Are you a good person? Be honest with yourself. Most would say yes, especially compared to other people, but let’s put it to the test.

1. Have you ever told a lie? People that tell lies are usually referred to as… yes, liars.

2. Have you ever stolen anything (no matter the value)? People that steal are called thieves.

3. Have you ever taken God’s name in vain? The Bible calls this blasphemy. It is a very serious sin.

4. Have you ever looked on a person in lust? Jesus said in doing this you commit adultery with them in your heart.

5. Have you ever harbored hatred toward others? Jesus said that in doing this we’ve committed murder in our hearts.

 

We’ve only gone through a few things, but if you were honest with yourself, would you still consider yourself a good person? Truly, we’d all be found to be lying, thieving, blaspheming, adulterers murderers at heart, and one day we will all stand before God on Judgement Day.

 

God’s word, the Bible, declares us all to have sinned, even from the time we’re children.

 

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Psalm 51:5

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10

 

The Bible also says that there’s a penalty for our sin, and SOMEBODY has to pay this penalty. Consider the following:

 

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

Hell is a real place. How do you plan to escape such a terrible fate? “I’ll do good works” you say? or “I’m not as bad as a lot of other people!” The Bible also addresses that type of approach to eternity:

 

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

“And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:15

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17

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

 

We’ve seen some slightly depressing things so far, but friend, let me assure you, there is HOPE! You see, we really cannot get to God on our own. Knowing this, we find what is referred to in the Bible as the Gospel, or the Good News.

 

“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.” John 3:16

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

Yes, God loved us long before we ever loved him. That is why Jesus Christ came to this earth some 2,000 years ago to pay a debt that we could never pay. He became sin, that we might be made clean. Now, he offers this gift to all that will receive.

 

“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.” John 3:16

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12

“That 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-13

 

How then, do we receive this gift? The Bible says there are two things that are necessary– repentance (a change of mind, you realize you were wrong and you’re willing to change), and believing (complete trust and dependence)

 

“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.” 2 Peter 3:9

“And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

“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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 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 3:16-18

 

Friend, based on our study, if you were to die today where would you spend eternity? The real question is, what is your dependence founded upon? Your own goodness? Your church membership? Your family’s heritage? A religious experience? I want to challenge you to consider closely the following things in review:

 

1. All have sinned and committed wrong before God (Have you seen yourself as guilty?)

2. Our sin is what separates us from God (Do you realize you’ll be separated from God?)

3. We cannot work to get back to God (This includes doing good, religious things!)

4. Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross (It was a complete payment!)

5. Salvation is a free gift of God — we can’t earn it, only receive it (Have you received this gift?)

6. Salvation is received by repenting and believing (Have you ever repented and believed?)

 

Friend, will you repent now, and believe on Jesus? He alone can save you. He alone can make you clean. He alone is your hope. Run to Jesus. Cling to what he has done and don’t ever let go.

When you find your life in Christ, the Bible says you can be secure! You cannot lose your salvation.

 

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” John 10:27-30

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1

 

But, now what? God tells us that we should find a local body of believers to be a part of, be baptized by immersion as a public display of what’s already taken place in your life, grow daily in reading His word and praying, and witness to others about what he has done for you.

 

It’s an incredible new life. In fact, the Bible says everything is new.

 

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

 

If you have questions about this new life, or if you just need to talk to somebody, I invite you to contact us by leaving a comment below or call 678-696-0082. We are here to help. This is the most important decision you could ever make in your life. Don’t wait.