Will you live forever?

Okay, now that we know what sin is, who has sinned? All you have to do is look around you, and in the mirror. Rom 3:10    As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; We have all sinned. Rom 3:23    for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,...

Since God is righteous and just there has to be a penalty, or punishment for disobeying Him, Rom 5:12    Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--. We are kept apart from God by our sin. Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. And the sentence is clear, death is the price we must pay for our disobedience, but there is hope Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Knowing that we are not able to keep from sinning, God, because He loved us so much, provided a way for us to know Him. Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God, in the person of Jesus, came to live among men, He lived a perfect life. Being perfect, He was the only one who could pay for our sins. 1 Pet 3:18    For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, He was able, through His sacrafice, to pay our debt, and bring us closer to Him. 1 Pet 2:24    who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-- by whose stripes you were healed. He died so He could forgive us, Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. That God would shed His ability, and limit Himself in the form of a man, then die a horrible death so that we could be forgiven our sins, demonstrates both His sense of justice and His unfathomable love for each and every one of us. He loves you dearly, and He wants you to know Him.

But that isn't the end. Jesus not only died for you, He also defeated death for you. 1 Cor 15:3    For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4    and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5    and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6    After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. Jesus not only showed us how to live, He showed us that through Him we too can defeat death. All the sin of the world died on that cross with Jesus, and was buried with Him. But the sin was buried forever, never to rise again as we can. It's a gift to you, from God, because of His profound love for you.

But first you must turn to God, turn away from sin. Acts 3:19    "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, You must confess your sins to God. Every one of your sins have been paid for by Jesus. Once you have confessed them to Him, they are buried, and you are cleansed from unrighteousness.

You must have faith in Jesus, trust him. Nothing else you can do can bring salvation. Eph 2:8    For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Your good deeds, no matter how great or noble, can never earn your salvation. Titus 3:5    not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, There is only one way to salvation. Only by Jesus can you be received into the Kingdom of God. John 14:6    Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

You must receive Him. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

You must confess Him as your Lord and Savior, not only with your mouth, but with your heart also. Rom 10:9    that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10    For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Invite Him into your life, your Savior is waiting, but only you can open the door. Rev 3:20    "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Say this prayer, or one like it in your own words;  Dear Lord, I know that I have sinned against you. I also know that I am unable to pay the price for my sins, but that Jesus, your son, died on the cross to pay that debt for me. Please Lord, come into my heart. I beg your forgiveness for my sins, and ask you to take over my life. Thank you Lord for the salvation you have freely offered, and now given to me. I ask nothing more than that you will use me as your servant to bring glory to your name and that you will direct my life in all things. I love you Lord. I pray this in the most holy and precious of names, Jesus. Amen.

If you have just said this prayer then you have begun a wonderful and joyous journey. You have a wondrous new relationship with the creator of the universe. Congratulations hardly seems adequate. Please go to a good Bible teaching church and become involved with your new brothers and sisters. For more information on what you can do as a new Christian please see New Christians.

(Bold print from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

(Italic print from New King James Version) (Bold italic print is prayer written by the author of this site)

SoundLife