Where will you spend eternity?
There are many religions but only one Truth.
Religion can’t save you, doing good works can’t save you, going to church can’t save you.
Only Jesus, God’s one and only Son, can rescue you from the pit of Hell and eternal separation from God.
In today’s culture of all-inclusiveness that may sound like a very narrow-minded statement. Perhaps. But it’s the Gospel Truth. Jesus Himself said so in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Every human being born from Adam and Eve entered into the world marred by sin. Genesis chapter 3 gives us the account: “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this thing you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”- therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Out of a love so great for His creation and His image-bearers, God saved us through His Son, Jesus. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Sin requires a blood payment. The life of one for the life of another. Before Jesus walked the earth, God implemented the Law and required animal sacrifices to atone for man’s sin. This is known as the Old Covenant. When Jesus, who was born of a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit of God, came to the earth He fulfilled the Law and atonement for sin through His birth, life, death on a cross, and resurrection. Jesus paid the price once and for all for our sins on the cross on Calvary. Luke 23:33-34 “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Hebrews 10:12-14 “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
We cannot earn our way into Heaven. Salvation is a free gift from the One who gave it. Ephesians 2:4-10 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Romans 10:9-13 “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. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you don’t know Jesus, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Get into His Word, the Bible, and see for yourself His truth and love for you. The Gospel of John is a good place to start. When the eyes of your understanding have been opened to the truth of who He is, and you are ready to receive Jesus into your heart, tell Him so!
I don’t want to cheapen this Holy moment with a canned prayer for you to simply recite. This is a matter of the heart. If you have come to the saving knowledge that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, that He conquered death and Hell through His death and resurrection, and that He is seated at the right hand of God then here is a helpful start if you need it: Pray (which is simply talking to God from your heart) and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, for living your life as your own god, independent of Him. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and make His home there.
If you have made that life changing decision, congratulations! Tell a family member or friend. Find a local Bible based church to attend if you are able. Read God’s Word and ask the Holy Spirit to help you in your new found faith in Jesus.
The Green Olive Tree 