It's a common response to hear that life is too short to be thinking about what happens when you die, but if you think about it, your going to be dead a lot longer than your alive, so maybe you should think about what happens on the other side of the veil. If you are reading this and you have not received the Gospel of Christ, please don't just read through this and go on with your life, receive for yourself the word of truth and be saved.
The Good News of Christ is most clearly spoken in Paul's letter to the Romans in chapter 5:8-10;
"But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."
Now before anyone can fully understand this we must recognize the bad news first. That is that we have all sinned and committed crimes against an infinitely holy God. Again, I ask that you please read this honestly and sincerely.
Do you consider yourself to be a good person? Most people do, and they usually cite the fact that they haven't killed anyone. Which is good, but the Bible says something a little different. The Bible says that "there is none who does good, there is not even one" (Rom 3:12) You see, murder is not the standard by which we judge a person good or not, the Law of God is, the 10 Commandments.
We don't decide what is right and wrong, the One who created us does, and it is He that establishes the Law, and He has written it upon each of our hearts. We know this because it does not matter where you go on Earth or what culture or society, we all have the same inherent moral standards. Also because God is our creator, He demands and deserves all glory and worship. Therefore, His Law also demands His worship.
The 10 Commandments
1 You shall have no other gods before me
2 You shall not make for yourself any graven image to worship
3 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
4 You shall remember the Sabbath to keep it holy
5 Honour your father and mother
6 you shall not murder
7 You shall not commit adultury
8 You shall not steal
9 You shall not lie
10 You shall not covet
Examine the Law truthfully. Have you ever lied, or stolen anything? Do you keep one day a week to worship God? Have you ever used God's name as a swear, or in a way other than reverent honour? Jesus said, "You have heard it said, 'You shall not commit adultery'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a women with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt 5:27-28, this applies for women too, not just men). So now when you stand before God on the day of judgment He will find you guilty, "because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin... For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:20,23).
*Please keep reading, I know this isn't pleasant talk, but remember that their is good news after this.*
The foundations of God's throne are justice and righteousness (Psalm 97:2) He will not overlook any sin and He will hold all accountable. Not only that, but our sin, which is primarily against Him first and foremost, angers Him. "For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience." (Col 3:6)
Now do you remember that I said that there is good news after all this? There is very good news. I hope you have seriously considered what was previously said and I even hope that I have caused a little bit of fear and remorse in your hearts. Fear can be a good thing, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And remorse, a godly sorrow is which leads to repentance.
The good news in all this is this. Jesus Christ has come from heaven to earth and has Himself paid the penalty for your sins with His own blood being nailed to a Roman cross. It works like this. You have offended a holy eternal God and justice demanded an eternal righteous judgment and eternity in hell is not enough to satisfy our debt against God's Law.
However, Jesus Christ, God Himself,was made in the likeness of a man, being born of a virgin. He lived a sinless perfect life, keeping God's Law in it's entirety. And while we were yet sinners, without hope in this world, Jesus Himself came to give His life as a ransom for all who believe. He was beaten, whipped, punched in the face, His beard ripped out of His face, spat upon, mocked, and nailed naked to a cross for all to see, all by those He created. Thereby satisfying the wrath of God, and three days later Jesus Christ rose from the dead, defeating death.
You see, He did this for you, so that you might be set free, completely forgiven of every sin, past, present and future. Our sins were placed on Jesus and His perfect life is accredited to our account. It is a free gift if you shall receive it. You must respond to this by repenting of your sin, which means to turn from all your sins; all lying, stealing, immoralities and idolatry. You must deny yourself, and apologize to God and call upon the name of the Lord. That is if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation (Rom 10:9-10).
Consider how kind God is. How great a love He has for us. Jesus said, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and yet loses his soul?" You can have everything in the world, yet it is appointed unto man once to die and then judgment. Or you may have nothing at all, and you will still stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account. All you can do is cry for mercy, and because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ you shall receive forgiveness and everlasting life only if you have repented and trusted in Jesus Christ before that day.
Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, for today is the day of salvation.
Repent and believe.
*Please keep reading, I know this isn't pleasant talk, but remember that their is good news after this.*
The foundations of God's throne are justice and righteousness (Psalm 97:2) He will not overlook any sin and He will hold all accountable. Not only that, but our sin, which is primarily against Him first and foremost, angers Him. "For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience." (Col 3:6)
Now do you remember that I said that there is good news after all this? There is very good news. I hope you have seriously considered what was previously said and I even hope that I have caused a little bit of fear and remorse in your hearts. Fear can be a good thing, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And remorse, a godly sorrow is which leads to repentance.
The good news in all this is this. Jesus Christ has come from heaven to earth and has Himself paid the penalty for your sins with His own blood being nailed to a Roman cross. It works like this. You have offended a holy eternal God and justice demanded an eternal righteous judgment and eternity in hell is not enough to satisfy our debt against God's Law.
However, Jesus Christ, God Himself,was made in the likeness of a man, being born of a virgin. He lived a sinless perfect life, keeping God's Law in it's entirety. And while we were yet sinners, without hope in this world, Jesus Himself came to give His life as a ransom for all who believe. He was beaten, whipped, punched in the face, His beard ripped out of His face, spat upon, mocked, and nailed naked to a cross for all to see, all by those He created. Thereby satisfying the wrath of God, and three days later Jesus Christ rose from the dead, defeating death.
You see, He did this for you, so that you might be set free, completely forgiven of every sin, past, present and future. Our sins were placed on Jesus and His perfect life is accredited to our account. It is a free gift if you shall receive it. You must respond to this by repenting of your sin, which means to turn from all your sins; all lying, stealing, immoralities and idolatry. You must deny yourself, and apologize to God and call upon the name of the Lord. That is if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation (Rom 10:9-10).
Consider how kind God is. How great a love He has for us. Jesus said, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and yet loses his soul?" You can have everything in the world, yet it is appointed unto man once to die and then judgment. Or you may have nothing at all, and you will still stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account. All you can do is cry for mercy, and because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ you shall receive forgiveness and everlasting life only if you have repented and trusted in Jesus Christ before that day.
Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, for today is the day of salvation.
Repent and believe.
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