"ALL THINGS BECOME NEW"
The LORD must love new things. Here’s why I say that. Lamentations 3:22 says “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” The Prophet Jeremiah put it like this. Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Ezekiel 36:26 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
And Jesus says this in John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (35) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Later on in the New Testament, you can hear the Apostle Paul say this. Galatians 6:15 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Colossians 3:10 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:..” And to the Church at Pergamos in Revelation 2:17 we hear Jesus saying “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
And, as you likely know, God intends to one day make a new heaven and a new earth. Here’s what He says through the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 65:17 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
So, does He love the new? Absolutely.
Now, you all know that Jesus, the Son of God, was a carpenter, right? But did you know that God, the Father is also the construction business? According to the Bible, He’s in the renovation and repair business? [found on http://ldolphin.org/newcreation.html]. You see, if it’s broken, He’ll fix it. If it’s damaged, He’ll repair it. And if it’s old, He intends on making it new. If it’s been stained by sin, He can and will wash it clean it and make it white as snow. It’s all part of His construction business for this world and for us. And He’s in the eviction business. He will, by His own promise, one day evict all evil from the world and replace it with all righteousness. The Apostle Peter says it this way. II Peter 3:13 “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
Today I want to turn your heart toward the LORD by showing you how His heart is already turned toward you. Please open your Bible with me to another “new” verse, II Corinthians chapter five. II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Everything in life must hinge on something. And that something is found right here in this verse. “Therefore if any man be in Christ,…”
I’ve titled today’s sermon “All Things Become New.”
What I really love is the truth that is so pure and wonderful in the Bible. The truth and the wonder of God Himself is found right here in these words.
First, from Paul’s words here we see that no man is good by birth or by nature. He says “Therefore if any man be in Christ…” which implies that not everyone is “in Christ.” David in the OT puts it this way. Psalm 14:3 “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Paul, in the NT, says it this way in Romans. Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
This is why we need to get “into Christ” as soon as possible. You can never make yourself good. If you could by any means make yourself good, can you give me one substantial reason for Christ being crucified?
One man writes it like this. “Salvation is not some felicitous state [something I chose or received by simple good luck or good fortune] to which we can lift ourselves by our own bootstraps after the contemplation of sufficiently good examples. It is an utterly new creation into which we are brought by our death in Jesus' death and our resurrection in his. It comes not out of our own best efforts, however well-inspired or successfully pursued, but out of the shipwreck of all human efforts whatsoever.” --Robert Farrer Capon [found on http://www.tentmaker.org/Quotes/thecrossquotes.htm]
Folks, if you think you are able to make yourself good by your efforts, then you are not “in Christ.” You were not born a Christian. You cannot make yourself into a Christian. And, all your efforts to get yourself into Christ are foolishness until you finally see that, by believing the work Someone else has done for you; that is enough. Folks, if it’s enough for God. Than it’s enough for you and me. You get into Christ by pure faith regardless of every single good work you have ever done. Anything less becomes “me plus He; I do my part and He does His; together we can save my soul.” That might be a better definition of religion than of salvation. So, what happens when I am in Christ is that God makes me good by saving my soul. There’s no other way. It’s neither by birth nor by nature nor by effort can you get into Christ.
First, we see that no man is good by birth or by nature.
Second, what does it mean to be “in Christ”?
Maybe an illustration will help. Salt poured into water illustrates our being placed into Christ. “Salt, when dissolved in water, may disappear, but it does not cease to exist. We can be sure of its presence by tasting the water. Likewise, the indwelling Christ, though unseen, will be made evident to others from the love which he imparts to us.” --Sadhu Sundar Singh To be “in Christ” means that, by faith I have trusted in Jesus Christ alone and received His free gift of eternal life.
At the moment you believed in Jesus as the One and Only One Who can secure your eternal destiny, God places you “into Christ” while at the same time placing “Christ in you.” It’s one of the greatest wonders of salvation. Jesus said John 14:20 “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” There is no hope, no light, no strength, no true awareness of God’s love for you, no peace or comfort that can be found outside of Jesus Christ. There may be things similar to these. But the moment you are “in Christ,” everything truly changes.
Here’s how Paul says it to the Ephesians. Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes (formerly) were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Here is one of the amazing things you and I will ever know about our salvation experience. “We are made nigh (near) to God by the most powerful force in the universe, the blood of Christ. Folks, it’s so wonderful, it’s so blessed, and it’s so humbling. We’re made near to Him by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes (formerly) were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” And from Paul again, II Corinthians 5:21 “For he (God, the Father) hath made him (God, the Son) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Jesus Christ was made sin so that you and I might be made righteous. So, it’s not by birth or by nature or by effort or even by a strong will that you enter into Christ. You come to Him in simple faith, trusting that He and His work at the Cross are all you need.
First, then, no man is good by birth or by nature.
Second, being “in Christ” means that we have been made righteous and made near by the blood of Jesus.
Third, my old life has passed away. Here’s II Corinthians 5:17 again. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Isn’t it interesting that God has so worked His plan of salvation that He removes our “old” and replaces it with “His” new? Our “old” clearly refers to anything and everything that was tainted by the sin nature we received from Adam. It’s all became obsolete. For example, your old attitudes have been replaced by new ones. Your old ways have been replaced by new ones. Your old desires have been replaced by new ones. Your old idols have been replaced by a real worship of a real God. Your old behaviors have been replaced by new ones. Before, you were impure. Now you’re pure. Before, your thoughts were godless. Now they are godly. Before, your passions were selfish. Now they are others-oriented. Before, your morals were corrupt. Now they are clean. Before, your conscience was a bother. Now it’s a brother. Before, I made my choices based upon how I felt. Now I make my choices based upon how God feels.
Folks, think carefully about what Paul is saying here. These words should give you great comfort and joy. You’re a changed man. You’re a changed woman. You’re no longer a sinner. You’re a saint. You stepped out of the realm of sin and into the realm of holiness. You’re a holy man. You’re a holy woman. Read again what the Holy Spirit is saying as He describes you now that you’ve been saved by the Christ’s blood. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature...”This phrase “new creature” means “a new creation.” By the work of salvation God has made you something you were not when you were a son of Adam. You’re not what you were. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. You’ve been transformed. You’ve been translated into a new kingdom, the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.
This term is the exact same one God uses to describe what He did in Genesis when He created the universe. Galatians 6:15 says “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision (being Jewish) availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision (being a Gentile), but a new creature.” Now, do you believe it? Do you see it in your new relationship to God? Can you see it in your new relationship with those around you? Are you the same man or woman at work and at home and with your friends? You see, when January rolls around, we all make promises to ourselves that we will change a few things. But will those changes be evident in the month of February? Well, here’s what God has done. He’s made you a new creation in Christ.
Now, of course, we must ask this question. How? How do I now live as a new creation in Christ? Here’s how.
Colossians 3:8 “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”
You see, there is a responsibility for you. It’s to walk in this new way as a new creation in Christ. You are now connected to Jesus Christ. Why will you live a disconnected life? You are now complete in Him. Colossians 2:10 ”And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:..” It’s in Christ alone that you have all you need to live both in this world and in the next. There is no other way to enjoy and experience this new relationship with God.
Consider the following words with me. This is a hymn written to describe what has happened since you became a new creature in Christ. Let it be an encouragement to your soul as I read it.
“In Christ Alone”Songwriters: Getty, Julian Keith; Townend, Stuart Richard;
1. In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
2. In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live
3. There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
4. No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand
[- From :http://www.elyrics.net/read/n/natalie-grant-lyrics/in-christ-alone-lyrics.html -]
What is the Christian life according to II Corinthians 5:17? “The Christian life is not by effort, and not by struggle; not merely by trying to put into practice certain maxims, or by trying to attain to a certain measure; but from beginning to end, and all together, it is a matter of knowing the Lord Jesus within. “-- T. Austin-Sparks
In conclusion, then, here’s a prayer that will enable you to walk with the LORD this week with a right attitude towards learning to enjoy this experience of knowing that you are a new creation in Christ. I call it the “Prayer of Surrender.” “LORD, I submit all I am to you, my spirit, my soul, and my body. Do with me what is most pleasing to you. Work out Your will upon me today.” This one prayer will put you on the road to learning to pray in 2011.
If you know that the LORD wants your heart more than anything, then give Him your heart. If you know that He wants you to submit your life and every thing in it to Him; then make this your prayer. Now it might be that you have no interest in these things. That’s because you’ve never come to the LORD and received His free gift of Eternal Life.
The greatest need in your heart and the largest problem in your life is your sin and the fact that your sin is what separates you from God. The Prophet Isaiah said this so long ago. “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). Yet, out of love, God sent His son to become your Substitute. Jesus Christ came here for the purpose of becoming your sin and then trading His life for yours. John 3:16 says “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.” The Apostle Paul in the Book of Romans says this. (Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” and (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
There’s only one way to receive God’s Salvation. It’s through God’s Son. And here’s how. The Bible says (Acts 20:21) “… repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Will you repent and exercise faith towards Him?
Today is the day of Salvation? What will you do about the condition of your heart for eternity?
• REPENT - “to change your mind about God, Christ, your sin, and God’s free gift of salvation.”
• BELIEVE - “to simply trust Jesus Christ alone as the One Who paid the entire penalty for your sins.”
Here’s a simple salvation prayer for you to pray if you’ve never trusted the LORD for His free gift of eternal life.
“LORD, I admit that I am a sinner and in need of your grace. I believe that You sent Your Son to the Cross to die for me. Please forgive me of all my sins and make me Your child. Thank you.”
Everyone who calls upon the Name of the LORD will be saved.
And Jesus says this in John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (35) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Later on in the New Testament, you can hear the Apostle Paul say this. Galatians 6:15 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Colossians 3:10 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:..” And to the Church at Pergamos in Revelation 2:17 we hear Jesus saying “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
And, as you likely know, God intends to one day make a new heaven and a new earth. Here’s what He says through the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 65:17 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
So, does He love the new? Absolutely.
Now, you all know that Jesus, the Son of God, was a carpenter, right? But did you know that God, the Father is also the construction business? According to the Bible, He’s in the renovation and repair business? [found on http://ldolphin.org/newcreation.html]. You see, if it’s broken, He’ll fix it. If it’s damaged, He’ll repair it. And if it’s old, He intends on making it new. If it’s been stained by sin, He can and will wash it clean it and make it white as snow. It’s all part of His construction business for this world and for us. And He’s in the eviction business. He will, by His own promise, one day evict all evil from the world and replace it with all righteousness. The Apostle Peter says it this way. II Peter 3:13 “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
Today I want to turn your heart toward the LORD by showing you how His heart is already turned toward you. Please open your Bible with me to another “new” verse, II Corinthians chapter five. II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Everything in life must hinge on something. And that something is found right here in this verse. “Therefore if any man be in Christ,…”
I’ve titled today’s sermon “All Things Become New.”
What I really love is the truth that is so pure and wonderful in the Bible. The truth and the wonder of God Himself is found right here in these words.
First, from Paul’s words here we see that no man is good by birth or by nature. He says “Therefore if any man be in Christ…” which implies that not everyone is “in Christ.” David in the OT puts it this way. Psalm 14:3 “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Paul, in the NT, says it this way in Romans. Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
This is why we need to get “into Christ” as soon as possible. You can never make yourself good. If you could by any means make yourself good, can you give me one substantial reason for Christ being crucified?
One man writes it like this. “Salvation is not some felicitous state [something I chose or received by simple good luck or good fortune] to which we can lift ourselves by our own bootstraps after the contemplation of sufficiently good examples. It is an utterly new creation into which we are brought by our death in Jesus' death and our resurrection in his. It comes not out of our own best efforts, however well-inspired or successfully pursued, but out of the shipwreck of all human efforts whatsoever.” --Robert Farrer Capon [found on http://www.tentmaker.org/Quotes/thecrossquotes.htm]
Folks, if you think you are able to make yourself good by your efforts, then you are not “in Christ.” You were not born a Christian. You cannot make yourself into a Christian. And, all your efforts to get yourself into Christ are foolishness until you finally see that, by believing the work Someone else has done for you; that is enough. Folks, if it’s enough for God. Than it’s enough for you and me. You get into Christ by pure faith regardless of every single good work you have ever done. Anything less becomes “me plus He; I do my part and He does His; together we can save my soul.” That might be a better definition of religion than of salvation. So, what happens when I am in Christ is that God makes me good by saving my soul. There’s no other way. It’s neither by birth nor by nature nor by effort can you get into Christ.
First, we see that no man is good by birth or by nature.
Second, what does it mean to be “in Christ”?
Maybe an illustration will help. Salt poured into water illustrates our being placed into Christ. “Salt, when dissolved in water, may disappear, but it does not cease to exist. We can be sure of its presence by tasting the water. Likewise, the indwelling Christ, though unseen, will be made evident to others from the love which he imparts to us.” --Sadhu Sundar Singh To be “in Christ” means that, by faith I have trusted in Jesus Christ alone and received His free gift of eternal life.
At the moment you believed in Jesus as the One and Only One Who can secure your eternal destiny, God places you “into Christ” while at the same time placing “Christ in you.” It’s one of the greatest wonders of salvation. Jesus said John 14:20 “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” There is no hope, no light, no strength, no true awareness of God’s love for you, no peace or comfort that can be found outside of Jesus Christ. There may be things similar to these. But the moment you are “in Christ,” everything truly changes.
Here’s how Paul says it to the Ephesians. Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes (formerly) were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Here is one of the amazing things you and I will ever know about our salvation experience. “We are made nigh (near) to God by the most powerful force in the universe, the blood of Christ. Folks, it’s so wonderful, it’s so blessed, and it’s so humbling. We’re made near to Him by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes (formerly) were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” And from Paul again, II Corinthians 5:21 “For he (God, the Father) hath made him (God, the Son) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Jesus Christ was made sin so that you and I might be made righteous. So, it’s not by birth or by nature or by effort or even by a strong will that you enter into Christ. You come to Him in simple faith, trusting that He and His work at the Cross are all you need.
First, then, no man is good by birth or by nature.
Second, being “in Christ” means that we have been made righteous and made near by the blood of Jesus.
Third, my old life has passed away. Here’s II Corinthians 5:17 again. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Isn’t it interesting that God has so worked His plan of salvation that He removes our “old” and replaces it with “His” new? Our “old” clearly refers to anything and everything that was tainted by the sin nature we received from Adam. It’s all became obsolete. For example, your old attitudes have been replaced by new ones. Your old ways have been replaced by new ones. Your old desires have been replaced by new ones. Your old idols have been replaced by a real worship of a real God. Your old behaviors have been replaced by new ones. Before, you were impure. Now you’re pure. Before, your thoughts were godless. Now they are godly. Before, your passions were selfish. Now they are others-oriented. Before, your morals were corrupt. Now they are clean. Before, your conscience was a bother. Now it’s a brother. Before, I made my choices based upon how I felt. Now I make my choices based upon how God feels.
Folks, think carefully about what Paul is saying here. These words should give you great comfort and joy. You’re a changed man. You’re a changed woman. You’re no longer a sinner. You’re a saint. You stepped out of the realm of sin and into the realm of holiness. You’re a holy man. You’re a holy woman. Read again what the Holy Spirit is saying as He describes you now that you’ve been saved by the Christ’s blood. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature...”This phrase “new creature” means “a new creation.” By the work of salvation God has made you something you were not when you were a son of Adam. You’re not what you were. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. You’ve been transformed. You’ve been translated into a new kingdom, the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.
This term is the exact same one God uses to describe what He did in Genesis when He created the universe. Galatians 6:15 says “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision (being Jewish) availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision (being a Gentile), but a new creature.” Now, do you believe it? Do you see it in your new relationship to God? Can you see it in your new relationship with those around you? Are you the same man or woman at work and at home and with your friends? You see, when January rolls around, we all make promises to ourselves that we will change a few things. But will those changes be evident in the month of February? Well, here’s what God has done. He’s made you a new creation in Christ.
Now, of course, we must ask this question. How? How do I now live as a new creation in Christ? Here’s how.
Colossians 3:8 “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”
You see, there is a responsibility for you. It’s to walk in this new way as a new creation in Christ. You are now connected to Jesus Christ. Why will you live a disconnected life? You are now complete in Him. Colossians 2:10 ”And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:..” It’s in Christ alone that you have all you need to live both in this world and in the next. There is no other way to enjoy and experience this new relationship with God.
Consider the following words with me. This is a hymn written to describe what has happened since you became a new creature in Christ. Let it be an encouragement to your soul as I read it.
“In Christ Alone”Songwriters: Getty, Julian Keith; Townend, Stuart Richard;
1. In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
2. In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live
3. There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
4. No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand
[- From :http://www.elyrics.net/read/n/natalie-grant-lyrics/in-christ-alone-lyrics.html -]
What is the Christian life according to II Corinthians 5:17? “The Christian life is not by effort, and not by struggle; not merely by trying to put into practice certain maxims, or by trying to attain to a certain measure; but from beginning to end, and all together, it is a matter of knowing the Lord Jesus within. “-- T. Austin-Sparks
In conclusion, then, here’s a prayer that will enable you to walk with the LORD this week with a right attitude towards learning to enjoy this experience of knowing that you are a new creation in Christ. I call it the “Prayer of Surrender.” “LORD, I submit all I am to you, my spirit, my soul, and my body. Do with me what is most pleasing to you. Work out Your will upon me today.” This one prayer will put you on the road to learning to pray in 2011.
If you know that the LORD wants your heart more than anything, then give Him your heart. If you know that He wants you to submit your life and every thing in it to Him; then make this your prayer. Now it might be that you have no interest in these things. That’s because you’ve never come to the LORD and received His free gift of Eternal Life.
The greatest need in your heart and the largest problem in your life is your sin and the fact that your sin is what separates you from God. The Prophet Isaiah said this so long ago. “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). Yet, out of love, God sent His son to become your Substitute. Jesus Christ came here for the purpose of becoming your sin and then trading His life for yours. John 3:16 says “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.” The Apostle Paul in the Book of Romans says this. (Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” and (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
There’s only one way to receive God’s Salvation. It’s through God’s Son. And here’s how. The Bible says (Acts 20:21) “… repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Will you repent and exercise faith towards Him?
Today is the day of Salvation? What will you do about the condition of your heart for eternity?
• REPENT - “to change your mind about God, Christ, your sin, and God’s free gift of salvation.”
• BELIEVE - “to simply trust Jesus Christ alone as the One Who paid the entire penalty for your sins.”
Here’s a simple salvation prayer for you to pray if you’ve never trusted the LORD for His free gift of eternal life.
“LORD, I admit that I am a sinner and in need of your grace. I believe that You sent Your Son to the Cross to die for me. Please forgive me of all my sins and make me Your child. Thank you.”
Everyone who calls upon the Name of the LORD will be saved.