Wednesday, December 22, 2010

In the beginning, God created everything. He created the world, the animals, the trees, and you and me. He created us in his own image to be worshipers of himself--to live in perfection with him for all time. Sounds great right?
Well, we messed it up. We (each and everyone of us) decided to break God's law, which is called sin. The just consequence for our sin is the full wrath of God. The punishment is, bluntly and truly put, eternity apart from Himself. We are, by nature, children of his wrath--living step in step with the sons of disobedience, carrying out the desires of our bodies and minds.
BUT
God being rich in mercy, in His sovereignty, sent his son, Jesus, to take God's wrath upon himself. Jesus, the son of God, became a man and lived a perfect life. He then died the death we deserve on a cross. He then, three days later, rose from the dead conquering sin and death, and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God.
The story does not end there. Jesus IS coming back. When he comes back, he will pour out the just wrath of God on all those who do not know Him. Even when we (all mankind) were dead in our sins, God has made us alive in Christ; it is by GRACE we have been saved, through faith in Him, not by anything that we have done. It is a free gift of God. Jesus' death covers us who believe. His sacrifice stains over the stain of our sins, so that God does not see us (the sinner), he sees Jesus, the perfect God/Man.
This gift is readily available to all sinners (that's everyone).
The Bible was given to us so that we can know the nature and character of God. The Bible says, that God cannot dwell with sin. We, as sinful men, need/require/and desire a Savior to redeem us for our sins. This is what Jesus offers us. A way out. A free pass. A chance at redemption through his life, death, and resurrection.
No matter who you are or what you have done; I urge you to cry out to God and repent of your sins. Accept the free gift of salvation; if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!