiah 53:6]
Now Jesus Christ offers you
eternal life as a Free Gift.
This Gift is received by...
V. FAITH
Faith is the key that opens the door to eternal life.
Many people mistake TWO kinds of faith as Saving Faith.
1. Mere INTELLECTUAL ASSENT, that is, believing certain historical facts. The Bible says the devil believes in God, so believing in God is NOT Saving Faith.
2. Mere TEMPORAL FAITH, that is, trusting God for temporary crises such as financial, family, or physical needs. Now these are good, and you should trust Christ for these, but they are NOT Saving Faith.
3. SAVING FAITH is trusting in Jesus Christ Alone for Salvation/Eternal Life.
It means resting upon Christ ALONE and what He has done rather than upon what you or I have done to get us into heaven/eternal life.
"Believe [trust] on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved..." [Acts 16:31a].
Faith is like the hand of a beggar receiving the gift of a King.
We don't
deserve the gift of eternal life.
But we can have it, if we will receive it by applying saving faith.
The question that God is asking you now is...
VI. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE?
Because this is such an important matter...
LET'S CLARIFY, just what this involves.
1. It means, first of all, that you TRANSFER YOUR TRUST from what you have been doing to what Christ has done for you on the cross.
2. It means, next, that you RECEIVE THE RESURRECTED, LIVING CHRIST into your life as SAVIOR.
3. It means further that you RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR LIFE AS LORD. He comes as Master and King. There is a throne room in your heart, and that throne is rightly His. He made you. He bought you and He wants to take His rightful place on the throne of your life.
4. It means, finally, that you REPENT OF YOUR SINS. That means that you are willing to turn from anything you have been doing that is not pleasing to Him and to follow Him as He reveals His will to you in his Word.
VII. YOU CAN GO TO GOD IN PRAYER right where you are. You can receive His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ right now.
"...with the heart one
believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation...for
whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
[Romans 10:10,13]
If you want to receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, then call on Him, asking Him for this gift right now.
VIII. "Lord Jesus Christ, I know I am a sinner and do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to purchase a place in heaven for me. Lord Jesus, come into my life; take control of my life; forgive my sins and save me. I repent of my sins and now place my trust in you for my salvation. I accept the free gift of eternal life."
If this
prayer is the sincere desire of your heart, look at what Jesus promises
to those who believe in Him.
IX. WELCOME TO GOD'S FAMILY!
If you have truly repented [acknowledged and turned away] from your sins, placed your trust in Jesus Christ's sacrificial death, and received the gift of eternal life, you are now a child of God! Forever!
Welcome to the Family of God!
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, even to those who believe in His name [John 1:12]
X. WHAT'S NEXT?
Just as a newborn baby grows physically, so you will grow spiritually by taking the following steps:
1. Read One Chapter of the Book of John in the Bible Each Day.
"As newborn babes,
desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby."
[1 Peter 2:2]
2. Spend time each day in PRAYER conversing with God.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God..." [Philippians 4:6]
3.WORSHIP regularly in a church that teaches you the Bible and honors Jesus Christ.
"I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord'." [Psalm 122:1]
4. FELLOWSHIP with Christians who will help you grow in faith.
"Those who gladly received his word...continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, the breaking of bread, and in prayers." [Acts 2:21,42]
5. Be a WITNESS by telling others what Jesus Christ means to you!
Jesus said, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." [Matthew 10:32,33]
Confess your
faith in Christ to them and join it.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as inthe manner of some..."
[Hebrews 10:25]
If you have appreciated the GOOD NEWS you have just read, please let me know.
I want to
rejoice in what God has done in your life and help you grow spiritually.
Please write to my e-mail address.
This text is taken in part
from:
Evangelism Explosion III International
PO Box 23820
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33307
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version,
copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Publishers
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Email: EdBurrell@hotmail.com
