The Good News that never changes!
THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS!
When Eve was deceived by Satan in the Garden of Eden, and Adam then chose to disobey God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, sin entered the heart of all mankind. Their actions had dire consequences. Just as God had warned, eating from that forbidden tree opened the door for disease and death to enter into God’s pristine creation. And immediately they experienced the severest consequence – the resulting spiritual breach that took place between them and God. As soon as they defied God, they felt shame, guilt, and distance from Him that they had never felt before. But even then, God called out to them.
He told them clearly how much pain their sin would bring them, and He graciously covered them with skins, providing the first sacrificial atonement, “for the wages of sin is death.” This sacrificial system to atone for the sin of those who trusted in Him remained in place throughout the Old Covenant. Yet, the sacrifice of all those perfect, blemish free lambs had an even greater purpose. They pointed to God’s ultimate means of salvation, the gift and sacrifice of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus, God the Son, is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus became a man in order to become a substitutionary sacrifice for the sin of everyone when he died on the cross. However, only those who accept His gift of forgiveness will be saved. He Himself declared, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” –Jesus (John 10:9)
The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul in Romans 10 verse 9 in the Bible states, “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.”
Every person needs Jesus to save them from their sin.
Through Paul, God goes on to state this truth: “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23) Scripture goes on to make it clear how great the benefit of salvation is and how high the stakes are. It says, “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6 verses 22-23)
Trusting in Jesus for forgiveness and freedom from sin is the only way for the wall of sin between you and God to be removed so fellowship with Him can be restored. In Acts 4:12 Peter makes it completely clear. “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” Peter was simply echoing what he heard straight from Jesus when He taught His disciples that He was “the way, the truth, and the life.” And that no one can come to the Father but through Him. (John 14:6)
Respond to the Holy Spirit who is calling out to you to put your faith in Jesus. Believe that He died in your place to redeem you. Don’t wait. If you’ve desire to be closer to God and to be His very own, then take the next step and ask Him to cleanse you of your sin and make you His child. The prayer below is a great place to start your personal relationship with the Father by telling Him that you are placing your trust in Jesus, His Son.
Salvation Prayer
If the Holy Spirit is speaking to you now to repent, turn from your ways and surrender to Jesus, or to rededicate your life to the Lord, please pray this prayer:
“Lord Jesus I am so sorry for living life on my insufficient strength and wisdom.
Please forgive me of my sins. I believe you suffered and died on that cruel cross to pay
my sin debt in full. I believe you resurrected from the grave,
giving me the victory I need to live for you.
I invite you into my life to save me and make me the true child of God
that you have always desired me to be.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit. By God’s Amazing Grace and the Power of the Holy Spirit,
I will live for you all the days of my life.
Thank you, Lord Jesus!”